Significantly, it acknowledges several tensions that have run through the debate about government provision of childcare. One of these is about parental choice.
The strategy document states explicitly that a childcare system developed purely around the needs of the labour market would probably not be in the best interests of children, for instance by forcing mothers back to work too soon after giving birth. It therefore seeks to reassure parents that they will be able to choose, not just whether and when to return to work but also the type of childcare that might be appropriate to their needs.
Another thing worth remarking on is the emphasis the strategy document places on quality. It talks almost as much about child development as it does about the economic and social reasons for the Government's interest in childcare. "The evidence on child development ... tells us that government involvement in childcare provision cannot be limited to securing adequate supply to support labour market participation," it says. "Government needs to care about the quality of childcare."
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