Anne-Marie Graham, regional manager for Sure Start Yorkshire and the Humber, spoke at the national conference, 'Childcare: A socially responsible business', organised by the National Day Nurseries Association.
Ms Graham pointed out the sector's business credentials included quality childcare providers taking 'good care' of their staff, and the fact that parents paid for childcare. 'They want value for money and they want their needs to be met,' she said, adding, 'Successful childcare meets the needs of its clients - parents and children. You must respond to what parents say they want.'
Ms Graham described Sure Start's aims as being to 'increase the availability of childcare for all children, and work both with parents-to-be and parents and children to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of babies and young children - particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds - so they can flourish at home and at school, enabling their parents to work and contribute to the end of child poverty'.
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