Nursery World - Mixed priorities

Our political parties need to put children, families and ‘life-long learning’ back at the centre of childcare policy

Michael Pettavel

Political parties are tripping up over each other making wild offers to parents about free state-funded childcare. Maybe it will start when children are one, or perhaps two? It will be universal, parents will pay nothing and, of course, it will be expected to be open whenever and wherever people want. Call me a cynic, but I rarely believe absolutes. I know these are vote-winners and as children can’t vote, their needs aren’t considered.

Childcare is not simply for parents. Childcare is, in fact, about children. If children and their specific needs are not in the centre of the frame when you are deciding policy, your policy will be wrong. We are not providing boarding kennels for children; we are using every resource (within our depleted means) to make the experience for children as valuable as possible.

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