Many happy returns?
1
comment A t the beginning of May, the Government celebrated its first birthday, rather quietly. No sign of a Smarty Arty or a party magician. Perhaps they decided to continue the frugal, austere tone of the first year and so there was no place for any razzmatazz. This year has certainly been tough for the sector. The Coalition came to power warning us of the dire consequences of a public debt of £1,000,000,000. They told us that we had little choice but to join together and help the Government get us on a stable economic footing. If we didn’t, the very children we knew and cared for would suffer far into the future. As a sector, we responded constructively to the public cuts and efficiencies implemented to help reduce the debt. However, we’re far from safe. There’s more to come. Many of us were keen that a new Government would just settle in and not try and change everything (the previous Government introduced much that was very good for children), and happily it hasn’t. Our new Minister, Sarah Teather MP, appeared to value the importance of universal care and education for three- and four- year-olds, although she describes it as ‘school readiness’ which caused some consternation (we all know that early childhood is a period of life in its own right; it’s not a preparation for anything). She committed the Government to extending the two-year-old pilot. I was delighted, as the pilot has been a very helpful and correctly- funded project which has touched the lives of many of our poorest families. That said, we’ve had five significant reports, which seem to be the framework for a strategy. Graham Allen pushed the importance of parenting and reinforced the principle of early intervention. As my Grandma would say, “A stitch in time saves nine”. Frank Field examined how we address child poverty now that it’s increasing again. The Munro report looked at safeguarding and how to avoid any more children being murdered within their families. The Wolf report examined how we support young learners and apprentices, many of whom are trainees in our nurseries. Finally, the Tickell Report reviewed the EYFS. Tickell listened to the 3,300 people who responded and kept the majority of the EYFS with some minor changes – a relief, as it’s a good document. So, what do we put on the birthday card? n Great about universal childcare and education, but remember it’s only useful if it’s good quality and that care and education remain integral. Early years is not just about education. n Well done for the two-year-old pilot. Make it universal, but ensure those children go to settings which understand and like two-year-olds. Link the offer to parent support, including opportunities for training and work. n Child poverty is reduced when parents work. Keep a wide range of properly-funded childcare and education support, including holiday and after school services. n Make Children Centres multi-generational and open to local people so they can contribute as well as access friendships, advice and happy experiences. Children Centres need to be central to reducing isolation and creating community networks. n Don’t give up on training and development; quality is the core of what we do. Make sure our qualifications have child development at the core. Keep the Graduate Workforce idea, and ensure all leaders of services have a relevant degree and the right level of experience. n Graham Allen MP has pushed for measurement, social investment and payments by results. Work with us on this. Don’t lumber us with complex monitoring systems that take us away from children. Don’t lose sight of what it is we’re really here to do. Happy Birthday, Coalition, from the Early Sector – remember to send us a party bag of cake, chocolate, bubbles, and a yo yo so we can have a little fun. The Coalition Government has celebrated its first birthday; what shall we write in its birthday card? June O’Sullivan offers some suggestions... happy returns? many As a sector, we responded constructively to the public cuts and efficiencies . However, we’re far from safe. There’s more to come JUNE O’SULLIVAN June O’Sullivan is the CEO of the London Early Years Foundation. Visit leyf.org.uk or June’s blog at juneosullivan.wordpress.com find out more Teach Nursery 11
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The Coalition Government has celebrated its first birthday; what shall we write in its birthday card? Our CEO offers some suggestions to Early Years magazine Teach Nursery.
Transcript of Many happy returns?
comment
At the beginning of May,the Governmentcelebrated its firstbirthday, rather quietly.
No sign of a Smarty Arty or a partymagician. Perhaps they decided tocontinue the frugal, austere tone ofthe first year and so there was noplace for any razzmatazz.
This year has certainly beentough for the sector. TheCoalition came to power warningus of the dire consequences of a public debtof £1,000,000,000. They told us that we hadlittle choice but to join together and help theGovernment get us on a stable economicfooting. If we didn’t, the very children we knewand cared for would suffer far into the future.As a sector, we responded constructively tothe public cuts and efficiencies implementedto help reduce the debt. However, we’re farfrom safe. There’s more to come.
Many of us were keen that a newGovernment would just settle in and not tryand change everything (theprevious Government introducedmuch that was very good forchildren), and happily it hasn’t.Our new Minister, Sarah TeatherMP, appeared to value theimportance of universal care andeducation for three- and four-year-olds, although shedescribes it as ‘school readiness’which caused someconsternation (we all know thatearly childhood is a period of lifein its own right; it’s not apreparation for anything). Shecommitted the Government toextending the two-year-old pilot. I was delighted, as the pilot hasbeen a very helpful and correctly-funded project which hastouched the lives of many of ourpoorest families.
That said, we’ve had fivesignificant reports, which seemto be the framework for astrategy. Graham Allen pushedthe importance of parenting andreinforced the principle of earlyintervention. As my Grandmawould say, “A stitch in time savesnine”. Frank Field examined howwe address child poverty nowthat it’s increasing again. The Munro report looked atsafeguarding and how to avoidany more childrenbeing murderedwithin their families.The Wolf reportexamined how wesupport younglearners andapprentices, manyof whom are
trainees in our nurseries. Finally, theTickell Report reviewed the EYFS. Tickelllistened to the 3,300 people whoresponded and kept the majority of theEYFS with some minor changes – arelief, as it’s a good document.
So, what do we put onthe birthday card? n Great about universal childcare andeducation, but remember it’s only useful
if it’s good quality and that care andeducation remain integral. Early years is notjust about education. n Well done for the two-year-old pilot. Make it universal, but ensure those childrengo to settings which understand and liketwo-year-olds. Link the offer to parentsupport, including opportunities for training and work.n Child poverty is reduced when parents work.Keep a wide range of properly-fundedchildcare and education support, includingholiday and after school services.
n Make Children Centres multi-generational and open tolocal people so they cancontribute as well as accessfriendships, advice and happyexperiences. Children Centresneed to be central to reducingisolation and creatingcommunity networks.n Don’t give up on training anddevelopment; quality is the coreof what we do. Make sure ourqualifications have childdevelopment at the core. Keep the Graduate Workforceidea, and ensure all leaders of services have a relevantdegree and the right level of experience. n Graham Allen MP haspushed for measurement, socialinvestment and payments byresults. Work with us on this.Don’t lumber us with complexmonitoring systems that take usaway from children. Don’t losesight of what it is we’re reallyhere to do.
Happy Birthday, Coalition, fromthe Early Sector – remember tosend us a party bag of cake,chocolate, bubbles, and a yo yoso we can have a little fun.
The CoalitionGovernment hascelebrated its first
birthday; what shall wewrite in its birthday card?June O’Sullivan offers
some suggestions...
happyreturns?
many
As a sector, we respondedconstructively to the public cuts andefficiencies. However, we’re farfrom safe. There’s more to come
JUNE O’SULLIVAN
June O’Sullivan is the CEO of
the London Early Years
Foundation. Visit leyf.org.uk or
June’s blog at
juneosullivan.wordpress.com
findoutmore
Teach Nursery 11
