Separate registration for two-year-olds to discontinue

Forthcoming legislation is expected to remove the requirement that schools register early years provision for two-year-olds separately with Ofsted. It is anticipated that, subject to the approval of parliament, this will come into effect in September 2015. In an open letter on reforms, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Childcare and Education Sam Gyimah said:…

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Early years pupil premium roll-out begins

The early years pupil premium scheme has been kick-started in seven local authorities. Blackpool, Bristol, Cambridgeshire, North Yorkshire, Northamptonshire, Hackney and Stoke-on-Trent have each received a share in £1 million with the hope of helping the most disadvantaged children in their areas to receive high-quality early education. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “This new…

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Separate registration for two-year-olds provision on the way out

The Government is putting in place legislation to remove the requirement with Ofsted that schools must register separately their early years provision for two-year-olds. Subject to the approval of Parliament, this should come into effect in September 2015. The aim is to make it easier for schools to offer early years provision for two-year-olds, whether…

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More joined-up help needed to “get it right” for families

The Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) has published a new report claiming that families with young children are not receiving “joined-up” support from public services. Getting it Right for Families: A Review of Integrated Systems and Promising Practice in Early Years gives practical advice for local areas together with examples of how services can be integrated…

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Mum of abused boy says change the law

A mother whose toddler was sexually abused at a Douglas nursery has spoken for the first time about the family’s ordeal. And the woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, has revealed how her son was denied access to counselling before his abuser was jailed. She has welcomed proposed changes to the criminal justice…

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Latest from Ofsted: “sustained improvement”

Ofsted has reported that most early years providers were judged “good” or “outstanding” at their most recent inspection. More than 83% of providers active on the Early Years Register at the end of August 2014 were awarded grades of either good or outstanding according to the most recent Ofsted statistics. This figure represents an increase…

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Councils struggling to deliver on flagship nursery care policy

Councils are struggling to deliver a flagship policy to provide free nursery care to vulnerable two-year-olds because of a shortage of nursery places, a new survey shows. Under the Scottish Government policy local authorities were expected to offer 600 hours of childcare to two-year-olds from workless households by August this year. However, a survey by…

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Major Concerns at Childcare Funding Shortfall

A new report has shown that government funding falls short of covering the amount needed for every child accessing free childcare. Counting the Cost: An Analysis of Delivery Costs for Funded Early Years Education and Childcare, carried out by social and market research agency Ceeda and commissioned by the Pre-School Learning Alliance, demonstrates that government…

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'Inadequate' nursery failed to vet its staff

A nursery has been rated “inadequate” by Ofsted for failing to properly vet staff members. The Beeches Montessori Nursery School in Banstead was visited by an inspector from the education watchdog for the first time earlier this year. In the report inspector Jacqueline Carolan said: “The provider does not carry out the required Disclosure and…

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Family Friendly Report Card: Government could do better

The Family and Childcare Trust has published its 2014 Family Friendly Report Card, and there’s room for improvement. It takes a close look at how well families are supported by the Government and is “the only annual assessment of how family friendly the UK is”.  It includes factors such as: financial resources work-life balance essential…

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