The APPG has been set up following a campaign led by Cheryl Hadland, founder of Tops Day Nurseries. The nursery chain is one of five sponsors of the cross-party group of MPs and peers (see below).
Ms Siddiq was formally elected as chair yesterday (6 September) when the APPG had its inaugural meeting and AGM.
The Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn served as shadow early years minister between October 2016 and January 2017 when she resigned from the role. She has previously challenged the Government on early years funding.
Priorities of the Childcare and Early Education APPG will include the 30-hours childcare policy, financial sustainability of the sector, workforce issues, raising standards in care and support for parents.
Commenting on her appointment, Ms Siddiq said, ‘I am delighted to be chair of the new Childcare and Early Education APPG. This is a sector that I feel extremely passionate about, and I am pleased to be able to contribute to the on-going debate in a constructive way.
‘With a young family myself, I understand the importance of affordable, high-quality childcare and nursery provision, and how crucial it is to working families across the country.
‘There is much for the APPG to be working on and myself and the officers of the group are united about ensuring childcare and early education works best for children and families across the country.’
The following MPs have been elected as officers of the group:
- Ruth George, Labour MP for High Peak;
- Julian Sturdy, Conservative MP for York Outer;
- Neil Gray, SNP MP for Airdrie and Shotts;
- Conor McGinn, Labour MP for St Helens North;
- Yasmin Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton South East
The secretariat of the Childcare and Early Education APPG is Connect. The five sponsors are Tops Day Nurseries, Pre-school Learning Alliance, National Day Nurseries Association, CACHE and The Foundation Stage Forum.
