'No longer a voice for childcare in London' as Boris axes LDA team

The team, formed in 2003 under then-mayor Ken Livingstone, was largelyresponsible for supporting London boroughs to offer better access tochildcare for low-income families.

As part of a major restructure within the agency, the team expanded onlylast year to take responsibility for youth services in the capital. Butthe original remit of the team has now been dropped altogether.

Former head of childcare and youth, Denise Burke, was asked to takeearly retirement; the rest of her team have been given roles within thenew structure.

"I'm really disappointed there is no longer a voice for childcare inLondon," Burke told CYP Now. "I know they have a finite budget at LDAbut basically childcare has been substituted by volunteering."

Since 2003, the LDA has published guidance and research into the costand quality of London childcare, lobbied for better tax credits inLondon and piloted subsidised childcare places alongside support forparents looking for work.

The pilots, part of the LDA's Childcare Affordability Programme, havefunding to continue until 2012. But with no dedicated budget, it isunclear whether the LDA will develop the programme beyond 2012.

In 2008, the agency also helped all London boroughs meet their legalduty to ensure sufficient childcare by contacting 300 London employersto ask what childcare benefits they offered staff. Burke cited this anexample of what will cease.

Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Daycare Trust, said: "The LDA andthe mayor's office have been responsible for some trailblazing work inmaking childcare more affordable."

An LDA spokeswoman said the changes aimed to improve efficiency andallow the LDA to focus on "key policy areas such as youth engagement andskills".

She said: "The LDA's childcare projects are being delivered through theagency's new youth and volunteering team. One project, currently indevelopment, will provide 15m to help up to 5,000 lone parentsinto work in North London."