MPs want better training for early years staff

The House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts highlights the high turnover of staff in the sector.

The committee urges the government to improve training opportunities for potential childcare workers in England.

Government spending on childcare and pre-school education has increased by �1.6bn since 1997 as ministers encourage mothers to return to work.

The early years programme aims to increase the accessibility, affordability and quality of childcare and early education.

But, MPs warn, the biggest risk to sustaining growth in the sector is the high turnover of staff.

Other issues such as increasing staffing costs, the cost and difficulty of finding locations and parents' ability to pay the fees are also identified as a problem.

Regional divide

The committee's report also points to the need to tackle regional gaps in provision.

London is identified as having particular problems, with a shortage of places and high fees.

The cost of childcare varies across the country

The report cites statistics from the Daycare Trust which suggest the typical cost of a nursery place in January 2004 was �168 a week in London, compared with �107 in the West Midlands.

MPs call on the government to introduce a specific strategy for early years provision in the capital.

Concern is also raised about deprived children living outside the most disadvantaged areas.

"There are pockets of deprivation in otherwise affluent areas and there is a danger that these people will be overlooked in a strategy focusing on the 20% poorest wards," the report says.

Cost

The committee of MPs wants the government to demonstrate that childcare has become more affordable and remains so.

While acknowledging the working tax credit and the free part-time places for children from the age of three, the MPs say research is needed to assess whether cost remains a barrier to the take-up of childcare and early years education.

"For those eligible for the tax credit, it does not meet all costs and only represents a small proportion of the amount parents spend on childcare."

The report also suggests school premises are "an under-used resource" and could meet demand for childcare in deprived areas.

In a speech on Wednesday, the Education Secretary, Charles Clarke, is expected to announce plans to extend a scheme which allows primary schools to stay open for a 10-hour day.

A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills said: "We welcome this report which acknowledges the progress that has been made in creating new childcare places."

"We will study the report and will respond in due course."

Anne Nelson, director of Early Education, which represents parents and childcare workers, welcomed the report.

But she called for "a programme of continuous professional development leading to a specialist qualification" to be set up, along with better pay for the sector.