New scheme looks at how best to use EYPP

The aim of the Learning Together About Learning Project is to help early years providers find creative and effective ways to use the EYPP, and to make it easier for settings to come together to share their expertise.

Under the EYPP, introduced in April, early years settings can claim an additional 53p an hour for every disadvantaged three and four-year-old in their care who qualifies for the funding.

The project, being funded by money awarded to Early Education through the Department for Education's Voluntary and Community Sector Grants programme, is in reaction to concerns from the sector about how to use the EYPP effectively.

As part of the Learning Together About Learning Project, pilot networks have been set up across 15 local authority areas in England to bring together early years providers to share ideas on how best to use the funding. This could include pooling resources and jointly commissioning training and resources.

The local networks are being led by 'outstanding' maintained nursery schools with experience of facilitating workforce development in their areas. They include:

• Cornwall - led by Camborne Nursery School
• South Tyneside - led by The Sue Hedley Nursery School
• Lancashire - led by Highfield Nursery School and Children's Centre
• Newham - led by Kay Rowe Nursery School and Children's Centre.

Feedback from the networks will be used to evaluate the impact of different approaches to using the EYPP, and identify ways of helping settings make best use of it.

Early Education is also inviting providers to fill in a short questionnaire about how well informed they are about the EYPP and what else they would like to know. Based on the responses, Early Education will develop a number of free resources to support practitioners in using the funding.

These resources, along with examples of best practice from the networks and nationally, will be published on the charity's website and social media channels.

Caroline Eaton, who is leading the Learning Together About Learning Project, said, 'Our aim is to support the early years sector to make best possible use of the EYPP, and to demonstrate the impact. We want to help the sector find creative ways to use the funding effectively and to make it easier for settings to partner up and find the support they need. The focus of the spending is likely to be in three key areas: quality improvement, including continuing professional development; refining partnerships with parents; and broadening the wider experiences of children.

'We would love to hear from providers who are starting to develop interesting partnerships and ideas for making a difference with the funding as sharing helps everybody.'

Beatrice Merrick, chief executive of Early Education, said, 'Everyone is on a steep learning curve when it comes to making best use of the EYPP. We hope this project can speed up the process of sharing knowledge about what works in a format that is accessible to all practitioners.'

• Fill in the questionnaire at www.surveymonkey.com/s/eypp_project.