CYP Now - Better training and more government investment tops childcare wish list

With childcare set to be a key battleground in next year's general election, CYP Now gets the views of early years and children's organisations on what their main policy priorities are for a future government.

Barnardo's

1. Empower fathers

2. Extend the free entitlement

3. Engage employers

Jonathan Rallings, assistant director of policy and research at Barnardo's, would like to see the flagship free childcare schemes for disadvantaged two-, threeand four-year-olds to be extended further.

He says the move would help more vulnerable children access high-quality childcare, narrowing the gap between them and their wealthier peers.

"The introduction of the free entitlement has been one of the greatest political achievements of the 21st century with due credit to all political parties," he says.

"We hope that the government continues to pursue plans to extend the entitlement further, particularly as this policy not only relieves the childcare burden on families, but also provides a vital levelling of the playing field for the most disadvantaged infants."

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