NDNA wants to offer support

Members have been demanding regional and local support for the day nursery sector for some time, and developing this support has become fundamental to NDNA strategy. The proposed early years centres will serve as a resource centre for day nurseries, with training and meeting facilities for parents and providers. Regional field workers will provide support, and encourage providers to develop quality childcare through accreditation.

It would, however, be counter-productive for us to establish these centres in areas where providers feel threatened. Therefore a full consultation is in place and NDNA members can respond and voice their concerns.

I would hope Ms Whitelegg will understand how much better a service we will be able to deliver for providers and parents once a regional presence is developed. There are two strands of funding within this initiative - revenue and capital. The revenue funding is to support the establishing of new places during the first three years. It was never intended that this should be used to subsidise places and it would be foolhardy for any provider to use this revenue in this way as they would be left in the third year with very little income. Parents are expected to use Working Families Tax Credit as a means of support.