The NDNA have released their annual survey about the state of the EY sector. The NDNA are great advocates for providers and so completing their survey accurately and honestly makes it easier for them to represent the sector comprehensively. T…
The new document replaces Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015). There are some amendments that will need to be written into policies and procedures, the NSPCC has provided an extremely useful guide to the changes. Additionally, …
DfE have today published updated guidance for local authorities on the provision of early education and childcare. The guidance applies to the free entitlements for two-, three- and four-year-olds; securing sufficient childcare for workin…
Ofsted’s new inspections report website is going live on Tuesday 2 October, after which the existing reports site will no longer be available. The new site has been in BETA (testing) for a number of months alongside the old site. The new …
Minister Caroline Dinenage announced the new Statutory framework at the Childcare expo event. Here is the document - you have little time to get it in place - it becomes 'Statutory' in one month. April 3rd is the 'effective' date. Statutory F…
The DfE have announced this morning that NFER have 'won' the bid to provide the baseline assement for Reception children beginning in Autumn 2020. It seems from the various news pieces available that the other other two potential bidders Ea…
On Friday 3rd February FSF were at the Nursery World show in London attending the 'self-regulation masterclass'. The first two speakers, Clancy Blair and C.Cybele Raver are extremely eminent psychologists working in the field of self-regulati…
Amanda Spielman's report was published last week. The headlines from the early years section summary are as follows: "Inspection outcomes for providers on the Early Years Register (EYR) remain strong. More than nine out of 10 were good or …
FSF Jules attended the London event last week and has written comprehensively detailing the useful discussions that took place. You can read her thoughts and comment on them here. The official minutes (Published by the London OBC group) can…
Ofsted is setting up a forum for academics, practitioners and researchers to talk about a wide range of early years issues.
How do young children learn to read?
What is the best way for them to develop physical skills?
…
Ofsted has announced a toughening up of early years inspections, making it clear that only provision that is ‘good’ or better is good enough for very young children. From 4 November 2013, a judgement of ‘requires improvement’ will re…
Ofsted have announced those that they have chosen to be on their early years pedagogy and practice forum. There is a wide range of knowledge and expertise amongst the forum members. It will be extremely interesting to hear how their discus…
Ofsted's consultation, closing on 21st March 2014, has followed the Children and Families Bill 2013 which includes provisions for the creation of childminder agencies. The Bill also includes regulation-making powers that will determine how …
FSF met with Ofsted's Early Education Deputy Director this week and discussed their latest campaign - #EYmythbusting. Is there something you've always wanted to know but were too afraid to ask? Did someone tell you something on a course and …
Ofsted have published the arrangements for taking action where an inspection is flawed.'Flawed inspections' , published in January 2014, sets out the procedures to be taken in the event of an inspection being so seriously flawed that it is …
Ofsted have released a series of short video clips on their You Tube channel. The clips address some of the most common misconceptions about inspections and inspector's expectations. You can watch the clips here and then talk about them on …
Ofsted have released the statistics gathered regarding childcare inspections up to August 2016. The key findings are that 'the proportion of providers on the Early Years Register (EYR) judged good or outstanding is at its highest ever', tha…
Ofsted have announced that the SEF document, generally completed online, will cease to be used from 1st April 2018. The SEF, in the current format, was never a statutory requirement, now it won't be available at all. The requirement for all…
The page, designed to help childminders navigate the application and registration process, has been launched as a 3 month trial. Links to useful documents and frequently asked questions are all addressed on the page. You can access the trial…
Ofsted have today released the new EY3 form for childminders and other childcare providers to tell them about changes to childminding assistants, household members or certain people in organisations. You can download the form here and dis…
Amanda Spielman encourages school leaders to make decisions based on their experienced judgement. You can discuss the health and safety implications of Amanda Spielman's comments on this thread.
Ofsted's new education inspection framework for 2019 has now been published. The new framework applies to maintained schools and academies, non-association independent schools, further education and skills providers and early years settin…
Early Education have usefully published a breakdown of how the different political parties are approaching early years in the General Election. You can read their comments and breakdown here. As always the FSF remains impartial. If you would …
