Childcare Bill

If we really are committed to helping the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children in order to pull up the standards of childcare across this nation, it is especially important that we look at minority groups. These were concerns for the Early Childhood Forum, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Children and the National Children’s Bureau. I very much support the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, on Amendment No. 27. I was pleased to see the commitment in the government paper over the Recess that,"““local authorities should work with providers to secure childcare that is suitable for and inclusive of: children from minority ethnic groups, including refugees and asylum seekers; and children from disadvantaged and socially excluded groups such as looked after children, families with a teenaged parent, and families with a parent who is homeless, mentally ill, disabled, misusing substances, in prison or experiencing domestic violence””." I thought that was an admirable list. I hope that the Minister can go into more detail and explain how the Government propose to target these groups.