All children deserve the best start in life, and early education and childcare are crucial to this. When I was at the Treasury in 1997 there was a huge amount of expectation and excitement about the policies we were developing to improve children's lives.
The introduction of child tax credits and working tax credits, our child poverty targets and - of course - Sure Start Children's Centres have changed the face of the support available for working families. I'm pleased to have come full circle from being involved at those earliest stages to now overseeing the final drive to open 3,500 children's centres - one for every community across the country.
Over the next few weeks and months I will be driving forward a communications plan to reach those families who still don't know what a positive difference children's centres can make to them and explain what great services are out there. I also want to urge children's centres that are up and running to be constantly evaluating the services they offer their local community. Sure Start Children's Centres are for everyone - whatever their income, whatever their background and whatever their needs. It is crucial that the services they provide meet the needs of the communities they serve.
Since 1997, we have doubled the number of childcare places available and taken successive steps to improve the quality of childcare. New figures published last week showed that families of almost every four-year-old in the country, and 95 per cent of families with three-year-olds, are taking advantage of the free early education entitlement. We are on track to extend that entitlement to 15 hours and make it more flexible. We are also looking to extend it even further to the most disadvantaged two-year-olds - something we know will be key to narrowing the development gap between those children and their peers.
In my new role, I plan to monitor the continued roll-out of the Early Years Foundation Stage. There continues to be widespread support for the framework and we know that practitioners and settings are getting on and implementing it. I know that since its implementation there has been feedback about certain aspects, including the assessment arrangements and some of the early learning goals. It is right that these concerns are raised and that there is public debate about how we can better support the EYFS implementation.
It is also important that we continue to respond to inaccurate reports about the EYFS and stress that it is a play-based framework designed to meet the needs of children individually and support them in progressing at a pace that is right for them. We want practitioners to be creative and use their own approaches and professional judgement to deliver the aims of helping every child reach their potential in a safe and stimulating environment. This involves staff observing children and personalising activities to match development and interests - but it should not require any unnecessary bureaucracy.
The review of the Early Years Foundation Stage in 2010 will offer a good opportunity to further highlight the wider implementation issues. Meanwhile, my priority over the coming months is to actively engage with sectors and stakeholders, and ensure all settings and practitioners receive the right support and training to deliver the EYFS and build on best practice.
I look forward to hearing your views and working with you on taking this important work forward.
Dawn Primarolo is the Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families
