Nursery World - Educare plan for all communities

The DfES Five-year Strategy for Children and Learners Simon Vevers reports Plans to integrate education and childcare through the concept of 'educare'

Plans to integrate education and childcare through the concept of 'educare'

form the centrepiece of Government proposals to provide 'a flexible and personalised childcare package' and seamless services for children and families.

Under the five-year plan unveiled by education secretary Charles Clarke last week, by 2008 all parents of three- and four-year-olds will be offered 12 and a half hours of free educare, which they will be able to take flexibly over a minimum of 33 weeks a year.

But he indicated that educare would be extended more widely through children's centres in every community, nurseries, primary schools and childminder networks. The Department for Education and Skills will publish a paper in the autumn outlining the mechanisms for delivering it in other settings between 8am and 6pm, 48 weeks of the year.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included