19/06/2012

Downing Street Launches Childcare Review

Downing Street has launched a review of childcare and childminding in an effort to find a way to make it more affordable by cutting red tape.

This follows government research that suggests six out of 10 parents feel there is insufficient childcare in their area.

The news comes as an official review of early years education in England calls for all nursery staff to have A-level standard professional qualifications.

The Nutbrown Review also wants their maths and literacy skills strengthened.


Prof Cathy Nutbrown was asked by the government to look at how the childcare workforce could be strengthened.

In her report, she says the current system of early years qualifications is not "equipping practitioners with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need" to give babies and young children a good start.

Prof Nutbrown says that investing in good quality childcare pays dividends for children later on.

Downing Street's Childcare Commission, launched to coincide with the publication of the Nutbrown report, will look at how childcare can be made more affordable.

It comes after the Department for Education released a report showing that almost a quarter of childcare providers in England are making a loss despite fees being among the highest in the world.

The commission will focus on deregulation, child-minding and how to expand wrap-around care for schoolchildren.

(H)

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