The organisation's Strategic Plan 2002-06 states, 'Of all NDNA's aims, raising the quality of care is fundamental.
'NDNA's strategy for the future focuses on identifying and providing training, quality assurance and support that raises the skills of nursery practitioners and assists Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships in meeting the targets of the National Childcare Strategy.'
The plan outlines the NDNA's hopes to reflect the different arrangements for delivery and regulation of childcare in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and raise its profile in those parts of the UK. By 2006 the NDNA also aims to have a local presence across England with members from all sectors, including voluntary, maintained and private provision. Currently a quarter of private nurseries in England are NDNAmembers and the organisation wants to increase this to 30 per cent by 2006.
The NDNA is establishing nine regional centres in England based on the neighbourhood nurseries initiative and plans to open an office in Wales within the next year. It is currently in talks with the Scottish Independent Nurseries Association on how they can best structure an organisation to support each other and form a 'united voice' in Scotland and there are tentative plans to expand into Northern Ireland.
NDNA chief executive Rosemary Murphy said, 'What is key is that the DfES recognises us as strategic players. We're fairly new to the scene compared with other early years organisations and working alongside the DfES is a big move for us.
'I see the local delivery of the childcare strategy as very important. How the association works with EYDCPs and providers at a local level is key to our strategy. We know we can't understand each area's individual issues while working from one centre in West Yorkshire. The first centre to open will be Hartlepool where building will start in the autumn, and all of the centres will be running by March 2004.
'Training rooms will be available for the local community, providers and partnerships. We will put a manager in each centre who will run the centre and also work in partnership with others to build knowledge and support.'
