Nursery World - Upon a star

Prominent figures tell Nicole Curnow about their wishes for developments in the early years sector in the year ahead The pace of change within the early years and childcare sector looks set to continue in 2004. In England, the first of the Government's planned Children's Centres will come into being. More Neighbourhood Nurseries will open their doors, and the first of the extended schools will start to take on the wider role envisioned in the Green Paper Every Child Matters.

The pace of change within the early years and childcare sector looks set to continue in 2004. In England, the first of the Government's planned Children's Centres will come into being. More Neighbourhood Nurseries will open their doors, and the first of the extended schools will start to take on the wider role envisioned in the Green Paper Every Child Matters.

The private sector and childcare voucher providers will get geared up for the long-awaited tax breaks that will start in April 2005 and, it is hoped, make childcare more affordable to a greater number of parents.

There will be an increased focus on the quality of provision for under-threes, with a new training programme being rolled out in the new year, and more practitioners will embark on the new APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning) qualification for a Level 3 Certificate in work with children.

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