Speaking at the charity's annual conference, Ms Garnham said, 'The ten-year strategy and Childcare Act were a first for Britain, and the Daycare Trust is calling for a further financial commitment from Government to embed the childcare strategy and send down deep roots that cannot be disturbed in future. A national consensus around childcare with all-party support would help to achieve this.'
Childcare Today: A progress report on the government's ten-year childcare strategy assesses the achievements and makes recommendations for future success. There is now one registered childcare place for every three children aged under eight, compared with 1997 figures when there was only one place for every nine children.
The report says many families living in poverty or with disabled children are still unable to access affordable and suitable childcare. The Trust is urging the Government to increase free and subsidised places via next year's Com- prehensive Spending Review.
Education secretary Alan Johnson tried to reassure delegates of continued levels of funding, without making any promises. Responding to questions from the floor, Mr Johnson said, 'I cannot give any guarantees of what funding will be there. I hope you'll be satisfied the with the Comprehensive Spending Review and I can't see any party putting this strategy into reverse.'
The report also highlighted concerns about the under-spending of the Transformation Fund and the lack of certainty about its future, which the Trust said could undermine the qualifications drive.
The progress report will be available shortly at www.daycaretrust.org.uk, and a final version will be launched at the Trust's spring conference in May.