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House adjourned at seventeen minutes past six o'clock.
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Thursday, 4 May 2006.
Grand Committee
The Committee met at two of the clock.
[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (LORD BROUGHAM AND VAUX) in the Chair.]
Childcare Bill
(Third Day)
Links to other Grand Committee Sittings on the Bill
Clause 12 [Duty to provide information, advice and assistance]:
Baroness Morris of Bolton moved Amendment No. 49:
The noble Baroness said: In moving Amendment No. 49, will speak to Amendment No. 50, which is grouped. Clause 12 develops on an existing duty by requiring local authorities to provide parents and prospective parents with information about childcare and other services for children and young people. The Explanatory Notes inform us that, in respect of childcare, they must go further and also provide advice and assistance to help parents find childcare that meets their particular needs.
I support those measures. However, I am concerned that the whole focus of the clause is inward looking and concentrates on the specific local authority area in question. Amendment No. 49 would insert the words:
in subsection (2)(a), to ensure that local authorities share information with parents in their area about specialist childcare services in neighbouring areas. That takes us back to the debates that we had on the provision or, sometimes, lack of provision, of appropriate childcare services for children with disabilities. Not only are specialist childcare services for children with disabilities often fewer and further between, the one in the neighbouring local authority could be closer and more easily accessible to some families than the one provided by their local authority, depending on where they live compared to an area's border and the services in their area.
Amendment No. 50, in the names of the noble Baronesses, Lady Walmsley and Lady Sharp of Guildford, would insert another paragraph into subsection (2) to ensure that parents are provided with information on supporting their child's learning. Pre-empting what the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, will say, I support that amendment in so far as it raises the need for a joined-up approach from the nursery to home and back and for continuity in nurture and support of a child's development. As we know only too well, children do not come with an instruction manual. I am sure that parents, especially young ones or those without a large network of family support, would welcome such information. I must have read every
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book going, from Penelope Leach to the brilliant book, Toddler Taming. I especially relied on the chapter, which was very well thumbed, entitled, "Horrid Habits in Perfectly Nice Children".
However, once again, I raise a slight note of caution. Any information provided should be imparted using the language of choice and options. It must be parents' choice as to how, when, what and if they choose to use the information provided. I beg to move.
Baroness Walmsley: I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Morris, for her support for my amendment, Amendment No. 50. I am also broadly supportive of her Amendment No. 49, about which I shall say no more. On Amendment No. 50, I welcome the reference to the safeguarding of children under paragraph 23 in the notes on the provision of information guidance, which sets out information that ought to be provided to parents about their choice to use non-registered provision.
I also welcome, under the broad vision for information provision, which indicates the desire to provide, according to paragraph 15,
"resources that can directly support parents, as well as providing knowledge and referral options for staff in all settings".
Can the Minister confirm that that will include information for parents to support their children's learning, because that is what my Amendment No. 50 provides for?
I believe that the children's information service should be required to give parents who want it information on how to support their children's learning at home. This could include providing parents with access to resources, such as DVDs or books, and providing examples of activities that support children's learning in the home environment, underlining the importance of play. This information would also support parents in making decisions about where to go for their childcare and would put them in a better position in assessing the quality of that childcare, as they would have greater understanding about quality experiences for children in their early years. That is important because children's information services will be universal and not just for those using early childhood services. Such information is also important for those who either choose to stay at home with their child or are not working and cannot obtain childcare because of the emphasis that the Bill places on providing childcare for working parents.
The rationale for the amendment is based on extensive evidence from a literature review conducted by the Parents Early Years and Learning project team—a DfES-funded group. It has identified a rich research base that shows conclusively that parents want to be involved, that their involvement is effective in improving education and social outcomes for children, and that what parents do at home has the most significant effect. It says:
The principle of involving parents in their children's learning is also firmly established within the Government's national policy. It is officially recognised as being desirable in all curriculum and government guidance concerning young children.
I am also concerned that parents should have enough information to help them to decide how much childcare provided by others is in their child's best interests. The availability of dawn-to-dusk wraparound childcare and the opportunity to go out and earn money is very seductive but it may not be the best thing for the child. A well informed parent who knows her child is usually the best person to decide that.
At Committee in the Commons, the Minister's response to this amendment focused solely on parenting classes, which is not what the amendment attempts to address. I shall not weary the Committee by reading it all out but the response can be found at col. 208 of the Commons Hansard report of the Sixth Sitting of Standing Committee D. Can the Minister expand on the assurances given in the Commons and state that there will be a requirement in the regulations and guidance for children's information services to provide information to parents on supporting their children's learning? Can the Minister also confirm that the sentiments noted in both the foundation stage curriculum guidance and the National Day Care Standards will be replicated in the new early years foundation stage document?
The Earl of Listowel: I support what the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, said and wish to quote from the Government's own document, Choice for Parents, the best start for children: a ten year strategy for childcare. In its annex on child development, paragraph A12, headed "Awareness of Quality", states:
"Although the quality of the childcare experience is vital to child outcomes, there is evidence to suggest that parents do not accurately observe the quality of the childcare they use".
Parents significantly overestimate quality, do not use all available information when judging quality and incorrectly believe that certain observable characteristics are indicative of non-observable quality. It goes on to say that they,
It goes on further to express concerns about the parents' understanding of the quality of childcare. So what the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, said is very important.
Baroness Howarth of Breckland: I strongly support the amendment moved by the noble Baroness, Lady Morris. I am sure the Minister will tell us that this issue is covered in a range of other provisions, particularly in relation to disability. However, as a longstanding practitioner in a wide range of services, I know that one difficulty experienced by parents, particularly of disabled children, is that local authorities tend to concentrate their information within their own boundaries. Anything that encourages them to look wider should be encouraged.
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These children are extraordinarily vulnerable, often in families that are themselves poor and vulnerable. I do not say always, but often. Any encouragement from the local authority to give them support of this kind is welcome.
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