Daycare Trust: Prime Minister launches National Childcare Week

The Prime Minister Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP today launched Daycare Trust's 11th annual National Childcare Week at an event at No10 Downing Street.

The theme of National Childcare Week is "Building brighter futures". National Childcare Week will run from 2-9 June 2008. The week is designed to promote the importance of investing in childcare, out-of-school activities and early years provision for children to strengthen and contribute to children's play and learning. Events will be taking place in childcare settings all over the country.

The Prime Minister spoke at an awards ceremony for the winners of this year's art and writing competition for children to celebrate National Childcare Week and the National Year of Reading. He was joined by the Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families Rt Hon Ed Balls MP and Children's Minister Rt Hon Beverly Hughes MP.

The competition was for children ages 2 to 14, and was split into two categories. The first competition asked children ages 2 to 10 to choose their favourite book and design a new cover for it. The second competition invited children ages 5 to 14 to write a short story about what the future holds for all of us. Each competition was divided into three age categories. Winners each received a prize for themselves and their childcare setting/school.

This year's competition was sponsored by The Children's Mutual, the only UK company specialising in long-term savings and investments for families with children.

Speaking ahead of the launch the Prime Minister said:
"High standard childcare and early learning give children the very best start in life, as well as helping parents balance the demands of work and family life. National Childcare Week is a great way to mark the importance of childcare and I extend my best wishes to all those parents, childcare professionals and young people up and down the country who are taking part in events to mark it."

Alison Garnham, Joint Chief Executive of Daycare Trust said:
"When Gordon Brown first became Prime Minister last year we dubbed him the 'Children's Champion', so we are delighted that he is personally launching National Childcare Week. It clearly demonstrates his Government's commitment to supporting parents and children.

"Quality, affordable childcare is vital for children, helping them grow and develop, and of course it enables both mums and dads to work, study and train. In the long term, providing the right childcare will even help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour and help create a better, happier society.

"We hope this week people will see that childcare needs, and deserves, long-term public investment."

Children's Minister Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP said:
"We want to make sure that high quality, flexible and affordable childcare is available, wherever families are in the country, to give children the best start in life, to help families out of poverty and to enable them to balance their work and family lives more easily.

"Whilst the number of places continues to increase, we know that some parents find it difficult to get the childcare they need. That is why we have earmarked £1.3 billion over the next three years to support schools in providing access to childcare and activities before and after school, as part of their extended services offer. We also spend over £3.5m a day on tax credits to families to help with the cost of childcare and have committed an additional £600m a year to extend the free entitlement for three and four year olds to 5 hours a week, and £33 million for pilot programmes to test ways to provide better childcare for disabled children."

Ends.


NOTES TO EDITORS

Photos of the event are available on request.

About Daycare Trust

Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity, campaigning for quality affordable accessible childcare for all and raising the voices of children, parents and carers. We advise parents and carers, providers, employers, trade unions and policymakers on childcare issues. We recognise that everyone is unique and we value difference in our communities. We listen to all views and are committed to act without prejudice. We oppose all discrimination and promote equality in all we do.
Daycare Trust is calling on the Government to
1. Meet parents' aspirations for universal childcare services by:
- expanding free places for two, three and four-year olds to at least 20 hours a week, for 48 weeks in the year and
- subsidising out of school activities for all 11-14s and for younger children from poorer families, aiming ultimately to make them free.
2. Tackle the affordability crisis by giving local authorities the means to develop sustainable services in poorer areas and provide free places for those missing out, including places for disabled children, parents needing out of hours care, Further Education students and parents of under-threes who want to train.
3. Set new standards for the pay of childcare workers, either through national benchmarks or incentives such as the Graduate Leader Fund.

Daycare Trust runs an information line (020 7840 3350) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-5pm. Parents can also visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk for information.
Daycare Trust is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, www.ecpc.org.uk.
For further information, contact Daycare Trust on 020 7840 3350.

The Children's Mutual - Home of the Child Trust Fund
The Children's Mutual's mission is to help parents, grandparents, family and friends fulfil their hopes for today's children. We offer a range of savings plans, which are specially designed to do this, by combining the benefits of our 127-year heritage as a trusted mutual society with the latest financial expertise.

The Children's Mutual is a trading name of the Tunbridge Wells Equitable Group. The Children's Mutual provides information about products of the Tunbridge Wells Equitable Group only. www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk

About the National Year of Reading
The National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency are leading a consortium of organisations committed to promoting reading to manage the National Year of Reading 2008 (NYR) on behalf of the DCSF.
The NYR will run from January to December 2008. From January to March organisations and authorities will be asked to take the Reading Challenge, to pledge and plan their support. Delivery of the NYR will be launched in April 2008. www.yearofreading.org.uk

About the National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that changes lives through literacy. It links home, school and the wider community to inspire learners and create opportunities for everyone. www.literacytrust.org.uk