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The Government’s Ten Year Childcare Strategy, Choice for parents, the best start for children, was published alongside the Pre-Budget Report (PBR) on 2 December 2004. Its key themes were:
- choice and flexibility – greater choice for parents in how they balance their work commitments and family life through enhanced parental leave and easy access to Sure Start children’s centres for all
- availability – flexible childcare for all families with children aged up to 14 who need it; and 15 hours a week free early education for all 3- and 4-year-olds for 38 weeks a year, with 20 hours as a goal
- quality – high quality provision delivered by a skilled Early Years and childcare workforce, with full day-care settings professionally led and a strengthened qualification and career structure
- affordability – affordable provision appropriate to their needs with substantial increases in tax credit support.
The Government undertook a range of detailed consultations on particular issues featured in the Strategy, including the workforce, proposals for legislation and single quality framework. There were also structured discussions with parents up and down the country early in 2005.
LA guidance
Following the publication of the Ten Year Childcare Strategy, the Government issued guidance for LAs to help them plan to meet the new agenda.
Ten Year Childcare Strategy – guidance for LAs
Childcare Act
The Childcare Act, which passed into law on 11 July 2006, formalises the strategic role that LAs play through a set of new duties and also reforms Early Years regulation and inspection arrangements. The Act's main provisions have come into effect in 2008.
Work and Families Act
The Work and Families Act 2006 takes forward proposals in the Ten Year Strategy on maternity and paternity leave and pay.
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Last updated on 30/04/2009
