To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he expects all Sure Start children’s centres with early years provision to be led by someone with Early Years Professional Status. (247289)

Currently we expect all Sure Start Children’s Centres offering early years provision to employ a qualified teacher upon designation. It is our aim that all Sure Start Children’s Centres offering early years provision also employ someone with Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) to plan and lead delivery of the integrated child care and early learning provision by 2010, taking advantage, therefore, of the expertise of both types of graduates. These requirements are set out in the “Sure Start Children’s Centre Planning and Performance Management Guidance”, published in November 2006. It is up to children’s centres how they meet this aim.