FSFRebecca Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 Welcome to 2019 - as we look back over our (collective) shoulder at 2018 we can speculate about what is to come in 2019. Musing in the office, as you do on New Year's Eve, I thought of the following things we have to look forward to - some we look forward to with positivity, others are less welcome and cause concern and worry. It would be interesting to hear what you have on your early years horizons for the coming year - do share! In 2019 the FSF remains committed to our work in Westminster with the Childcare and Early Education APPG, we have held the first meeting of the inquiry into financial sustainability and are due a second early in the New Year. It was heartening to see a cross-bench representation of MPs following our lobby day last July - hopefully there will be a developing shared understanding of the issues faced by our sector. The juggernaut that is the 30 hours scheme ploughs on. Whilst providers work tirelessly to make the system work for the parents, the children and themselves, whilst losing money hand over fist in the process. The Government remains adamant that the scheme is a success because 'parents are paying less'. Gradually though, local authorities are supporting their providers allowing the use of the term 'funding' rather than 'free' in their offers to parents. On April 1st 2019, the new national minimum wage levels come into effect. These rises, whilst appreciated by staff and recognised as important by providers place an additional financial burden on settings at a time when purse strings are extremely tight. I wonder if staff ratios will be adjusted by providers currently working 'under' ratio to accommodate the increased wages bill? If this happens, it will be interesting to see if there is any impact on the quality of provision. In January, FSF will be listening to Ofsted at their early years launch event in London. This event will detail how Ofsted intend to change the current inspection process from September 2019. Their initial thoughts are detailed here. Ofsted have said that comments and feedback from the launch events will be used to inform their final document, due for release in the Summer of 2019, ready for implementation on 1st September 2019. We'll keep you informed about what they say! The schools piloting the revised EYFSPs are one term 'in' to the new requirements and their feedback and results will be collected and collated at the end of the summer term 2019, with an evaluation in the Autumn of 2019. There will then be an overhaul of the EYFS Statutory Framework to reflect the conclusions drawn in the evaluation to bring 'our' learning requirements into line with the EYFSP judgements made at the end of the Reception year. I wonder if there are any FSF members involved in the pilot? What is on your horizon? How are you feeling about the ones we have highlighted? Whatever you think, we wish you an extremely Happy New Year and we look forward to sharing the adventures ahead with you all 1
LKeyteach Posted December 31, 2018 Posted December 31, 2018 Thank you Rebecca and all at the forum for representing our voice. And thank you for providing this forum which is largely positve and on many occassions humoursely (not sure it is a real word so cant spell check it) sees us through some difficult times. Happy New Year to you and to all followers, friends, weavers of the forum. 5
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