Ms Carr, director of Lancashire-based Kindercare Childcare Centres - identified as the tenth biggest nursery chain in the UK in the league table in Nursery Chains, published with this week's issue - is taking over from Michael Thompson, managing director of Child Base, who was chair for the past three years.
As chair, Ms Carr wants to push forward a bid by the NDNA to develop neighbourhood nurseries and promote quality in the private sector, including improved training opportunities, pay and status for nursery nurses.
She said, 'The past three years under Mike Thompson's leadership have seen a phenomenal development of the association, and the NDNA has become recognised as the voice of the private sector nationally.
'I hope to build on these foundations. Our immediate challenge is to develop neighbour-hood nurseries in at least nine regions to become real centres of focus. This should enable us to develop representation at local level. The NDNA has discussed this with the DfEE and bids are being looked at by the relevant partnerships.'
She added, 'Over the next two years the sector will grow at an even faster pace, and we want to make sure quality provision is not diminished as a result. We need to ensure there is a workforce to deliver that quality. A major concern for all private providers is the status of nursery nurses.
'We want to raise awareness of nursery nurses' responsibilities and staff need to know they can be paid properly for their work. Inevitably charges in the private sector need to be increased substantially in the next few years. The Government needs to look at how to do this because parents alone cannot meet increased fees. Providers want to pay higher wages and give staff privileges, such as pensions, that other sectors take for granted.'