New Reports

NatCen Social Research have published a new report today, highlighting the need for a tailored curriculum and a skilled and self-reflective workforce in order to ensure good practice in early years settings. The SEED report brings together the experiences of early years practitioners, based on evidence from case studies of various early years settings across England. These included interviews with managers and staff, local authority staff and parents using those settings. 

In addition to the above, three other reports from SEED have been published today:

• The cost and funding of early education
• Meeting the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities in the early years
• Experiences of the Early Years Pupil Premium

Work in progress...

DfE are currently consulting on proposals to amend the literacy and numeracy qualification requirements for qualified Early Years Educators.

The National Audit Office has begun a study on DfE’s plans to improve teacher retention and workforce quality. It will examine progress made so far, in regards to improving the quality of the teaching workforce and teacher retention and encouraging trained ex-teachers to re-enter the workforce. Earlier this year, the DfE set out plans to achieve educational excellence across the country, following on from the NAO report Training new teachers.

Estyn are seeking the views of teachers, senior leaders, policy makers and everyone with an interest in education, on proposed changes to the ways schools and other providers will be inspected from September 2017 onwards. 

To help boost standards in schools across Wales, plans have been announced to set up a new National Network of Excellence for Mathematics.

Updates EY Compliance Handbook

OFSTED have made some minor updates to the Early Years Compliance Handbook including the summary of changes; the updates relate to the action taken by Ofsted when a childminder or childcare provider does not comply with regulations. The full handbook can be viewed here.

Early Years 2016

Bookings for the annual Early Years 2016 conference are now being taken. The event is jointly organised by EYE (Early Years Educator) and Practical Pre-School magazines and is to be held in Birmingham. To take advantage of the early bird discount, book by 30th April.

Preschool and Academic Success

A study by Oxford University, suggests that children of all backgrounds who receive a preschool education are almost twice as likely to go on to sit AS-levels compared to those without the same educational start.

It's the latest report to be published as part of the EPPSE (effective preschool, primary and secondary education) project. Launched in 1997, the project followed 3,000 children from ages 3 to 18 to identify the factors that can predict a child’s academic success, particularly the effects of a preschool education and a child’s early years home environment.

Teaching Mathematics

A number of presentations are now available from a seminar entitled: 'Re-connecting with maths, Engaging practitioners and parents in children’s mathematical development'. Two of these, by Fliss James and Michele Barrett, look at engaging parents with maths in their child's learning. The role of the practitioner is considered in modelling and supporting children’s mathematical mark making, here. This presentation also highlights the role of the practitioner in promoting mathematical learning in the early years.

Education & Gender

There is a very important issue of gender balance among ECEC staff. Almost all of them are women. This has been a matter of concern for a long time [ … ] There is a pressing need to make a career in the ECEC sector more attractive to men in all EU countries. (EC 2011, 7)

If you are studying the topic of gender in education, you might be interested in the latest publication of the 'European Early Childhood Education Research Journal'; this special issue explores the debate on men in early child education today from a gender perspective. The contents can be viewed here and the fulltext articles can be found via USearch.

While you were away....

Over the summer, there have been a number of changes in the early years and childcare arena - here goes!

Back in June, The government introduced the Childcare Bill to bring in 30 hours of free childcare for employed families of 3 and 4 year olds. Plans are being drawn up to introduce the changes for some families a year earlier than planned, with pilots in some areas offering 30 hours worth of free places from September 2016. The DfE has announced a call for early implementers to pilot the scheme; organisations who would like to register their interest can do so by emailing the DfE here by Monday 28th September.

The new Common Inspection Framework came into effect on the 1st of September. Ofsted has published the first edition of the Early Years Inspection Update newsletter which provides key messages, relevant publications and updates to inspection documentation.

A new report from the Study of Early Education and Development (SEED) study has been published which highlights the key factors distinguishing the quality of care provided by childminders.

Ofsted has published its annual report for the early years. Accompanying the report is a detailed survey exploring teaching and play in the early years which includes links to videos of good practice and detailed exemplification. Also by Ofsted are published statistics on childcare inspections and outcomes covering childcare in England. 

Party Policy Guide

Election Day is tomorrow and if you have been left feeling a little 'pledged-out' and perhaps none the wiser, then this might help - CYPNow have published a concise policy guide, which clearly sets out the proposals made by the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats on key issues for children, young people and families.

The guide covers 14 key areas: careers advice, child health, child poverty, children’s rights, crime and youth justice, early years and childcare, families and parenting, joint working, post-16 learning, public spending, safeguarding and care, schools, welfare, and youth services. 

Nurseries influence reading ability

The Read On. Get On. campaign have highlighted that half of independent nurseries currently do not employ a qualified early years teacher, failing disadvantaged children in need of skilled support. They are asking for the next Government to ensure all nurseries are led by a qualified early years graduate and as an incentive, to increase the early years pupil premium for those nurseries that do. Their report, 'The Power of Reading', details how early years investment and the quality of staff in nurseries must be prioritised, or the gap in reading ability between England’s poorest and better off children will remain one of the worst in Europe. 

The recommendations come as research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) links the value of strong reading skills in school-age children to future earnings as an adult.

Sure Start & the General Election

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Sure Start, a cross-party group of MPs and peers, has published its ‘2015 Pre-Election Report’.The report sets out five recommendations which it believes that any Government elected in the 2015 General Election should take forward to ensure the continued success of Children’s Centres during the next parliament.

New Publications

A number of new resources were recently unveiled at the 4Children Early Childhood Matters conference; these included the What to Expect, When? guide for parents. The Education Endowment Foundation published their Early Years Pupil Premium toolkit for providers to gain the maximum benefits from the EYPP. The Institute of Education launched the Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) scale, which is being used in the SEED study (Study of Early Education and Development); also made public at the Conference were 'Early Years Pupil Premium: call for evidence' case studies which identify and share good practice in meeting the needs of disadvantaged children and improving outcomes.

A paper has been produced on what British Values mean in the early years with examples given in practice. Lastly, the Department of Health has commissioned a document supporting early years practitioners and health visitors in delivering the two year old integrated review which will be rolling out from September of this year.