Anne Longfield, chief executive of the charity 4Children, said that 'bold talk' from education secretary Charles Clarke, who said the Government's plans could be equated with the birth of the NHS, should lead to significant ongoing investment and a robust delivery mechanism.
There is a consensus among leading figures in the sector that the ten-year plan, out next month, must mark a radical change in the way Government funds early education and childcare, with a switch to supply-side funding made direct to providers.
Rosemary Murphy, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said payments to parents through either the childcare element of the working tax credit or the nursery education grant were too inflexible. At the top of her wish list was an end to the succession of Government initiatives colliding with each other, and 'a clear vision and a single centralised funding stream' with payments direct to providers to make delivery easier.
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
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
