900 children in Coventry gain access to free early years education- thanks to Lib Dems
The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Children's Minister Sarah
Teather set out the plans in a consultation on changes to free early
education.
In Coventry, 900 two-year old children from disadvantaged backgrounds
look set to benefit from 15 hours a week of free early education.
Children's Minister, Sarah Teather, announced a consultation today on how
this commitment will be implemented. The plans include proposals to help
parents and children alike by making the free entitlement of 15 hours per
week of early education more flexible, so it can be taken between 7am and
7pm across two days instead of the current three days
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said "I want us to give every child the best
possible start - so free education for toddlers from the most disadvantaged
homes will now be a right and not a privilege.
"Crucially the extra care will be flexible and easy to access. Parents across
the country are bending over backwards to balance work and home. The
coalition wants to help in whatever way we can."
Coventry Lib Dem spokesperson, Cllr Russell Field, who has
campaigned for children services, said:
"These plans reinforce the Liberal Democrats' commitment to Early Years
Education because this is the period of a child's life where education and
supervised play are crucial in helping children fulfil their potential.
"Children from disadvantaged backgrounds will benefit most from this type of
additional support in the long-term and will see further support as they enter
primary and secondary education via the Liberal Democrat Fairness Premium,
stretching from the age of two to the age of 20: from a child's first shoes to a
young adult's first suit.
"In stark contrast to the plans being put forward by the Liberal Democrats,
we're now seeing the local Labour council perform a U-turn on their Sure Start
reduction plans after sustained pressure from opposition councillors such as
myself and parent campaigners who are set to suffer directly."
Lib Dem campaigner and candidate for Earlsdon, Greg Judge,
commented on recent Coventry Sure Start developments:
"The Labour council need to recognise that Coventry is not made up of
ghettos and areas such as Cheylesmore, Coundon, Earlsdon, Finham,
Whoberley and Wyken (where Children's Centres are now alternatively
planned to close) are not overtly 'wealthy' and still include families on low
incomes. Communities like Earlsdon are diverse and the need for Early Years
education and child care are as evident in these areas as any other".
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. The consultation is published on our consultations web page. It will run
until 31 January 2012.
2. Subject to passage of the current Education Bill and regulations, local
authorities will have a statutory duty to provide 15 hours of free early
education and childcare to disadvantaged two-year-olds from September
2013.
3. Funding is being given to all local authorities from this financial year in
order to build up to the new entitlement. £64 million in 2011-12, £223 million
in 2012-13, £331 million in 2013-14 and £380 million in 2014-15. This is part
of the Early Intervention Grant for the first two years. The consultation asks for
views on the best funding route from 2013-14 onwards.
4. The number of disadvantaged two-year-olds who stand to benefit are listed
below, by local authority:
