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Staff working in early years settings should be trained on how to involve fathers as both volunteers and staff, a report says.

The study, by the Pre-School Learning Alliance, says that fathers would be more involved in child care if the workforce was more gender balanced. Activities in early years centres should be targeted at fathers, who are happy to get involved in activities, the report says.

Meanwhile, work and pensions secretary David Blunkett this week urged men to consider a career in child care. "Only 2 per cent of those working in child care are men, yet there is much they can give to the profession," he said as he toured a Sure Start programme in south London.


Blunkett's comments coincide with a campaign by the Department for Education and Skills to attract more people, particularly men, into child care. The government estimates that 160,000 people need to be recruited to work in child care by 2008.