Strategy ahead for workforce leaders

Speaking in a debate at Westminster Hall, children's minister TimLoughton said, 'Central to a quality setting is a quality workforce. Weare committed by March to announcing a strategy to improve the qualityof the early years workforce and the development of a new generation ofleaders for that sector.'

Mr Loughton also reiterated the Government's commitment to introduceregulations to ensure that all local authorities include a deprivationsupplement in their Early Years Single Finding Formula, so that alldisadvantaged children will receive more funding.

'As a result, money will be provided for those children who need itmost, as well as incentivising providers to offer free places to thosefamilies. When children start school, the pupil premium will follow themfrom reception year onwards, and we will consider whether it should beextended to nursery education over time.'

At the debate, Ann Coffey, Labour MP for Stockport, said that improvingthe take-up of early years education for the most disadvantaged familieswas crucial.

She explained how the successful two-year-old pilot in her constituencywas due to its support work with families and a brokerage service run byStockport's family information service, which helped encourage parentsand offered home visits to explain childcare options to the family.

Mr Loughton added, 'The national implementation of the Early YearsSingle Funding Formula will ensure that local funding decisions are moretransparent. We will use the forthcoming education Bill to clarify theposition of maintained nursery schools and nurseries in schools in beingable to charge for additional nursery education beyond the free 15hours, to help increase choice for parents.'