MEN are being urged to consider a career in childcare as more funding is provided to increase the number of part-time nursery education places.

The Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership aims to provide free places for all three-year-olds by 2004.

Over the next year, the partnership is increasing places to 2,214 for the three-year-olds it believes will meet its funding criteria. The LEA will fund an additional 1,424 free part-time places in the maintained sector.

An annual report of progress made in Harrow was presented to the Education, Arts and Leisure Committee on January 22. Michael Hart, acting director of education, explained that more training will be provided for those who work with children.

Major growth has been experienced in childcare provision, especially after-school clubs, he said, but he is appealing for more men to enter the field.

"This is a major problem. There seems to be two reasons why men are not going into this line of work. One is the pay and the second is the image associated with childcare," said Mr Hart. "We'll be advertising to try and attract more people, but specifically targeting men."