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…
Continue reading "Family Friendly Report Card: Government could do better"Tag: day nursery insurance
Can early education mean higher earnings?
A report has demonstrated that children generally have a better chance in later education and in life if they have been in pre-school education. Students’ Educational and Developmental Outcomes at Age 16, carried out by leading academics at the Institute of Education, University of Oxford, and Birkbeck, University of London, looks at what influences attainment…
Continue reading "Can early education mean higher earnings?"Early education “can have negative effect” on disabled children
The Institute of Education (IoE) has published new research that questions whether children with a disability benefit from early education. With research from the IoE, the National Children’s Bureau and the London School of Economics, Convergence or Divergence? A Longitudinal Analysis of Behaviour Problems among Disabled and Non-disabled Children Aged 3 to 7 in England…
Continue reading "Early education “can have negative effect” on disabled children"Toddlers Attending an 'Inadequate' Nursery May Have Been Exposed to Dangers
Toddlers attending an ‘inadequate’ nursery in Wembley may have been exposed to dangers after staff failed to carry out regular risk assessments, it has been revealed. A damning report by Ofsted detailing an inspection of London Road Nursery in London Road, slammed a number of shortcomings in its level of child care. The dossier revealed…
Continue reading "Toddlers Attending an 'Inadequate' Nursery May Have Been Exposed to Dangers"Is it necessary to carry out a risk assessment in respect of a child who attends nursery with a medical condition?
Children with medical conditions generally have individual needs that must be identified and addressed ahead of them attending a nursery setting. A risk assessment is an ideal tool to understand the child’s requirements which will help you maintain a safe environment for that child. The document will also require you to seek guidance from all…
Continue reading "Is it necessary to carry out a risk assessment in respect of a child who attends nursery with a medical condition?"Countdown to Number Day for the NSPCC
The NSPCC’s Number Day is back and making it count for children on 5 December 2014, encouraging and celebrating learning through maths whilst raising money to end cruelty to children across the UK. Number Day helps primary and secondary school teachers deliver inspiring and interactive maths lessons alongside fundraising activities. Some of the resources have…
Continue reading "Countdown to Number Day for the NSPCC"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?"