News Release

24th May 2002

MICHAEL FABRICANT 'SIGNS-UP' TO NURSERY EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE CHARTER

Michael Fabricant has announced his strong support for the Pre-School Learning Alliance's Charter for Parents and the Early Years which was launched at the House of Commons this week.

The Charter - which will take the form of a mass petition - would provide more childcare places for all but would also guarantee basic rights for parents in terms of the type of provision available, a larger say in how childcare settings are managed and would provide more support and learning activities for the whole family.

The Pre-school Learning Alliance's own commissioned research reveals overwhelming support for this reform. In Lichfield and the West Midlands, around nine in 10 parents and grandparents believe that nurseries and other early years providers should have a responsibility to invite parents to be involved with their children's care and education. They also believe that encouraging parental involvement in early years education and care is one way of preventing anti-social behaviour in children's later years.

Michael says, "The Pre-school Learning Alliance's Changing Lives, Changing Life campaign reflects the service which pre-schools have always offered to the community. Many parents bringing their children to local pre-schools volunteer to help out for a few hours each week and eventually go on to study for qualifications or to work in the early years field. In this way, pre-schools help to create and sustain jobs often benefiting some of the most disadvantaged families in their area as well as providing our children with one of the best starts in life. I urge everyone in this area to sign the campaign."

Margaret Lochrie, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, says: "Most parents understand and take very seriously their responsibilities towards their children's education. It's crucial that we give parents the choice and confidence to be involved with early years education right from the start. By the time children are 11 or 12, it may be too late to establish effective home-school partnerships................... More needs to be done to match childcare to the needs of children and families and to recognise the central role of parents in their children's education and as an influence on their behaviour. We advocate the development of childcare centres which involve parents in management, in everyday activities and offer a range of opportunities for the whole family. We believe that education needs to be brought further out into the community by enlisting all parents as equal partners from children's very earliest years. Unless a parental involvement culture in children's education is developed and extended, educational reforms may come to very little."