Speaking at the Daycare Trust's annual conference in London last week, he said the party was committed to the EYFS and would look into how it could ease the process for providers.
Mr Willetts acknowledged to Nursery World that there had been a 'softening' in Conservative comments on the framework.
Only four months ago he claimed that too much emphasis had been put on the early years and that early years work was being 'over-educationalised' (News, 9 July).
Mr Willetts, who has special responsibility for family policy in his party, reiterated his commitment to Sure Start children's centres and said he would love to see more childminders based at the centres.
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