CYP Now - Opinion: Soapbox - Childcare partnerships are vital to provision

For early years providers, the Childcare Bill is perhaps the most significant piece of legislation for a generation. It proposes the decentralisation of decision making on childcare services and infers a new duty on local authorities to secure sufficient supply. All of which is very laudable.

However, there remains great unease about the practical implementationof the new duty. Time and again I am approached by alliance members,drawn mainly from the voluntary sector, who express anxiety and concernthat the new arrangements rely on local authorities understanding theimportance of partnership working. These are committed practitioners andthey have very real concerns about the future.

It must be said that the majority of local authorities embracepartnership working and view voluntary and private providers as integralto the mix of childcare offered. However, we also have examples ofauthorities disregarding partnership, cancelling contracts that haveexisted for years, and taking staff and services "in-house".

This contradicts the spirit of the Bill and undermines choice forparents.

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