More Great Childcare (2012)

1. More Great Childcare (2012)

2. The government sets out the vision for early years • A response to the recommendations made in summer 2012 Nutbrown review of early years training and qualifications • First step to the governments commission on childcare

3. Introduce it to all of your staff • A time of major change for children and families and the early years sector • http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/1170248/More-Great-Childcare---guide-Governments-childcare-reform-proposals/

4. Increase adult to child ratios • In nurseries and child-minders • Do the proposals mean an impact on quality? • National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) thinks it will . • All children have a right to high quality early education and government policy should be for children from all sections of society.

5. Will it work in the UK? • At the moment the reforms are justified in terms of foreign comparisons • These comparisons do not account for vast differences in practice ,infrastructure and social conditions.

6. Business performance survey NDNA • Can we separate the issue of funding from quality? • 50% of nurseries expect to make surplus this year • 84% of nurseries in England say that the funding they receive for 3 and 4 year olds free entitlement does not cover the costs

7. SAVE PARENTS MONEY. Really? • Funding shortfalls make it difficult for nurseries to invest in the resources and staff training needed to offer high quality childcare • Free entitlement shortfalls also pushes up fees for parents who buy additional childcare hours as providers seek to balance the books.

8. Key proposals in MGC • What could be the impact on children and families?

9. RatiosIndividual nursery staff can look after more children. • The government will increase the staff: child ratios in nurseries from 1:3 to 1:4 for children younger than two years old • From 1:4 to 1:6 for two year olds if the staff have a higher level qualification. • Ratios for 3-5 year olds will remain the same but providers will make use of the option of 1:13ratio if a worker has a level 6 qualification.

10. What would be your concerns? • Will parents benefit? • Will staff benefit? • Will children benefit? • Will the government benefit?

11. Very young children need personal care • Strong interaction with adults is vital to child development • Regardless of the qualifications they hold staff will not be able to offer these. • There is a risk of creating a two tiered childcare system where those who can afford it will select the service with more staff.

12. What happens to the children? • Those with lower incomes have to accept their young children being cared for in a larger group with fewer adults present.

13. Will this be true? • The government argues the relaxed ratios will mean lower fees for parents.

14. Qualifications • The government have introduced the notion of early years teachers and early years educators. • They want to attract more graduates to early years education and raise the status of the profession • Will this be better for the nurseries.

15. Ratio argument. • Better qualified staff COST MORE TO EMPLOY • Savings made by employing fewer staff will be used to employ those on higher wages

16. Good to raise the level of professionalism for early years • Value to assisting children • Reform of funding is needed so that nurseries can afford to pay Early Years Teachers the level of salary they will expect

17. The appendix of “More Great Childcare” states that Early Years Professionals (EYPs)will become Early Years Teachers • At present there are over 11,000 EYPs so it is good they will be recognised for their hard work. • No details on how this will work in practice.

18. Proposal to introduce that all Early Years Educators have a GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English • The majority of the nursery workforce already hold a level 3 qualification. • Salaries and carers advice must change or challenge current attitudes to carers in early years if the status of the profession is to change.

19. Schools • The more great childcare proposals would make it easier for schools to be offered places to children younger than three years old. • Do schools have the skills and expertise to offer care to younger children?

20. 3 year olds at school is not an improvement • The UK is ranked third in the world for the quality of it’s early years provision by the Economist intelligence Unit • This has been achieved largely through by a mix of private ,voluntary and independent provision that specialises in care and education for the very youngest children.

21. If schools are to offer provision to this age range the full Early Years foundation stage must apply to ensure age appropriate provision • Private and voluntary nurseries still haVE 25%of places vacant. • Wasted investment and duplication of existing places.

22. Regulation • The proposal from More Great Childcare is that Ofsted rating will be the sole test to say if providers will be able to offer free early education in childcare. • If they are the sole regulator more frequent inspections of setting is required. At the moment there can be gaps of 8 years between inspections on the current four year inspection cycle.

23. Ofsted taking over from local authority means there must be alternative systems to ensure weaker setting receive the right level of support and monitoring.

24. NDNA suggests To allocate more fundings to high quality providers so they can choose the trainming that will meet the development needs of their team. • This might not meet the support needs and drive of weaker settings.

25. Change to Ofsted • The report suggests the setting pays for swift re-inspection a measure that has already become included in the children and families Bill. This will reward providers to improve quality quickly.

26. safeguarding • More great childcare says that the safeguarding and welfare sections of the EYFS are overly complicated and too prescribed. • Replace with a general welfare and safety requirement • Is there any strong evidence that there will not be any impact on quality? A lack of clear guidance will make it difficult for providers during inspection.

27. Review of the EYFS • The proposals in More Great Childcare mean the EYFS will be updated, by September (2013) • Many of the proposals are likely to lead to significant changes in practice-the government must take time to consult with the sector. • Changes should be made only if there is robust UK -based evidence.

28. What next? • make your voice heard and get your parents and staff to respond to the government consultation • Early education and childcare staff deployment • www.education.gov.uyk • By March 25th 2013

29. Key points • The more great childcare report is a consultation document • Many announcements eg: ratios and regulation it is assumed will lead to better quality, better value for nurseries and parents • Some parts have already appeared in the Children and families Bill prior to consultation.

30. LOTS OF CONCERNS • http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/1169036/More-Great-Childcare-say-Government-plans-change-ratios/http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/1169036/More-Great-Childcare-say-Government-plans-change-ratios/