Ofsted has published a handbook offering guidance to prospective childminder agencies, on registration applications and regulation. Childminder agencies can start operating as of yesterday. As well as for providers, the handbook provides guidance for inspectors, setting out legal background, enforcement and extent of power. Ofsted has promised to publish more information about the inspection of…
Continue reading "Childminder agencies get a handbook … and the go-ahead"Author: Jenny
Early years provision in schools gets own Ofsted grading
From September this year early years providers in schools will be graded separately by Ofsted. Ofsted has confirmed it will award one grade to providers of early years and reception classes in a primary school and then consider a separate grade for the school overall. However, a poorly graded early years provision may affect the…
Continue reading "Early years provision in schools gets own Ofsted grading"Free care scheme for eligible two-year-olds expanded
Councillors have approved the spending of more than £700,000 on providing hundreds of extra free childcare places for eligible families. Most of the funding for the project – which will see an expansion in care available to two-year-olds – comes in the form of a £500,000 Government grant, with the remainder from council funds. The…
Continue reading "Free care scheme for eligible two-year-olds expanded"Citizens Advice reports on lack of quality childcare for low earners
The Citizens Advice service says self-employed parents or those in jobs with “irregular hours” have a hard time finding high-quality childcare. In its report, The Practicalities of Childcare: An Overlooked Part of the Puzzle, surveying 400 childcare providers across the country, it found that provisions rated as outstanding and good require more notice to change…
Continue reading "Citizens Advice reports on lack of quality childcare for low earners"How can we develop our outdoor play provision with limited space?
Outdoor learning is a key element of the EYFS framework and early years provisions must provide access to an outside play area wherever possible. If it is not possible, the EYFS states that providers should ensure that outdoor activities are planned and taken on a daily basis unless circumstances make this inappropriate, eg unsafe weather…
Continue reading "How can we develop our outdoor play provision with limited space?"Teachers call for pupils to start school at the age of seven
Teachers call for pupils to start school at the age of seven to stop them being damaged by ‘too much, too soon’ culture Teaching union says curriculum should be focused on play until seven Early testing and formal lessons can be ‘damaging’ for pupils ‘Childhood is important’ says top teaching union official Teachers claim children…
Continue reading "Teachers call for pupils to start school at the age of seven"No More Baby Steps: A Strategy for Revolutionising Childcare
A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) suggests that universal childcare could be made available for all parents. No More Baby Steps: A Strategy for Revolutionising Childcare makes recommendations that include extending the two-year-old offer to all families and increasing funding places for three-and four-year-olds from 38 to 48 weeks per year….
Continue reading "No More Baby Steps: A Strategy for Revolutionising Childcare"Review of Enforcement in the Childcare Sector
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published a new report into enforcement in the childcare sector. Review of Enforcement in the Childcare Sector: Focus on Enforcement Regulatory Reviews outlines serious concerns among smaller providers about the “quality, volume and coherence of Ofsted guidance”. In particular, the accuracy of written Ofsted reports is…
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