Responding to the publication of the latest government figures on child poverty which show that 100,000 more children are in poverty, bringing the total number of children living in poverty to 3.9 million, Alison Garnham, Joint Chief Executive of Daycare Trust, the national childcare charity, said:

"It is disappointing that progress in reducing child poverty seems to have stalled for the second consecutive year, although we are aware that significant investment was pledged in the last Budget and the Pre Budget Report, which will begin to have an impact next year.

"It is crucial that the Government step up its efforts on all fronts. This year's figures show a significant increase in the risk of child poverty amongst the under fives; by expanding free early years childcare places to all children, the Government can make a huge difference in terms of children's life chances, helping the poorest children to catch up with the rest".

These figures have been published the day after the end of the 11th National Childcare Week, the theme of which was 'Building Brighter Futures'.

National Childcare Week took place from 2-9 June 2008. The week is designed to promote the importance of investing in childcare, out-of-school activities and early years provision for children to strengthen and contribute to children's play and learning.

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