The Government has made available considerable additional funding overthe next three years via local authorities to further the objectives ofthe Children's Plan. Among a wide range of initiatives are many whichdirectly benefit nursery providers.
Every Child a Talker: An Early Language Programme (40m)
This two-year programme will be rolled out in three waves, September 08,April 09 and April 10. While some funding will be used by LAs to recruitand employ an early language consultant, the remainder should allow forcontinuous professional development among PVI providers and themaintained sector.
Social and Emotional Aspects of Development (7m)
Intended to improve practitioners' skills in supporting children'ssocial development, this one-year funding available in 2008-09 will beused to provide supply cover for training.
Increase in Graduate Leadership Fund (57m)
The GLF supports the Government's ambition that by 2015, PVI full-daycare settings will be led by a graduate Early Years Professional. Theadditional grant is intended to:
- Engage settings that are not yet engaged.
- Contribute to salary costs to retain EYPs
- Assist PVI providers with the additional costs of employing a secondgraduate in disadvantaged area settings.
Disabled Children's Access to Childcare (35m)
Ten LAs have been selected as the first wave of pilots whose keyobjectives are to:
- increase the access to high quality, affordable, flexible andsustainable childcare for families with disabled children
- reduce the attitudinal barriers that inhibit access to childcare
- roll out good practice identified in pilots.
This project may also have a positive impact upon the sustainability ofnurseries.
Further information regarding support in your area can be obtained fromyour local authority while a copy of the Children's Plan is availablefrom www.dcsf.gov.uk.
