The group of advisors, described by children's minister Sarah Teather as a 'co-production', has been formed to help draw up the Government's early years policy statement in the spring (News, 3 March).
Speaking at a debate on Sure Start at the House of Commons last week in response to a question from Labour MP Barry Sheerman on the future of early years qualifications, Ms Teather said, 'We are in the process of co-producing a policy statement with the Department of Health and the sector on the vision for early years and on how we will drive forward a number of changes. The questions include whether the existing qualifications are fit for purpose, whether we should change them and whether we should ensure that there is a greater focus on child development.'
Referring to a commitment made in the Schools White Paper for the National College to support and train children's centre leaders, Ms Teather added, 'We have asked the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services to focus on the quality of leadership in children's centres.'
Mr Sheerman also criticised the Government's decision to remove the requirement for children's centres in disadvantaged areas to provide full daycare.
Ms Teather defended the decision and said that in some areas there is no demand and centres end up subsidising places. She claimed the money could be better spent on 'evidence-based programmes that make a difference'.
The children's minister also faced harsh criticism about removing the ring-fencing for Sure Start funding in the new Early Intervention Grant.
Bill Esterson, Labour MP for Sefton Central, called on Ms Teather to reconsider.
She replied, 'I will not reconsider the decision on ring-fencing because I believe that it is the correct decision.'
Earlier in the day at 'A Foundation for Life: The new landscape for the early years', a conference organised by 4Children, Frank Field, Labour MP for Birkenhead, criticised the Government for leaving Sure Start centres to their own devices, and said that guidelines were needed for those who run the centres. He also called for outcome measures in the early years to ensure that when children start school, teachers don't have as much 'recovery' to do.
Mr Field's comment was in response to a delegate's question on changing the culture of funding to focus on outcomes in the early years, rather than just examine results in primary and secondary schools.
