EYFS REVIEW: children's minister announces further consultation

Speaking at a parliamentary reception hosted by the National Day Nurseries Association, Ms Teather thanked the early years sector for responding to the Department for Education’s consultation on the EYFS and for contributing to the Nutbrown review.

She said, ‘We’re going back out on a fresh consultation responding to the issues that you raised in the consultation.’

The consultation - which Nursery World understands will be launched early next week - will look at specific aspects of the revised framework, and will be published alongside the Government’s official response to the EYFS consultation.

Nursery excellence

NDNA’s reception celebrated the excellent work nurseries around the country do in supporting families, with the publication of a series of case studies to highlight excellent practice in private and voluntary early years settings.

They give a snapshot of nurseries’ practice, ranging from supporting families with additional needs, to encouraging parents into training so they can improve their chances of finding a job, to helping families struggling with difficult financial situations.

They include Rainbow Nursery in West Lothian, which has helped parents who suddenly lose their jobs by introducing flexible fees to help them pay for childcare.

The nursery also reduces fees for one Polish family with a single mother so that her son can spend time with extended family in Poland during the summer holidays.

Also featured is The Children’s Place in Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire, an ‘outstanding’ nursery chosen to take part in the Kirklees Council pilot scheme providing two-year-olds with additional needs ten hours of free childcare.

NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku, (pictured), said, ‘These case studies highlight the vital role that nurseries play for children, families and the economy, and we are delighted to be launching them at this event.

‘The provision and availability of high quality early learning and childcare is essential in helping parents back into work, and improving future wellbeing and educational attainment of young children. It is vital that the funding being invested in early years makes it to the frontline to enable high-quality provision.

‘The investment in the expansion of free nursery education places for more disadvantaged two year olds, announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, is a real credit to the early years sector and NDNA wants to see Government working closely with the sector to deliver the best possible quality early learning and childcare for children and families.’