Partnerships win awards for innovative initiatives

Simon Vevers
Wednesday, December 18, 2002

An Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership in Lancashire that is using rugby league to try to attract more men into childcare was among 26 EYDCPs from across England to win Partners in Excellence awards last week. The awards, a joint venture between the Department for Education and Skills and the Daycare Trust, covered 11 categories ranging from children's services to the promotion of Foundation Stage curriculum. They were presented by Cherie Booth, a patron of the scheme, whose personal statement at the ceremony about the controversy over her purchase of two flats in Bristol was reported exhaustively by the media, while the awards presentation was largely ignored.