§ Mrs. BrookeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to promote the appropriate training of workers engaged in multi-agency work with early years children. [172343]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Sure Start Unit has allocated £129.9 million to local authorities for the training and development of early years and child care workers for 2004–06 to meet the requirements of the national standards for under 8s day care and childminding. This will include training and development of those working in multi-agency settings such as Children's Centres.
§ Mr. SimmondsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new recruits he estimates will be needed over the next three years in the nursery and child care sector to ensure the workforce is at full strength. [171370]
§ Margaret HodgeAllowing for the expected growth of child care places and continuing staff turnover, we estimate that up to around 180,000 new recruits may be needed in the early years, child care and play work sector over the three-year period April 2003 to March 2006.
This is a broad estimate, which depends on a range of assumptions, and we will continue to keep it under review in the light of further information about child care growth and staff turnover levels.