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Children's centre leaders think ahead

Future policies around children's centres could see those that provide childcare as the preferred model of provision for all children, which would solve the 'childcare versus education' muddle, new research suggests.

The report, Critical issues for 21st century children's centres, by the Innovation Unit at Pen Green Centre for Children and Families, in Northamptonshire, is based on a series of 'think tank' sessions with children's centre leaders.

Pen Green has also launched a steering group called the National Association of Children's Centres and is urging children's centre leaders to join. The group will focus on widening Continuing Professional Development opportunities and learning networks for children's centres.

The report was presented at a Penn Green symposium last week which was attended by around 200 children's centre leaders and children's minister Sarah Teather.

The report argues that children's centres which provide childcare prioritise disadvantaged families but that nurseries in the PVI sector cannot do so as effectively because of commercial constraints.

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