Network Whispers: pensions, phonics and a missing minister

LOBBIED – OR LUNCHED? A recent lobby day at Parliament, hosted by the APPG for Childcare and Early Education, had more than 50 MPs attend, including former childcare minister Caroline Dinenage. Her recent successor, Nadhim Zahawi, was nowhere to be seen – until he was spotted ‘happily eating lunch’ at a nearby canteen. A DfE spokesman blamed ‘diary commitments’ and said his parliamentary private secretary did attend to feed back the issues raised.

OPEN CIRCUIT New CCTV systems, which commonly come with apps to view footage, are leading nursery owners to consult lawyers. One owner said, ‘CCTV gives peace of mind to parents, but when we had it upgraded to use on our phones, I felt worried about having these pictures off the premises. All systems are open to people hacking into them. However, it is security-protected.’ Make sure your app is password-protected and add this information to your CCTV and GDPR policies.

PENSIONS PENALTIES There has been a sudden increase in the number of penalties handed out by the Pensions Regulator in an auto-enrolment crackdown. At least eight nurseries have been fined, with two in Sussex and South Yorkshire both accumulating a £14,000 penalty. The fine can be £500 per day for 28 days following an initial penalty notice, so all nurseries are urged to take note.

DEMONIC PHONICS? Phonics have been part of the national curriculum since 2010. But the method has come in for criticism from language luminaries such as Michael Rosen and many in the early years, who fear true literacy is being lost over the ability to sound out words in isolation. Michele Barrett, head of Randolph Beresford Early Years Centre and Vanessa Nursery School, Hammersmith, told the Nursery World SEND conference, ‘When I hear phonics, I think “oooh, let’s all sit on a carpet and make weird sounds out of context”.’