Editor's view - a bold and ambitious report
Friday, June 22, 2012
There will doubtless be long and heated discussions over Professor Cathy Nutbrown's recommendations put forward in her final report, Foundations for Quality: the independent review of early education and childcare qualifications, before the Government makes its response.
However, there must be near-universal admiration for the ambition, scope and thoughtful, principled nature of the report.
And the way it is written is a delight after the turgid experience of wading through so many reports produced through the channels of Government and committees. The text is jargon-free, clear and direct, spelling out the reasoning in no-nonsense fashion.
Phrases such as 'wiping noses' and 'it feels right to me' appear throughout the report. There is a logical structure, and the reader is taken on a journey of substance and sense.
At the same time, it is evident that there has been wide and meaningful consultation with the early years and childcare sector, and that opinions, feelings and experiences have been recognised and reflected upon.
There are already disagreements emerging about some of Professor Nutbrown's conclusions, of course. How could there fail to be when some of them would lead to radical change for the sector, as well as increased costs? But Professor Nutbrown has not shied away from laying down what she believes to be right and necessary to overhaul the qualifications and career structure of those who care for and educate our youngest children.
A strange note was struck, however, with the Government's announcement of its Childcare Commission on the same day as the Nutbrown report was released, with its brief to look at how to reduce childcare costs.
True quality can't be done on the cheap!
