10 September 2004
Affordable early years education remains out of reach for too many families despite impressive levels of government investment, senior MPs said this week.
The influential Commons Public Accounts Committee noted that access to childcare and pre-school places was difficult for many parents, especially those who live in London or in deprived areas not targeted by the government.
The committee's September 7 report calls on the Department for Education and Skills to introduce target numbers of pre-school places per 100 children for each local authority area.
As well as addressing gaps in provision, the MPs urged the government to make better use of school premises, which are well placed to meet unmet demand for childcare.
But the PAC praised the 'good progress' that has been made in expanding childcare and early education – between 1997 and 2002 real-terms' spending on education for the under-fives increased by £1.6bn and delivered 325,000 more places.
Education Secretary Charles Clarke said the PAC report 'reinforced' the government's view of what needed to be done to extend and improve early years support.
Addressing a conference hosted by the charity 4Children on September 8, Clarke admitted that current provision was too patchy and often not flexible enough to fit in with families' needs.
He added that the challenge for the next five years was to allow parents to access a flexible package of childcare through a single point of contact. Schools were the key. Under the Extended Schools proposals, they would be expected to provide a range of breakfast and after-school activities, as well as play schemes and holiday clubs.
Clarke said: 'It will take time for all schools to make an Extended Schools offer to parents – either on their own or in partnership with others close by – but we want it to happen and we will be providing practical help, training, capital funding as well as some revenue support to help roll out the strategy across the country.'
Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said there was an 'overwhelming' demand from parents and children to extend the opening hours of primary schools, but this needed to be backed by adequate investment.
'Without this, the identified barriers of a lack of premises, staffing and ongoing funds will remain insurmountable, and a major opportunity to provide child care for all will be lost,' she said.
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