Alliance welcomes the launch of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

Commenting, Early Years Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch said:

"We warmly welcome the launch of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, and its focus on increasing awareness of the huge importance of the early years.

"We know that the first five years of a child's life are absolutely pivotal to their learning, development and life chances - and yet, for many years now, the early years sector in this country has been overlooked, undervalued and underfunded.

"As such, we very much look forward to working with the new Centre and sharing not only our own knowledge and expertise, but that of our thousands of members as well.

"We hope that the active role the Duchess of Cambridge is taking in raising the profile of the early years will help act as a catalyst for change in the way that our sector is viewed and treated. Perhaps, for those in power, the message that the early years matters will finally start to get through."