Millennium year 2000 must surely go down as one of the busiest yet in the early years field. From the enthusiastically received, hard-fought for Foundation Stage introduced in September, to the highly controversial consultation on the National Standards for the Regulation of Day Care, Government initiatives have animated, energised and galvanised childcare professionals.
There has been the DfEE's recruitment campaign to woo 83,000 childcarers into the profession by 2003; disquiet about the number of fraudulent claims for the Childcare Tax Credit; and more money and responsibility for the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships to deliver assessable childcare.
Not all the action has come from Government. Private nursery chains and stand-alone nurseries continue to grow apace, with chains taking the first steps towards an international market. The National Childminding Association developed the CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Childminding Practice as well as continuing its work setting up networks. And many playgroups are doing innovative work to extend their provision with the help of the Pre-School Learning Alliance.
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