While most national media commentators obviously found last week's Budget a huge yawn, with little more excitement than a small increase on the price of a bottle of wine, close inspection reveals quite a few measures of interest to the early years and childcare sector (see News, page 4).
Some initiatives are new and could herald the start of a fresh approach, including the Child Development Grant - a one-off payment of £200 to encourage low-income families to take up early years entitlement and children's centre services. The approach is based on a successful anti-poverty initiative in New York called Opportunity NYC. While the CDG is much smaller-scale, it could grow to help families break out of the cycle of poverty.
For the first time, children on free school meals will be eligible for two hours of free after-school activities a week by 2010. This could prove really helpful for low-income families, especially if it is extended in future.
One development under consideration is to offer free childcare temporarily as parents return to work. Again, this could make a real difference in overcoming barriers to taking up employment.
Further good news comes with the extension of the Childcare Affordability Programme in London to support new approaches to childcare. It is a shame CAP has not been rolled out to areas other than the capital, but it is welcome nevertheless.
Few in the early years sector were expecting much of substance from Alastair Darling's first Budget, but these measures, together with the child benefit changes, could make a genuine contribution to lifting young children out of poverty.
