The concept for
Daycare Trust emerged in the 1970s in the context of the growing
feminist movement. Many women desired both a family and a work life, but the childcare
infrastructure was not in place. Additionally, the
Children Act 1948 stigmatized parents for "dumping" their children in
nurseries, categorizing those children as "at risk" and "maternally deprived."
Activists, mostly women, from various organizations campaigned to establish nurseries in various places, primarily in
colleges and
universities. From there they tackled the issue of quality, and campaigned for better professional training. In 1986, a group of these activists established Daycare Trust, creating a unified base of support to carry out the charitable work of the
National Childcare Campaign (a coalition of local groups formed in 1980 to campaign for workplace nurseries and better staff training).
1986, year of establishment • Public provision of childcare was discouraged by the lack of funding – tax relief on employer supported childcare was removed and local authority funding was cut – and private nurseries were flourishing (59,000 nursery places in 1990). • By 1986/7, 47.5% of under fives were in early education. •
Family Income Supplement, the main source of state financial support for families, did not target any help specifically to childcare costs, and there was no regulation/guidance for the childcare workforce.
Today • There are more than 1.5 million childcare places registered with
Ofsted (March 2009). • 3,500 children’s centres have been established in communities across the country offering services to 2.7 million children under five and their families. • All three- and four-year-olds are entitled to free early years education for up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year – an offer taken up by 92% of the three-year-old population and 98% of the four-year-old population. • The
Childcare Act 2006 places duties on local authorities to provide sufficient childcare for working parents in their area and to make sure that parents have access to information about childcare. • The
Early Years Foundation Stage sets standards for workforce training and qualifications • Many parents can claim help with their childcare costs from a range of schemes including
tax credits. • Parents can search for childcare places through their local family information service. Local family information services can be found using
Directgov Chief executives • 1989-1994
Marion Kozak • 1994-1996
Carol Sheriff • 1996-2000
Colette Kelleher • 2000-2005 Stephen Burke • 2005-2007
Christine Walton • 2007-2010
Alison Garnham &
Emma Knights • 2010 Alison Garnham • 2010- Anand Shukla == Mission ==