I am delighted to be contributing a series of monthly columns for Nursery World and in this first article I want to start with what is the big question for all of us: how can we enable the early years to flourish as a sector and become a stronger, more positive influence on a child's life chances?
It is the work of early years professionals that provides that crucial first line of defence against disadvantage, helping to level the playing field, so that where a child's from doesn't limit where they can go. We have been determined to broker profound change within the sector. Councils are now duty-bound to provide sufficient childcare places for local people. We have opened almost 3,000 Sure Start Children's Centres and provided the free entitlement for every three- and four-year-old, soon to be extended to two-year-olds in the poorest communities.
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