Early years - Parties draw childcare battle lines

24 November 2009 2 mins read Early Years

All three main political parties outlined their early years policy priorities at last week's Daycare Trust annual conference. Ross Watson was there to hear their views on issues ranging from the free childcare entitlement to raising levels of pay.

DAWN PRIMAROLO, CHILDREN'S MINISTER

ACCESS TO CHILDCARE

Delegates were assured that the government will act on concerns raised about the distribution of funding for free childcare. Ministers are also rethinking their stance on scrapping tax relief through childcare vouchers to fund more free places for two-year-olds. Primarolo says the government must "look across everything" to see what types of financial support are most effective.

CHILDCARE WORKFORCE

Primarolo was criticised by some at the conference for failing to address low pay in the early years sector.

She responded by saying it is a government priority to look at the pay inequalities between early years graduates and other professions such as teaching.

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