Copeland MP Trudy Harrison is set to hear about local issues surrounding early years development and childcare at a new focus group this month.
It takes place in Cleator Moor’s Phoenix Centre, 12.30-2.30, on September 27, when Mrs Harrison will chair the meeting about the early years sector with local nursery providers.
The MP has been working alongside CACHE – a qualifications provider which specialises across the Early Years, Children and Young People, Health and Health & Social Care sector – and others on a joint project to resolve ongoing issues within the sector.
This event has been organised by CACHE and invites have gone out to local nursery teachers, practitioners, childminders and parents.
The aim is to share experiences about the current state of early years provisions in the UK and follows a roundtable discussion in the House of Commons at the end of last year which highlighted issues such as: implications for women in the workplace; the decline in use of childminders; funding; workforce and impact on small and medium size businesses.
The Government announced, as part of last week’s spending review, that there would be an increase of £66million in early years funding to be used to increase the hourly rate paid to childcare providers for funded childcare.
Mrs Harrison said: “I want to see accessible, high quality, affordable childcare in every town and village in my constituency. Having worked previously as a registered childminder, nursery owner and manager and on management and governing boards of a pre-school and school, I know the career opportunities in childcare and education are incredibly rewarding. I hope to identify and promote the opportunities for parents, aspiring childcare practitioners and most importantly children, who will benefit from the best possible care and education in their early years.”
Janet King, senior subject specialist in childcare for CACHE, said: “This meeting is an important opportunity for the local community in Copeland to express their views on childcare. At CACHE, we support learners across the country who are hoping to pursue a career in the early years sector and focused sessions such as this really helps us to understand the challenges faced by nurseries, childminders and parents in different parts of the country and the only effective way to pro-actively support this sector. We are committed to early years care and education and recognise the impact quality experiences have on children and their families, together we can make a positive difference.”
