LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(MARKET WIRE)--Jun 6, 2008 -- The Prime Minister Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP today launched Daycare Trust's 11th annual National Childcare Week at an event at No10 Downing Street.

The theme of National Childcare Week is "Building brighter futures". National Childcare Week will run 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.

The competition was for children ages 2 to 14, and was split into two categories. The first competition asked children ages 2 to 10 to choose their favourite book and design a new cover for it. The second competition invited children ages 5 to 14 to write a short story about what the future holds for all of us.

This year's competition was sponsored by The Children's Mutual (http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk), the only UK company specialising in long-term savings and investments for families with children.

Speaking ahead of the launch the Prime Minister said:

"High standard childcare and early learning give children the very best start in life, as well as helping parents balance the demands of work and family life. National Childcare Week is a great way to mark the importance of childcare and I extend my best wishes to all those parents, childcare professionals and young people up and down the country who are taking part in events to mark it."

Alison Garnham, Joint Chief Executive of Daycare Trust said:

"When Gordon Brown first became Prime Minister last year we dubbed him the 'Children's Champion', so we are delighted that he is personally launching National Childcare Week. It clearly demonstrates his Government's commitment to supporting parents and children.

Children's Minister Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP said:

"We want to make sure that high quality, flexible and affordable childcare is available, wherever families are in the country, to give children the best start in life, to help families out of poverty and to enable them to balance their work and family lives more easily.

     Contacts:
     The Children's Mutual
     PO Box 2067, Gloucester, GL4 3YU
     0845 077 1899
     Email: mail@thechildrensmutual.co.uk
     Website: http://www.thechildrensmutual.co.uk