Ceeda launched the independent ‘About Early Years’ research programme in May 2017 to track key sector trends on a regular basis and provide timely analysis for childcare providers, policy makers and investors. You can read the overview …
Following the treasury select committee's damning comments on the early years funding calculations Ceeda have calulated that there will be a £500 million shortfall in early years funding. You can read the Ceeda report here. You can discus…
Let’s give a shout out for the Characteristics of Effective Learning!
They are the foundation, the glue that holds all other learning together; they are the how rather than the what children learn; and they are absolutely central to…
Chief Inspector Michael Wilshaw has this week written to all early years inspectors, giving instructions on the focus of future inspections. He criticises current inspection reports, saying, 'Too many reports focus on describing the provisi…
The Cost of a Child in 2017 report calculates the cost of raising a child in the UK based on the minimum income standard (MIS). MIS is the income needed to give children an acceptable minimum living standard as defined by the public. It is …
The government has announced the successful bidders for the capital funding attached to the 30 hour provision. There will be 6 focus areas to begin with and then there are other additional Local Authorities who will receive funding to enable …
One key finding was that the new 30 hours scheme could widen the gap between disadvantaged children and those able to take advantage of the increased funding. The report says "neither the tax-free childcare scheme nor the 30 hour entitlement…
Following a request for clarification from the experts at Early Education it has now been confirmed that the Characteristics of Effective Learning will remain statutory in the new EYFS framework. You can read Early Education's response …
Rebecca, from The Foundation Stage Forum, attended Ofsted’s ‘South East’ launch of the new Inspection Framework consultation. Click here to read her report.
This consultation closes on 30th September, 2013. The government proposes to:
remove burdens and simplify processes, enabling providers and parents to more easily navigate the system; replace the General Childcare Register with a Child…
A new group has been formed to look at creating a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner apprenticeship. The Early Years Alliance's director of quality improvement, Michael Freeston, has been appointed the group's employer chair, and other colle…
The NDNA have produced an excellent factsheet that addresses many of the questions related to the 30 hour funding. They have referenced the new LA guidelines to help providers make informed decisions regarding how and when they offer the 30 h…
Children and Young People Now (CYP) have been told that "the children's centres consultation is still going ahead, and is likely to launch in early 2017 as a departmental priority, separate of the social justice green paper". You can read the…
Following the recent furore surrounding the L3 requirements for Maths and English GCSE the workforce review changed the requirements for English and Mathematics qualifications. The Government is now reforming the functional skills qualificati…
The Department of Education has issued guidance to support the appointment of SENCOs. The job description that has been published can be accessed from here. Additionally, a EY SENCO L3 qualification specification has been published. The…
Further to the Pre-school Learning Alliance's (PLA) freedom of information request (which was granted back in November) Deloitte have released the data upon which the 'cost of childcare' report was based. Neil Leitch of PLA has expressed his …
Figures released by the DfE at the end of last week (29/11) highlighted the fall in new entrants to an early years teacher training course in the 2018/2019 academic year. Figures this year, at 365, are down from 550 last year. You can read…
If parents want to continue to receive funding in January they must reconfirm their eligibility this month. They need to log into their government childcare account
The PSLA's Neil Leitch has launched an e-petition to try to force a parliamentary debate on proposed changes to staff ratios. You can find this here, and discuss your views in this forum topic.
Ofsted are holding Early Years Curriculum Workshops, which are taking place on various dates and in various locations. The purpose of these workshops is to discuss early years issues as they arise in relation to the new inspection framewo…
Department of Education have released the national statistics for Early years foundation stage profile results: 2012 to 2013 find them here and join in the forum discussion here
The fund, announced in November 2016, has quietly been scrapped and is now missing from the list of funding options available for Early Years providers. You can read the full story on this thread.
In a meeting with early years providers, Caroline Dinenage has reminded business owners that they should ensure that they charge for any extra services provided as part of their 30 hours 'offer' this will include any food, nappies, wipes or e…
