Announcement today of the appointment of Margaret Hodge as the new Minister for Children; the appointment is seen as a response to the Laming Enquiry into the Victoria Climbie tragedy which highlighted the need for better coordination of services for young children. Hodge says: "I'm convinced we can achieve an approach to children's services that provides the best support they need for a happy and secure childhood" ; shadow education secretary Damian Green commented rather sourly "We can only hope that her views have matured since she launched a booklet discussing a ban on skipping ropes, musical chairs and GCSE grades below C."

Polly Toynbee's exploration of life on low pay Toynbee, P. (2003). Hard work : life in low-pay Britain. London, Bloomsbury contains a chapter on her experience of working in a nursery - well worth seeking out as is the rest of her indictment of women's work and the life of the poor in contemporary Britain.

You can visit a now discontinued Blog on Early Childhood Education here It contains, among other things, reports on the build up to the nursery nurses' strike in Scotland.

The inquiry into Early Years Education by the Education Sub-committee of the House of Commons Education and Employment Committee - essential reading for all concerned with Early Years Education and a great resource for policy research.House of Commons - Education and Employment - First Report