WIREDGOV

- Start of nationwide free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds -

 

- Up to 1500 hours of Government-funded free childcare for under-fives -

 

- Second year of Early Years Foundation Stage -

 

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls today celebrates the launch of Sure Start Children’s Centre Week - which coincides with the start of free childcare for the most disadvantaged two year olds throughout the country.

 

Together with the entitlement to free childcare for all three and four year olds, parents can now access up to 1500 hours of free childcare during their child’s first five years.

 

This autumn also marks this second year of the Early Years Foundation Stage which has had an overwhelmingly positive response from the workforce. Recent research shows that contrary to fears in advance of its implementation, the vast majority of childcare professionals now support the framework and its impact on the children they look after. Early indications show that this positive impact extends to children in settings implementing the EYFS as they benefit from the observations of their childcarer.

 

Ed Balls will visit Morningside Sure Start Children’s Centre in Hackney today with TV’s agony aunt Denise Robertson to launch Sure Start Children’s Centres Week. Over a third of Sure Start Children’s Centres are taking part in a week of celebrations to show families with children under five years old what support is available for them.

 

The Government is also announcing today £26m funding for Booktrust from 2009-2011. The funding includes £18m for around 12 million books for 0-3 year olds.

 

Speaking ahead of today’s launch, Ed Balls said:

 

“With so much to celebrate it is only right that we take time to reflect on how early years services are supporting families with young children and from conception to birth. We really have moved on leaps and bounds in our provision of childcare and early years support for the under fives in the last ten years.

 

“We are committed to giving all families access to their choice of childcare and today’s rollout of free childcare for disadvantaged two year olds aims to give the most vulnerable families additional support. These extra hours of free childcare can be used to help parents and carers train or gain employment and are a pivotal part of the Government’s commitment, now enshrined in law, to eradicate child poverty by 2020.

 

“Underpinning our achievements for early years is our continued determination to make early years a public service of the highest quality. The early years workforce has worked hard this year to take on board the EYFS framework and while for some it has not been an easy ride, we know that the best practitioners have adopted it with ease and are thriving under its guidance.”

 

Sure Start Children’s Centres Week, running from 14th-18th September, kicks off a major communications campaign to promote Sure Start Children’s Centres locally to parents unfamiliar with Sure Start to find and access the helpful services on offer.

 

On Sure Start Children’s Centres Week, Ed Balls said:

 

"Ten years ago there were no Children's Centres, but today there are over 3,000 providing universal services to millions of families across the country. The Government is determined to continue investing in Sure Start, because we know the early years of a child's life are so important."

 

The communications campaign is designed to raise awareness among all families with young children and from conception to birth of the services available to them locally. The campaign has three strands: national, regional and local activity that aim to raise awareness and improve take up from parents and carers currently unaware of the services offered by Sure Start.

 

Research from the DCSF shows that parents who access the universal services available in Sure Start Children’s Centres are pleased with what is on offer, but many parents are not aware that they can also access maternity and health services through Sure Start. The campaign aims to help Children’s Centre Leaders to engage the local community better, tailoring communications and services to what is needed locally.

 

On the funding for Booktrust, Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said:

 

“The support given to children and families during those all important early years can have a lasting impact on a child’s development. Children can reap the benefits for many years if parents, carers and early years professionals encourage a love of books and reading at an early age. I am delighted that we are able to continue this partnership with Booktrust with funding to benefit children and families until 2011. All investment in early years is important, but funding that encourages families to read and learn together and improve literacy is invaluable.”

 

Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
None

Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk