London Mayor Ken Livingstone's 33m Childcare AffordabilityProgramme, led by the London Development Agency, exceeded expectationswith all 32 boroughs and the Corporation of London keen to beinvolved.
"When we first thought up the scheme and started consulting we didn'tthink in our wildest dreams of getting sign-up from all boroughs. It'sincredibly encouraging," said Denise Burke, the London DevelopmentAgency's senior childcare manager.
The deadline for applications from individual childcare providers forthe first phase, which includes subsidies for full daycare and fundingto increase flexibility of places, closed last week.
Burke said it was too early to reveal the spread of applications acrossthe city but said the bids she had seen showed a good mix from private,voluntary and maintained providers.
The programme is funded by the Department for Education and Skills andthe London Development Agency and is spread over three years. It will beevaluated by the Sure Start Unit.
In November, the London Development Agency will call for bids foranother strand of the programme, a series of pilots looking at new waysof boosting childcare flexibility especially for families with disabledchildren and parents trying to get into work or training.
- www.lda.gov.uk.
