Mark visits child-minder to celebrate national Sure Start month

3.11.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd Jun 2006

Mark is pictured with Peter, Bradley, Yasmin and Pat Howard (Child minder)

Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle, visited a child-minder in their home to celebrate National Sure Start Month on Friday 23rd June.

Pat Howard has been a registered child-minder for many years and has invited Mr Hunter to see her home-based childcare setting and join in with the children's activities. She will be joined by Freda Sitford, NCMA North West Regional Development Manager.

This event is part of National Sure Start Month, which runs throughout June all over England. Thousands of childcare, early education and family support services will be celebrating, just like Pat's setting. This year's theme is Celebrating Early Years and Childcare and Mark Hunter MP will find out how local families are offered a choice in the services the offered to them.

Pat said:

"I am really looking forward to meeting my local MP. I am pleased he is visiting me in my home-based environment and seeing the children. This will be the best way to show off what a registered child-minder does."

Mark Hunter MP said:

"I welcome this opportunity to visit a local childcare setting in my constituency to celebrate National Sure Start Month. Visiting a home-based child-carer will be a great experience and I look forward to learning about the work childminders do in the community."