Nursery World Comment RSS Feed

To the point: Opt-outs ill-judged

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

To the point - Stand up for women

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Ever heard of Laura Trott? Probably not. She isn't a household name. But she has a very important job - she's David Cameron's new special adviser on women.

Exclusive: The Minister's View - It's common sense

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

I would hazard a guess that most early years professionals did not choose their career because they love ticking boxes and filling in forms.

Editor's view - it's going to be a busy year

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We're here to help as the run-up to the new Early Years Foundation Stage in September 2012 begins.

"It doesn't take GCSEs..."

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:29:00 GMT

"It doesn't take GCSE's or anything else to change nappies, just common sense" - comments on the Nutbrown Review. Julian Grenier gives his response on his latest blog

To the point: Let's get on with it

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The revised EYFS has now been pored over and has met with both approval and alarm. Of course, people have their own basic outlook towards any sort of change - some of us look forward to the stimulation of something new, while others resist change and typically look for the negatives in a new situation. Seeing these tendencies in action with the revised EYFS has led me to reflect on professionalism in the early years, and our responsibility to live the qualities we aspire to protect and promote in children.

To the Point - Where is the vision?

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In his recent budget, George Osborne announced that Child Benefit will be removed gradually for those earning between £50,000 and £60,000 a year. This removes the sharp edges and shifts the pain slightly higher up the income distribution. However, it has required the introduction of a complex means test on a previously simple benefit and the loss of nearly a third of the savings it was supposed to generate - nearly £700 million less in 2013/14.

Editor's View - courses need to do their level best

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

We have to make sure that courses offer early years students what they need.

The revised EYFS: Too little, too late

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:21:00 GMT

It's time for a completely new approach, argue Margaret Edgington, Grethe Hooper Hansen, Richard House and Kim Simpson, for the the Open EYE Steering Group

To the Point - The dangers of localism for Sure Start

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Department for Education has just published a consultation on statutory guidance for Sure Start Children's Centres. I strongly encourage all Nursery World readers to go online and give your own comments on the guidance by 1 June, says Naomi Eisenstadt.

Editor's View - the revised EYFS

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The revised EYFS is everywhere - except on the DfE website home page!

Exclusive: The Minister's View - Let's raise the bar

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

There have been plenty of eye-catching reports relating to childcare over the last decade. Not all create the headlines they deserve, but every so often you get one that jumps up and down demanding attention.

Editor's view - the Nutbrown Review

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Nutbrown interim report, the Level 3 Diploma and what it all means for the sector.

To the point - Serve the common good

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Politicians of all parties sign up to the goal of social mobility. John Major wanted a classless society. Tony Blair aspired to a meritocracy. Today Nick Clegg declares that increasing social mobility is the overriding ambition of the UK Coalition Government.

To the point - Being in the here and now

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

What is early education and childcare for? If you follow one of the arguments in the recent report from the National Audit Office, it exists to boost results at the end of Key Stage 1.

Editor's view - the needs of those who look after babies

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nurturing babies by nurturing those who care for them

Ofsted - like Marmite, love it or hate it!

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:30:00 GMT

By June O'Sullivan, chief executive of London Early Years Foundation

Editor's view - who's the Daddy?

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Why new TV series 'Daddy Daycare' isn't likely to boost recruitment of men into childcare

Babies are people

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:12:00 GMT

All peope have rights, so what about babies' rights? asks Penelope Leach Ph.D, C.Psychol, FBPsS

To the point: Know how to fight racism

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

When I was first working in schools, in the late 1980s, there was lots of discussion about how early years education could promote social justice and combat racism. Much of that work was cheaply attacked and ridiculed by the media: endless stories of how 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' had been banned, blackboards replaced by chalkboards, and so on.

To the point - Why favour the wealthy?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

You can usually tell when a Government is gearing up to announce a new policy by the fact that some smart, loyal and upcoming backbenchers begin making arguments for it.

Editor's view - you won't stop the riots by smacking children

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Violence is no solution to social unrest, so let's not backtrack on smacking

Exclusive: The Minister's View - Change for the better

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

2012 promises to be a challenging but rewarding year for the early years sector. I am committed to working with you and to bringing about changes that will have a lasting impact on children and their families.

Editor's View: taking back the free entitlement cash

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Warning to parents - get to nursery on time or your 'free place' might cost you quite a bit!

Too much, too soon

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:18:00 GMT

It is astonishing that the unrealistic writing targets in the EYFS haven't been amended, says Sue Palmer

Why I believe the plans for EYFS reform don't make the grade

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:36:00 GMT

A Critical Commentary on Reforming the Early Years Foundation Stage (the EYFS): Government Response to Consultation (publ. 20 Dec 2011)

To the point: Bonds make us strong

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In the week before Christmas, children from different schools in Tower Hamlets came to sing, beautifully, in the Town Hall. It was altogether a moving experience.

To the Point - Prioritising under-fives

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

So now we have it: the Government has abandoned the target of eradicating child poverty by 2020.

Editor's View - Is it worth waging war on the Government's refusal to change reception class ratios?

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The tricky position of reception classes in the Early Years Foundation Stage has been highlighted again in the Government's response to the EYFS consultation and in news from Sutton, where the local authority wants to increase reception class sizes to 32.

Exclusive: The Minister's View - We need your input

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

For me, one of the Government's most important commitments has been our offer of 15 hours of free early education for all disadvantaged two-year-olds. Now that offer is being extended even further to help even more children.

Childcare is becoming dangerously unaffordable

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:37:00 GMT

Ryan Shorthouse, researcher at the Social Market Foundation, says that action is needed to stop childcare costs rising out of the reach of families

Exclusive: Why are nursery nurses going on strike?

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:45:00 GMT

Up to 30,000 nursery workers and teaching assistants are taking industrial action on Wednesday, in what could be the largest walkout since the 1926 General Strike. Dave Prentis from Unison explains why.

Leadership - so much to say about books

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

At Southwark Primary School in Nottingham, nursery leader Pip Otter is exploring the potential of the 'dialogic book talk' approach, which promotes early language and literacy

To The Point - Cuts by the thick skinned

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I have recently moved to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in South Yorkshire, to a role as head/headteacher of an integrated children's centre and nursery school.

Passage to India: a nursery owner's experience of a new, fast-moving market

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:46:00 GMT

Sarah Steel, managing director of the Old Station Nursery group, has just returned from a fascinating trip to Bangalore, in the south of India, where she visited a number of pre-schools and nurseries. Here she recounts the differences and similarities with the UK market and reflects how far we have travelled in the last decade as a sector.

To the point - A little goes a long way

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

If your child was born after the first of January this year, then you missed the deadline to get a Child Trust Fund.

To the point: Babies' right to choose

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT

An interesting debate about group times arose among a group of nursery managers and trainers I was with recently.

To the Point - Poverty policies at odds

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The debate about child poverty is currently taking place in two parallel universes.

To the point: It's just not 'good' enough

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Sometimes it seems as if the language spoken in nurseries is evolving in its own unique way, distinct from the ways that other people speak.

To the Point: Integrate and intervene

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

On 8 August, my daughter was born in St Thomas's hospital, London. Usually the labour ward of a big hospital is a noisy place, and this day was no different.

To the point: Making the first move

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

You would be forgiven for wondering what the new UK Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years are all about, because they were hardly noticed by the media when they were launched earlier in the summer.

To the point : Supporting Families in the Foundation Years - A welcome document

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

By Naomi Eisenstadt, senior research fellow in families, early learning and literacy at the University of Oxford