The deputy prime minister spoke of the importance of investing in the early years and of the long-term positive impact that high-quality childcare can have on children's lives.
While we are pleased Mr Clegg recognises the importance of investing in the early years, we are concerned that the coalition government is committed to taking Sure Start 'back to focus on the neediest families'.
The Pre-school Learning Alliance considers that such a move would create considerable barriers - and afford less opportunity for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to interact and develop beyond their own socio-economic position. If children's centre services are confined just to the most disadvantaged, these children and their parents will lose out. Creating an inclusive learning environment where all families interact freely can only promote greater cohesion in society.
Alliance members deliver a 'level playing field' model today, supporting parents and children from all social-economic backgrounds in mixed, often complex, communities.
Excellent early years provision is about building communities and offering the same quality support to every family, to break down disadvantage at the very start.
We would prefer the Government to ensure that children's centres meet the needs of everyone - not just the most disadvantaged families. The last thing we need is a series of unintended consequences, where we look back and realise we have increased the already substantial divide between the haves and the have-nots.
Unless everyone receives the same start in life, Nick Clegg's vision of greater social mobility may be just wishful thinking. Sure Start children's centres should be the starting point.