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Baroness Cathy Ashton, minister for Sure Start, early years and childcare, has called for local authorities to get more involved with shaping childcare services locally, writes Derren Hayes.

Speaking at The Daycare Trust’s annual conference, Ashton said local authorities must play a bigger part in developing local partnerships around childcare, Sure Start and early years development initiatives.

Ashton's statement follows last week’s publication of the government’s cross-departmental review of childcare services, which outlined plans for local authorities to take ownership of the flagship Sure Start programme with council chief executives taking over strategic responsibility.

The review also signalled the government’s intention for a range of childcare initiatives such as Sure Start, childcare and early years development care partnerships to be drawn together within one ministerial department.

Ashton said: "We need to look at how we make sure local government plays its role - local services partnerships can’t do that without child care and Sure Start being included."

Ashton also said the government’s new children’s centres would build on work carried out by Sure Start. "The Sure Start principles underpin all of this as it's been focused around the needs of families, children and those of the locality," she added.