NOW 2004
- There are 524 Sure Start local programmes, 1,139 neighbourhood nurseries, 107 early excellence centres and 67 children's centres up and running
- Universal offer of two-and-a-half hours free nursery education each school day for three- and four-year-olds
- Green paper and Children Bill set out future vision - more details of the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme expected in the autumn
- A green paper on youth to be published in the autumn to bring together services for young people
BY 2008
- More flexible offer of 12-and-a-half hours a week of free "educare" for three- and four-year-olds for 33 weeks of the year
- Half of all children will reach a good level of development by the end of the foundation stage, and the level of development reached by children in the 20 per cent most deprived wards to be closer to the average
- A revised early years framework with integrated education and childcare inspection
- At least 1,700 children's centres will be reaching all children in the 20 per cent most deprived wards and will be being developed elsewhere
- At least 1,000 primary schools offering an 8am to 6pm childcare guarantee
- Children's commissioner appointed; councils to have a director of children's services; and all councils will have children's trusts and local safeguarding children's boards
- All young people leaving care will be getting the support they need to help them make the transition to adulthood
LONG-TERM AIM
- An end to child poverty
- More flexible working opportunities, particularly for parents of very young children
- Access to integrated, flexible "educare" throughout the year for three- and four-year-olds for all families that want it
- A children's centre and a primary school offering guaranteed 8am to 6pm childcare in every community. Parenting support for every parent who wants it
- Schools contributing to reversing year-on-year increases in child obesity
- Children at risk identified early and given the help and support they need; no child allowed to slip through the net.
