Nursery World - Full swing

Local authorities may take back the role assigned to Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships. Simon Vevers reports on a shift in power The message of the Government's interdepartmental childcare review could scarcely have been blunter - and the implications for early years partnerships starker. The Strategy Unit's document, Delivering for children and families, says only 30 - one fifth - of Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships throughout England are working well.

The message of the Government's interdepartmental childcare review could scarcely have been blunter - and the implications for early years partnerships starker. The Strategy Unit's document, Delivering for children and families, says only 30 - one fifth - of Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships throughout England are working well.

It suggests that the twin tasks of strategic planning and meeting delivery targets should be removed from EYDCPs and handed to local authority chief executives, who 'might choose to retain the EYDCP as a consultative body where it works well, but equally might not'. Councils are invited to 'use alternative partnership forums' as long as the full range of childcare and early years interest groups and business organisations are consulted.

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