CYP Now - Opinion: Soapbox - The Government is serious about childcare

In many quarters of local government, the significance of the Childcare Act is only just sinking in. But as regulations and guidance begin to roll off the Whitehall production line, it's apparent that the Government is serious about making a reality of its childcare strategy. Moreover, the implementation process will be the stronger as a result of a project that ran in 2006.

The Childcare Implementation Project brought together the Department forEducation and Skills and practitioners in 12 local authorities (ChildrenNow, 4-10 April). My role, along with Carey Oppenheim, was to facilitatethe action learning that was the cornerstone of the project.

The project focused on themes: making and managing the childcare market;children's centres; introducing the flexible and extended entitlement tofree early years' provision; and developing the workforce. Work wasundertaken by each authority.

The work ranged from pioneering comprehensive childcare assessments todeveloping detailed project plans for extending the free entitlement andtrialling Transformation Fund packages.

Two conferences helped spread learning and our report has summarised allthe outputs and lessons.

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