The ECF, which has 48 member organisations around the UK, including the National Day Nurseries Association and the National Childminding Association, signed a joint briefing giving their feedback on the Bill, with the NSPCC, Barnardo's, the autism charity Treehouse, Contact a Family and the Special Education Consortium, and will work together on lobbying the Government.
The briefing says that more must be done to ensure childcare of reliable quality is affordable for parents, particularly those with disabled children.
The briefing 'broadly welcomes' the Early Years Foundation Stage, but suggests the word 'taught' be removed from the Bill to highlight the importance of a play-based approach.
Sue Owen, director of NCB's early childhood unit said, 'This powerful coalition will enable the sector to send a strong message to Government that, to be effective, childcare must be child-centred.'
The full briefing is available at www.ncb.org.uk/ecf.
