A report called Creche Barriers, published by the think-tank Demos in January, suggested that partnerships tended to be bureaucratic and unwieldy. It argued that they should be strengthened, while a new national Childcare Development Agency should be set up to oversee growth and a single national Childcare Fund should be set up to channel the various sources of funding to applicants.
Baroness Ashton was due to speak at a seminar about the Demos report at London's BT Centre last week, but was unavailable to attend so her views were conveyed by Alan Cranston, head of the Department for Education and Skills' early years and childcare unit. He said the Government 'wasn't ruling out changes over time', but added that 'energies are often better spent concentrating on the services'. Partnerships had been productive to date, but there was 'scope to learn from what is not being done so well'.
The minister's response to a number of points in the report was 'puzzlement', Mr Cranston said, particularly over the complaint that there was no single point of entry to the Government for those seeking to discuss childcare. He stressed that a single point of entry was provided by the DfES early years and childcare unit.
Mr Cranston said there were 'many similarities between the vision set out in the Demos report and the way the Government wanted to work with entrepreneurs in the sector in building a mixed economy. He said, 'I think Catherine sees the Government's role as ensuring that the framework is right, making sure there's good quality information and advice, making sure the delivery mechanisms are there, intervening where necessary to create a stable framework but pulling back when it's not needed.'
Mr Cranston briefly outlined the minister's vision for the early years, which included making better use of the human and physical resources in schools, joining childcare up with education and other services, and tackling staffing issues, such as access to training.
Creche Barriers costs 8 from Central Books on 020 8986 5488.
