Last month the Government was accused of misleading the public with promises about children's centres, after it emerged that a flexible model would allow centres in more affluent areas to be like information kiosks (Children Now, 18-24 May).
But Naomi Eisenstadt, speaking at an event held at London Zoo to mark the start of National Sure Start Month, said the Government had "always been committed to a higher resource continuing to go to the poorest areas".
Local authorities were in the best position to determine the priorities in their area, she added. "It's about building on what's already there and getting local authorities and primary care trusts to work together," she said.
She also insisted that the private and voluntary sectors would continue to play a major role in providing childcare, and claimed there would be "no point in delivering services if it puts out of business providers the Government has already invested in".
At the same event, Lord Adonis, the new schools minister, attempted to counter concerns over the level of funding allocated to the rollout of children's centres by insisting that money to develop the 10-year childcare strategy would be a "high priority" in Chancellor Gordon Brown's next Spending Review.
He said the Government's plans and investment were creating a "whole new under-fives service" in the UK.
Around 1,500 events will be taking place around the country during the fourth National Sure Start Month.
The month is run by six charities: the Pre-school Learning Alliance, 4Children, Daycare Trust, National Childminding Association, National Day Nurseries Association, and National Family and Parenting Institute.
- www.nationalsurestartmonth.com.
