Melanie Pilcher is the Policy and Standards Manager for the Pre-school Learning Alliance and has more than 20 years experience in early years and childcare from nursery assistant to nursery manager and also early years lecturer and freelance trainer specialising in leadership and management and safeguarding children. Melanie has collaborated on several publications for the Pre-school Learning Alliance and has also contributed to Sage Publication's Mentoring in the Early Years (2006) and Managing Early Years Settings (2009). In her current role she works strategically within the Alliance to provide advice and support and to develop resources required to ensure high quality services for members and the Alliance's own direct services. She also liaises with Ofsted and the DCSF to disseminate information about new government initiatives and policy relating to childcare and current issues.