The project, which will run to the end of March 2009 and will be managedby Firstcare Consultancy, will focus on three key areas - targetedsufficiency, delivering the free and flexible offer, and increasing thetake-up of formal childcare by low-income families.
A team of consultants will work with London's 33 local authorities todevelop action plans aimed at particular groups such as older children,children with additional needs and those who have English as anadditional language. They will also develop strategies with localauthorities to deliver the free entitlement to 25 per cent of three- andfour-year-olds from September 2009 and all three- and four-year-oldsfrom 2010.
Lucia Partridge, head of the early years and childhood policy team atGOL, said, 'The combined experience and expertise of Daycare Trust andFirstcare will provide invaluable support to local authorities infulfilling their new obligations to ensure there is sufficientchildcare.'
