This article looks at plans to encourage pre-schools and schools to work more closely together in the future – and help make it easier for parents to manage their childcare needs.

Many early years settings offer a wide range of support services for parents – from family learning programmes to health checks and financial advice. This article tells you more about the types of services that may be available at early years settings.

These days a career in childcare offers many opportunities – not only to work with children but gain qualifications and, importantly, get real job satisfaction. Even if it is a career change you are thinking of, it is not impossible – and you can go far, as Pat Townshend explains.

Reading books with your child is not only good for your relationship, it also means you are giving your child a good start in education. Here, we give you lots of useful tips to make reading with your child fun.

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has set up a new club for parents of children under five in partnership with Bounty. Gill Rudkin tells you more about this exciting new club, which will give parents completely free advice and information, and lots of goodies too.