Providers' group to refocus

At a meeting in London members agreed that an annual event, with the aim of uniting industry bodies, was the best way forward.

The group was formed in 2008 to represent large and small providers in the non-maintained sector. Much of its impetus came from the need to address the shortfall in funding for the free nursery entitlement.

However, the latest meeting highlighted the fact that the Early Years Single Funding Formula had made this less of a national issue.

Sarah Steel, (pictured), director of the Old Station nursery chain, said, 'We know from our own spread of nurseries that the funding is sustainable in the north of the country but not in the south. There is definitely a divide.'

Karen Walker, the new head of childcare at the London Early Years Foundation, added, 'From working in Bradford, I know that local nurseries are being given a realistic rate under the formula.'

Dr Samantha Callan, chairman in residence at the Centre for Social Justice, gave a presentation outlining how it is developing and promoting new approaches to tackling poverty. On the subject of the EYFS, she said that the Government 'did not want to lose the education side but wanted to see more emphasis on nurturing'.

The group replied that the EYFS had the potential to meet all the requirements for early years education in the broadest sense, delivering 'wonderful experiences' for children if it was used properly.

There was some lively discussion around training. Dr Callan emphasised the need for the workforce to be better qualified, while at the same time acknowledged the vocational nature of the work. The group hotly refuted the idea that well-qualified practitioners should be prepared to work for less than they could earn in an unskilled job.