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This week

1. Did you know
2. Website of the Week
3. Under5s Download Centre
4. Date for your Diary
5. News
6. International News 
7. More Educational Sites
 

1. DID YOU KNOW

Early years programmes on Teachers TV

Throughout April, Teachers TV gives you a chance to catch some of its highly acclaimed early years programmes. Literacy The Whole Story is a series that closely examines one school's approach to phonics, reading and writing. We witness its learning strategies and see how the school's focus on teamwork enables it to deliver a tailored and tracked service to their pupils.
 

2. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

CREATIVE STEPS

The website of the magazine !

Creative Steps is an essential resource for everyone caring for children from 0 to 11 years old, providing inspiration and clear step-by-step instructions for fun creative activities, all supporting the early years goals.

Creative Steps is about having fun with creative activities, but will also help reinforce the early learning goals, from the Foundation Stage through Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. 

http://www.creativesteps.co.uk/
 
 

3. UNDER5S DOWNLOAD CENTRE

DON'T FORGET - you can find 24 different plans in the Download Centre and  all of our planning is available to download today. 

Don't miss the fantastic Let's Sign signing resources. 

Childminders - if you are struggling with Birth to Three, take a look at the Birth to Three Planning Guidance. 

http://cnb-host4.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/under5s?op=catalogue-categories-null

EARLY LEARNING FORUMS 

Join Us ! 

To discuss early years issues. To find support and advice on early years education. To relax and chat amongst friends. Come on in and have a look... 

http://www.earlylearningforums.co.uk 
 

NOVEMBER 7th

NCMA's Annual Conference and National Policy Debate

Join up to 500 childcare professionals at NCMA's Annual Conference and National Policy Debate. Held this year in Southport, Lancashire, the Conference will celebrate home-based childcare and look forward to new developments in the profession.

http://www.ncma.org.uk/
 
 

5. NEWS

CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND JOINS CALLS FOR EUROPEAN UNION TO SHOW LEADERSHIP ON EARLY YEARS SERVICES 

European child policy experts meeting in Brussels today are urging the European Commission to take a stronger lead on developing early years services, to help eliminate child poverty and improve services for all young children. 

A meeting in Brussels today chaired by Children in Scotland?s chief executive Bronwen Cohen is expected to call on the European Commission to ensure member states take a wider approach to the provision of services for children. 

Cohen will stress the variety of purposes that services can offer, providing not only care for parents in paid employment but also offering stimulating, safe environments which can encourage learning and healthy lifestyles, strengthen social inclusion and develop an understanding of citizenship. 

Delegates are expected to call on the European Union to widen the Barcelona targets (see notes) beyond the labour market to include all children and families. The targets were set in 2002 and called on member states to provide more services for parents in paid employment. 

Bronwen Cohen said: "A Scottish Government report just out finds that child poverty could be costing Scotland up to ¾ billion pounds, but the report also acknowledges that breaking the poverty cycle could result in ?incalculable long- termbenefits?. 

"Scotland has the opportunity to develop a new strategy for support for the early years that could break this cycle. The Scottish Government could be a trail blazer in the vital area of early years services. Its early years framework could ensure 
that services are delivered in a genuinely holistic way for children, following the recommendations of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development?s (OECD) Starting Strong II report and taking into account forthcoming recommendations by Unicef (Report Card 8). 

"But Scotland shouldn?t have to go it alone, which is why we are calling on the European Commission to help take the lead." 

The event "Improving the well-being of young children in Europe: the role of early years services" is hosted by Scottish Labour MEP Catherine Stihler and organised by Eurochild in association with Unicef. 

Catherine Stihler MEP said: "We need practical and sustainable goals and solutions in order to tackle child poverty at a Scottish, UK and Europe-wide level. This event will ensure an information exchange that is necessary in order to implement and change EU legislation to ensure it is as effective as possible." 

Eva Jesperson, chief, Monitoring Social and Economic Policies, Unicef Innocenti Research Centre and John Bennett, John Bennett, Consultant on Unicef Innocenti Research Centre and co-author of the OECD report ?Starting Strong II will both be speaking at the seminar in advance of the publication of Unicef Report Card 8 in May. 

Later this week on April 10, 2008, Children in Europe will be launching a policy paper, ?Young children and their services: developing a European approach?, which will recommend a more integrated and child-centred approach to early childhood education and care across Europe
 

CHILDREN - REVIEW INTO THE IMPACT OF THE COMMERCIAL WORLD

Ed Balls and Andy Burnham have called on young people and parents to give their views on whether the commercial world is impacting on our children's lives. 

As part of the Government's Children's Plan to make this country the best place in the world to grow up, Ed Balls and Andy Burnham have announced an independent assessment of the impact of the commercial world on children's wellbeing. 

The Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have appointed David Buckingham, Professor of Education at the Institute of Education, London University, and founder and director of the Centre for the Study of Children, Youth and Media, as Chair of a panel of independent experts. The panel, made up of academics from different disciplines, will look at how children's engagement with the commercial world has changed and what the impact those changes are having.

As well bringing together existing research, the panel will ask children, young people and parents for their views on what impact commercialisation is having on young people. 

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said:

"My aim is to make this the best place in the world for our children and young people to grow up. But parents have already told us through our Time to Talk events around the country that they're concerned consumerism is skewing our children's values and aspirations - so I want an independent assessment to help us understand what is happening and it should help families strike the right balance so they can keep their children safe, but also allow them the freedom to learn and develop.

"As parents we all worry about new influences, and feel pressure to buy the latest toys for our children. I want to know if advertising and shopping, and other influences such as media and entertainment, marketing and promotion, commercial websites, and sponsored events are affecting our children's lives in any way. I want to know what these things are telling young people about how to behave, what to believe, and what kind of person to become.

"It is vital that not only those who work in this area come forward and tell us what they think, but also that parents and children get involved with this assessment so we can get a properly informed picture of the impact of the commercial world has on our children."

Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said: 

"All parents want the best for our children. And we worry about whether we are doing enough to help them on their way in what can be a demanding and difficult world.

"Technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and the commercial world is becoming ever more sophisticated. This of course opens up many opportunities for children to explore, investigate and learn new things. But, there is understandable concern about some of the ways in which children might be influenced by what they see and hear. We need a clear picture of just what is changing, and whether it affects young people, either for better or worse. 

"This valuable research will give us a much greater insight into how commercial activity impacts on the lives of young people. I hope that parents, children and experts will all take the opportunity to share their experience and help build a better understanding of the issues so that we can respond appropriately."

Professor David Buckingham said:

"There is growing concern about the influence of commercial forces on contemporary childhood. We urgently need a balanced and well-informed assessment of what is really happening. I very much welcome this opportunity to gather together and evaluate the evidence on this issue, and to consult with parents and children themselves. We are intending to look at the positive aspects of children's involvement with the commercial world, as well as the negatives; and at how children and parents are learning to deal with commercial pressures. We have assembled a strong team of experts, and will be welcoming responses and submissions from all interested parties"

In addition to these calls for evidence the assessment will also undertake some targeted consultations with children, young people, parents and other stakeholders.

The calls for evidence are open to children, young people, parents and other interested parties and can be found at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/ 

The panel will report back to Government by March 2009.
 
 
 

6. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
 

AUSTRALIA

TOY AND NURSERY HOTLINE

The Minister for Justice, David Llewellyn announced today a new joint venture between Tasmania and Victoria that will provide parents with a toy and nursery safety hotline. 
 

Mr Llewellyn said new products are constantly entering the toy market and it is important for parents and carers to have access to up-to-date information on safety standards and banned products. 
 

"In the past dangerous objects, often in the guise of children's toys, have slipped under the radar to be sold in some stores," Mr Llewellyn said. 
 

"Some of those items can be life threatening, so I consider this joint venture an essential initiative to protect the lives of young Tasmanians. 
 

"The agreement, between Consumer Affairs Victoria and Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Tasmania, will give parents greater confidence when choosing products for their children. 
 

"The hotline will give parents and carers important product safety information to better inform them and help reduce the risk of injuries to babies and children from unsafe toys and nursery products," Mr Llewellyn said. 
 

The hotline opened for calls yesterday allowing consumers from Victoria and Tasmania to make enquiries, discuss concerns and report unsafe products. 
 
 
 

"Consumer Affairs Victoria staff, have undertaken specialised training to further their product safety knowledge and to include information on Tasmanian bans and standards," Mr Llewellyn said. 
 

"Last financial year, Victorian product safety inspectors seized more than 50,000 toys that breached ban orders and prescribed safety standards. 
 

"This new joint venture with Victoria will help inspectors regularly conduct routine unannounced inspections of stores and suppliers and follow up and investigate consumer complaints. 
 

"Suppliers and retailers who have broken the law by supplying or selling dangerous products will face enforcement action," Mr Llewellyn said. 
 

Parents are encouraged to call the dedicated hotline on 1300 36 48 94 for more information on product safety.
 
 
 

GOVERNMENT INVITES PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICE REFORM PLAN
 

The Brumby Government wants the Victorian public to have their say in shaping the future of school education and early childhood services.

Education Minister Bronwyn Pike and Early Childhood Development Minister Maxine Morand today released the Government's proposed future vision for supporting Victorians from birth to adulthood.

The Ministers said the linking of early childhood services and schools - with the creation of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development last August - presented a unique and unprecedented opportunity to develop a blueprint for reform.

Two Blueprint for Early Childhood Development and School Reform discussion papers - one for school reform and one for early childhood development - have been released for public comment and feedback.

The Government will also hold consultation sessions across the state throughout May.

"Education is a dynamic and evolving sector and we can never rest on our laurels and say what we are doing is good enough," Ms Pike said.

"The first blueprint was a success and that work needs to continue - but the world does not stand still and there is more to do.

"We have introduced significant reforms since 1999 - many from the 2003 Blueprint for Government Schools - which have made a difference to ensure Victorian families have the best schools.

"We have introduced better reporting to parents through new student report cards and school annual reports, new curriculum standards, a greater emphasis on leadership and development for principals and teachers and the introduction of the $1.9 billion Victorian Schools Plan to improve our school buildings.

"That work will continue, and now it is time for a second round of ideas."

Ms Pike said the proposed reforms are framed around an increased emphasis on ensuring every student progresses in school, new ways to equip students and the school workforce with what they need to succeed, new ways to encourage high-performing principals and teachers to work at schools that really need them and a new focus on schools where students are not performing as well as expected.

Blueprint proposals for school reform include:

Stronger interventions and more intensive monitoring in underperforming schools; 

Monitoring and incentives to ensure that adequately performing schools are encouraged to improve; 

Develop a scheme to encourage high-performing graduates from other fields to enter teaching, modelled on the UK's Teach First; 

Provide incentives, including higher salaries, for the best teachers and school leaders to work in those schools where they are needed most; and 

Support teachers who have become disengaged to leave the profession, after appropriate opportunities and support have been provided to lift teaching practice. 

"The results of this work will benefit Victorian children, Victorian families and Victorian communities for decades to come," Ms Pike said.

Blueprint proposals for early childhood development reform include:

Integrating early childhood education and care, in partnership with the Commonwealth Government; 

Improving transitions to school; 

Developing a new 0-8 learning and development framework linked to existing learning standards in schools; 

Improving participation in early childhood services to improve early identification of health and development problems; and 

Supporting families to provide a home environment that supports development. 

Ms Morand said one key to reform was better linking children's services and schools to provide help that is needed as early as possible before problems escalated.

"We know that a child's learning and development start from day one and that a child's early experiences have a significant impact on their future prospects," Ms Morand said.

"There is strong evidence that children's developmental and educational outcomes improve when there is a stronger focus on early childhood.

"We have to think about all early childhood experiences from the home environment to time spent in childcare as being part of a child's learning and development process.

"This blueprint presents many ideas where we can do things differently to make a real difference to children's lives."

Feedback from the public consultation process, which will run until 16 May 2008, will help shape the final Blueprint, which will be released later this year.

Public consultation forums will be widely advertised.
 

USA

18,000 CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILIES TO LOSE CHILD CARE IF PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS ARE ENACTED

Twelve prominent child development and advocacy organizations flanked by concerned parents testified before the State Assembly today to the profound, negative impact that proposed reductions to child care and preschool services would have on working families and their children. The Assembly takes up proposed reductions to child care funding this week. These reductions, totaling over $198 million statewide, would result in the loss of over 18,000 child care spaces in California for low-income working families. The Governor's budget framed these reductions as "occurring through attrition" but failed to account for the hundreds of thousands of eligible children throughout the state already on the waiting list for child care.

Ted Lempert, Children Now president, stated, "These cuts hurt California's working families, making it even harder for them to remain at work and pay taxes, but the real hit is on the children themselves. Early childhood programs are vital to the health, safety and success of our children."

As families struggle to afford the increased costs of food, housing, health care and energy, the continued lack of availability of child care assistance jeopardizes working families' employment. Sophia Haro, a program manager at UC Davis Department of Public Health Services, has been a recipient of child care subsidies for her three children for five years. Haro said, "Without child care subsidies, the cost of child care for me would be 67 percent of my take home pay, leaving me just enough to pay my $1,000 in rent and nothing left for food, clothes and medical needs. Having a subsidy has enabled my children to be in quality programs that have helped them grow and learn and to be cared for by dedicated professionals. If the Governor's cuts go through, I could lose my subsidy and would need to leave my six and eight year-old children home alone with my ten year-old child or quit my job. That would be bad for me, my kids and the economy." 

Other prominent leaders also testified. Assemblymember Loni Hancock stated, "Early childhood programs produce productive adults who contribute to home and community well-being. Statistics verify positive results again and again. We must increase our revenue stream now to avoid significant loss of capacity in these programs. This is our only option." 

Patty Siegel, executive director of the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network, commented, "We understand the difficult decisions faced by legislators trying to craft a balanced budget. However, if funds supporting child care subsidies are not maintained, parents who are employed in businesses throughout the area will be forced to make a decision to either stay home to care for their children and quit their jobs, or to leave their children unattended or in unsafe situations, while they continue to earn a paycheck. In our challenging economy neither option helps our business community. A typical family in these programs is a single working parent with two children earning around $1,800 per month, which would barely cover the cost of the family's child care costs and rent."

The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education will consider these cuts today.
 
 

7. MORE EDUCATIONAL SITES 

For more educational sites visit 

Sites for Teachers 

http://www.sitesforteachers.com/perl/rankem.pcgi?id=under5s
 

Kind regards 
 

The Under5s Team 
Http://www.under5s.co.uk