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Hughes announces cash for childcare
Children & Young People Now 10 July 2008

Children's minister Beverley Hughes has announced a package of £819million to be handed to early years services over the next three years.

The money will be used to extend the free childcare entitlement to 20,000 more two-year-olds in disadvantaged areas and increase the free entitlement for three-year-olds to 15 hours a week.

Hughes also announced that Blackpool, Derby City, Hertfordshire, the Isle of Wight, Kingston upon Thames, North Tyneside, Rotherham, Somerset, Staffordshire, and Sunderland will offer the £10 million 0-7 partnership pilot.

The pilot will explore different ways of helping young children and their families, especially as they make the transition from early years to school.

Through it schools, nursery workers, childminders and parents will have a chance to discuss how well children are developing and can make sure they are working together to reinforce what each other is doing.

The pilots will test how to provide a single point of advice to parents wishing to access childcare for the first time, or with a change in working patterns.

Hughes said: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life. That is why we’re ensuring families can get good quality childcare easily.

“The funding we have announced today also reflects our commitment by providing greater opportunity for practitioners to take part in training and continuous professional development because they are key to driving up quality.”

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