"FROM PLAYDOUGH TO PLATO" CAMPAIGN

Early day motion 630, tabled 11 May 1999 by Mark Todd (Labour). Signed by 112 members.

That this House warmly congratulates the Pre-school Learning Alliance on the excellence of the From Playdough to Plato campaign and wishes all success for its national day of celebration planned for 12th May 1999; commends all those many honourable Members who have visited pre-schools to see first hand the commitment of the pre-school movement to the education and care of young children and the support it gives to families and communities and have also painted a picture of childhood memory as part of the charity's painting competition for honourable Members; takes note of the importance of play as means of stimulating young children's intellectual development and early achievement; welcomes the Government's announcement of an additional ú500,000 for pre-schools threatened with closure in the coming months and an independent review of the future of pre-schools; hopes that this review will recognise the pivotal contribution community-based pre-schools make to young children and their families; recognises the important contribution pre-schools can make to achieving the Government's objectives in expanding nursery education and childcare, tackling social exclusion and developing family learning; voices the concern of many people that despite the Government's recognition and commitment, no less than 1,500 pre-schools have closed since 1997; and urges the Government to take action to secure the pre-school movement for future generations.

Signatures by party: Labour 68, Liberal Democrat 22, Conservative 15, Labour/Co-operative 4, UUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1.