At the event, sponsored and chaired by David Kidney MP, the NDNA also launched a paper called Choice for parents and the best start for children - local public/private partnerships to deliver children's centres. It examines how the private and voluntary sectors can work with local authorities to implement the Government's ten-year childcare strategy, based on Sure Start-funded research it carried out last year into Phase 1 children's centres, and on the findings of three regional policy seminars.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the NDNA, said, 'Local authorities reported that their children's centre targets for 2006 to 2008 are quite ambitious. There was unanimous agreement that targets would only be achieved if the private and voluntary sectors are fully involved and the local authorities work with providers and build on existing provision.'
The paper sets out practical proposals with examples of how private day nurseries are working to deliver the ten-year strategy and models of multi-sector Phase 1 children's centres.
It also gives details of the NDNA's brokerage service to local authorities to facilitate partnership working with the independent sector.
Speaking at the seminar, Phil Rhodes, chief executive of Asquith Nurseries, outlined the role of the independent sector in children's centres and extended schools, giving examples of different models of provision.
However, he warned that it 'would be a serious mistake' if providers ended up duplicating existing provision. He said, 'This does not just make financial sense to public and private sectors; it is essential for the sustainable provision of childcare. Providing childcare for under-threes in a day nursery is not viable unless there is provision for three- and four-year-olds.'
Mr Rhodes also called for more guidance from the Government to help local authorities develop partnerships and a framework for standardised contracts. 'This would reduce transaction costs and speed up the whole process,' he said.
He added that the shared-franchise model, and design- build-finance-operate models, would 'require ongoing Government subsidy or a credit system so the sector can be encouraged to work in disadvantaged areas'.
Alison Hitchins, head of early years and childcare services at Worcestershire County Council, gave an overview of the local authority's partnership with private and voluntary providers. She said that 88 per cent of the county's out-of-school provision, 72 per cent of pre-school groups, and 68 per cent of holiday groups, were in the non-maintained sector, with one children's centre operated by a private provider.
During a question and answer session, several delegates raised issues around local authority targets for children's centres and the pressure to create a demand for places.
Ian Sutton, children's centres and extended schools manager for the London borough of Bromley, said, 'To meet Government targets we're having to create demand for childcare where demand doesn't exist. I'm expecting people to take up childcare to enable them to go back to work when they weren't working before. I've got to put a lot in place before that happens.'
Alison Hitchins added, 'We've got a target of 23 children's centres. If we don't need 23 children's centres, are we supposed to put them there just because that's what the target is? We've got to stop thinking of "more" and think about reshaping and mainstreaming. It's not about additionality, but about delivering services differently, better, making them more accessible.'
