Childcare duty for local authorities

Local authorities will have a duty to ensure enough school based
childcare is available under government plans revealed last
week.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the government would
legislate “at the first opportunity in a new
parliament” to ensure the childcare was available.

Speaking at the Daycare Trust’s annual conference he
pledged that a third of secondary schools would be extended schools
open from 8am to 6pm by 2008. 

A “range of exiting activities” would be on offer
for children aged 11-14, and by the end of a Labour third term all
children aged 11-14 would be able to take part in these activities
after school and in the holidays, said Blair.

He added that by the end of a third term parents of children in
primary schools would also be guaranteed “affordable school
based childcare” all year round, although at least half of
parents would benefit “well before then”.

By 2008 there will be 2,500 children’ centres, with
universal provision by 2010, said Blair.

Read Blair’s speech on childcare at http://www.numberten.gov.uk/output/Page6564.asp