Nursery World - Minister promises greater partnership

The Government intends to ensure that there is true partnership between private and voluntary early years providers and local authorities in England, says minister for children Margaret Hodge. In an interview with Nursery World at the Department for Education and Skills last week, the minister stressed the importance to the Government's National Childcare Strategy of partnership between the sectors and local authorities. She also gave her personal assurance that the Government wanted to 'maintain the diversity of providers'.

In an interview with Nursery World at the Department for Education and Skills last week, the minister stressed the importance to the Government's National Childcare Strategy of partnership between the sectors and local authorities. She also gave her personal assurance that the Government wanted to 'maintain the diversity of providers'.

Mrs Hodge said, 'We want to involve voluntary and private providers going right the way through from nought to 19 - because it doesn't stop at five - and not just providing but also planning and commissioning services.' She said that she was aware of complaints from providers about local authorities whose idea of partnership seemed to be to exclude the private and voluntary sectors, but stressed that the 'bulk' of authorities were committed to partnership between sectors.

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