To mark its role as host of National Childcare Week, the Trust called for:
* an extension of paid parental leave to 12 months
* increased entitlement to free early education to 20 hours a week for all two- to four-year-olds
* the introduction of income-related subsidies for parents needing wraparound childcare
* an independent review of the whole early education and childcare funding system.
Susan Crane, Daycare Trust chief executive, said, 'Achieving all this is an ambitious task that will require the right approach and right investment.
But broken down into the ten steps in this vision, we believe such reform and improvement can happen.'
The Trust also hosted an awards ceremony at Number 11 Downing Street to recognise family-friendly small businesses and inspirational childcare campaigners. The Parents' Employer of Choice Award winners were: thecentre:mk, a shopping centre in Milton Keynes which offers specific support for new fathers; Aurora, a strategy consultancy staffed by mothers working from home; the Trojans Scheme, an educational and training charity in London (see caption); and Hillview School for Girls in Kent, which has an onsite staff nursery.
The three Childcare Champions were: Gemma Darby, who developed a neighbourhood nursery and after-school club on her local council estate in Sheffield; parents who set up St Anthony's After School Club in Preston; and Joanne Moon, who set up Sparkie Tots Playgroup in Doncaster.
National Childcare Week finished on 10 June, when winners of the Nursery World/Daycare Trust children's photography competition met at London Zoo.
The children were presented with cameras and gift vouchers by children's author Debi Gliori.
Winners of the Nursery World/Daycare Trust children's photography competition (left to right): Cate Huckle, ten, second prize in 8-12 years; Caitlin Skene, five, third prize in 5-7 years; Callum Evans, six, first prize in 5-7 years; Dominic Cairns, ten, third prize in 8-12 years; Jacob Davies, seven, second prize in 5-7 years; Ella Woodcock, 11, first prize in 8-12 years.
Jackie Nunns (right) and Debbie Binns (centre) receive the Parents'
Employer of Choice award for The Trojans Scheme from Chancellor Gordon Brown. Trojans provides a family-friendly employment package for its 80 staff, including subsidised childcare and flexible working arrangements.
Seven-year-old Liam Doherty puts on a spooky fun face for the National Sure Start Month launch party at London Zoo.