National Children's Centre

The National Children’s Centre (NCC) was established in Huddersfield in 1975 by the National Educational Research and Development Trust (NERDT). The Trust had been founded by Brian Jackson, co-author with Dennis Marsden of the groundbreaking book, Education and the Working Classes. The Trust's Honorary Vice Presidents were The RH Keith Joseph, MP and Lord Sainsbury. One of the Trustess was Dennis Healey MP. The NCC was established to be "a Multidisciplinary Centre - deliberately based outside London - where work on improving all aspects of childhood could be pursued. Sometimes this was to be through research, sometimes through innovative action, sometimes by informing the media or by discussing progress with politicians, administrators, or members of the many professions that touch on the field." Brian and NERDT enlisted the expertise of Hazel Wigmore, as Director (from setting up to 2001), and two other teachers who were trained with her at the then Huddersfield Polytechnic, John Cashman and Raymond Ball. Brian Jackson was a man of great energy who worked relentlessly to further various causes connected with the education and welfare of children. His imaginative and innovative ideas, combined with Hazel Wigmore's relentless energy and organisational skills,enabled the setting up of unusual practical schemes and research projects, the findings of which were disseminated nationally and internationally. The first home of the National Children's Centre was in Huddersfield at Longroyd Bridge, in a 1940s building (now listed) which straddles the river on long legs and was adjacent to a bus depot and workshop.

In 1974, Sonia Jackson, Brian's wife, had been involved in the producation of the first Action Register on Childminding, part of the National Research Project on Childminding, commissioned by the Social Science Research Council and run by Brian. It showed that although registered childminders cared for more children than all local authority, private or factory day nurseries put together, and had more influence at this important stage of the child's growth than a working parent, only 1% of childminders were receiving any services or support at all. The survey also discovered large numbers of unregistered childminders. In 1974 responsibility for registering childminders was moved from health departments to the new Social Services departments. Based on findings from Brian's research - basically that childminders wanted the tools for the job, plus advice and support - regular groups were set up in the ground floor nursery at Longroyd Bridge. Transport for the women and children was provided by the NCC's minibus - it being rare for a woman to have her own car at that time, and public transport being difficult with more than one child. On offer were a toy and book library, loans of safety equipment, a bulk buying scheme, toy repair service and access to training. Local childminders, including Sheila Wenzel, who later became the chair of the Kirklees Childminders' Association, worked together with the NCC to improve services and conditions for childminders. Always aware of the power of television, Brian proposed to the BBC that "a television series with appropriate back-up would be one way of improving the quality of care offered to the young children of working mothers.” (NCC Quinquennial Report 1980) Other People's Children a 19 part series, was screened three times a week, first shown in 1977 and repeated in 1978. 700 viewing groups were set up around the country, and not confined to childminders or pre-school workers. The BBC published a supporting handbook, which was subsidised by the Health Education Council and distributed free by Social Services Departments to all registered childminders throughout the country. The NCC was closely involved in production of both the series and the handbook. In the final programme, the idea that the viewing groups or local childminders might get together to form a National Childminding Association led to the inauguration of this association in Birmingham Town Hall, later in 1977.

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