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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

REVISED EYFS DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED

The Department for Children, Schools and Families is printing a revised version of the Early Years Foundation Stage pack (EYFS) following high demand. The Department has taken the opportunity to provide clarification on areas in the Statutory Framework and Practice Guidance documents where feedback from local authorities, schools and other early years providers has indicated this would be helpful. The legal requirements have not changed.

A letter from Sheila Scales (Director, Early Years, Extended Schools and Special Needs Group) to Directors of Children's Services and local authority early years leads is available to download from TeacherNet, along with the revised EYFS documents, a table detailing all the changes that have been made and some FAQs.

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/EYFS
 

REGISTERED CHILDMINDERS PROMOTE CHILDREN'S LANGUAGE AND LITERACY DURING NATIONAL CHILDMINDING WEEK

Registered childminders and nannies from all over England and Wales will be celebrating during National Childminding Week in June. The annual week of celebration is coordinated by the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and runs from 14 - 21 June. This year, to tie in with the National Year of Reading, the week will celebrate reading and the role childminders and nannies play in supporting children's language, literacy and creativity.

Roger McGough CBE has offered his support for National Childminding Week. 

Roger said: 

"As a poet and children's author I am delighted to support National Childminding Week during the National Year of Reading, for I know that registered childminders in England and Wales help and inspire children to read in a variety of imaginative ways."

Liz Bayram, NCMA's Chief Executive said:

"Literacy and communication are, of course, crucial areas of child development, and we know that too many children across the UK are starting school without the vital communication and linguistic skills they need to be effective learners. 

"Registered childminders and nannies are uniquely placed to support language, literacy and creativity in the children they care for. That is why we are celebrating the work they do and spreading the word to parents who may be considering their childcare options, to explain the many advantages."

NCMA's 46,000 members will be celebrating their work with literacy and reading during the week. They will be encouraging children's love of books by reading "The Gruffalo" - voted by NCMA members as their cared-for children's favourite book; giving out National Childminding Week bookmarks for children to decorate and use; helping children "write" their own book using downloadable resources from www.ncma.org.uk.

National Childminding Week is supported by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. 

Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said:

 "We know that good early years care and education has a positive impact on a child right through their primary school years. Childminders play a vital role in helping to prepare children for school and give them the very best possible start in life. We are delighted to be supporting National Childminding Week."
 

2. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

CHILDFRIENDLY

As Summer is nearly upon us we thought this site might be a useful mine of information for those sunny days out.

If you're looking for family holidays, child friendly hotels, restaurants, or simply somewhere to take the kids on the weekend then you've come to the right place. We know how hard it can be to do the research, so we've done it for you. Search from 1000's of the very best family friendly places in the UK and abroad at childfriendly.co.uk!

http://www.childfriendly.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 
 
 

JUNE 15

Father's Day

http://www.under5s.co.uk/dadday.html#fathers%20day
 

5. NEWS
 

DESIGN YOUR OWN PLAY SPACE: MINISTERS LAUNCH WEBSITE TO GET KIDS' VIEWS ON PLAY

Ministers today launched a fun, interactive website and poster campaign to encourage children to give their views on play and play areas as part of the first ever national consultation on children's play. 
 

The website and posters give children the chance to design their own play space using playground favourites such as see-saws and round-a-bouts mixed with more modern structures such as wooden climbing walls. 

On the website children can choose from a variety of settings to reflect their local areas, with a choice of urban, rural or sports fields on which to build their ideal play area. In order to add equipment to their play space children must answer a series of questions around the idea of play. The more questions answered the more points they earn to spend on designing their own play space. 

The views of children and young people will play a crucial part in this consultation, and it is important that as many as possible are able to contribute their ideas. This short, online activity is aimed at 8 to 13 year olds, will ensure that children can give their views while at the same time being creative and having fun. All the consultation questions have been drafted using child-friendly language.

Minister for Children and Young People Kevin Brennan said: 

"I want to know what play spaces children actually want. The website and posters are designed to inspire children to get involved in our consultation and tell us what makes play fun for them. We want to ensure that their ideas and needs are at the heart of everything we are doing to create safe, child-friendly public spaces and to make this country the best place in the world to grow up." 

Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe said:

"I want all children to get outdoors and to enjoy being active. By making it fun for children to answer consultation questions, we can hopefully get as many responses as possible. We're going to be developing some fantastic play areas and I hope this will revive outdoor play for children up and down the country. This is a great way for kids to have their say on play." 

The consultation on children's play was announced by Secretaries of State Ed Balls and Andy Burnham on 3 April. The initiative means that children across the country will get an extra 3,500 play areas and 30 local authorities will get £2 million each to build new adventure playgrounds, as part of a £235 million Government investment in children's play. 

For more information or to design your own play area visit the website at: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/playspace/ 

FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO FIND CHILDCARE - SURVEY

Quality of childcare more important than cost say parents

Many families seeking childcare in Northern Ireland are finding the search
difficult, according to a major new survey on childcare commissioned by
NICMA - the Childminding Association.

The poll, carried out by Ipsos MORI, found that 30% of parents surveyed who had recently looked for childcare had found their search difficult, with 17% describing their search as 'very difficult'. Parents in rural areas were most likely to report difficulty in seeking childcare.

The survey, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, looked at public attitudes towards childcare, and at parents' experiences and preferences in choosing childcare.

Among the survey's main findings were the following:

. more than half of all parents (52%) said the quality of care was an important
consideration in seeking childcare, compared to 26% who said cost was an important
factor

. there was a strong preference among many parents for care provided by someone
who knows the child - 52% of parents said this was a key consideration for them

. word of mouth recommendation was by far the most favoured method of finding
childcare - 74% of parents said this was their preferred means of sourcing childcare

. by contrast, just 11% said they would prefer to telephone an organisation like NICMA to find a childcare provider, while a mere 1% said they favoured searching for childcare via the internet

. among all respondents (parents and non-parents), day nurseries were viewed more
favourably than childminders in terms of the quality of care they were perceived as
providing, but there appeared to be less awareness of what childminders can offer

Speaking as the survey findings were published, NICMA's Director, Bridget Nodder, said her organisation was pleased that parents here clearly value quality, but was concerned that many families are having difficulty finding childcare.

"Given the emphasis NICMA places on quality in the provision of childcare, it is heartening to see that parents really value quality too," she commented.
"However, we're naturally concerned at the evidence that many families are facing
problems in finding childcare. "We're currently conducting a more in-depth survey on the supply and demand for childcare in Northern Ireland - and we're lobbying politicians to help create more childcare places.

"The strong preference for word of mouth recommendation and for knowing the childcare provider is very understandable - but that may be holding back some parents from approaching an organisation like NICMA.

"We can provide information on registered childminders with vacancies, and can advise parents on how to make the right choice."

The survey also found strong public support for action by the Northern Ireland Executive on childcare:

- more than four-fifths of all respondents (83%) wanted the Executive to prioritise the
provision of good quality, affordable childcare.

-a similar proportion (81%) wanted the Executive to take action to address the ongoingshortage of childminders.

"This survey demonstrates that childcare is regarded as a crucial policy issue by voters," commented NICMA's Director, Bridget Nodder.
"We hope that politicians will listen to the clear message that's coming from the voters, and take tangible action to expand and improve childcare provision."

The survey was carried out by Ipsos MORI and involved a representative sample of 1,024 adults in Northern Ireland.

http://www.nicma.org/06/additional_info/CM%20Matters.pdf

6. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

AUSTRALIA

CHANGES TO CHILD CARE BENEFIT AND CHILD CARE TAX REBATE - BUDGET 2008-09

Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, says all families with children in approved care will receive significant benefits as a result of last week's Budget initiatives. 

'Every working family with a child in approved care who is currently accessing the Child Care Benefit (CCB) and the Child Care Tax Rebate (CCTR) will be better off as a result of these Budget initiatives,' said Ms McKew.

>From July 2008 the CCTR will increase from 30 to 50 per cent of out of pocket costs. The maximum payment will increase from $4,354 to $7,500 per child, and payments will be made quarterly, rather than annually. The first of these payments will be made in October 2008.

'These changes mean that for the first time, parents will receive higher government assistance closer to the time they incur child care costs, a move which will help them meet their regular child care expenses,' she said.

>From July 2008 there will no longer be a minimum rate of CCB. This is an extension of the current system where a family's income affects the amount of CCB they receive. 

Instead of the rate reducing to a minimum rate as it does currently, it will continue to reduce until the family's rate is zero. 

The income level at which CCB will cut out completely depends upon the number of children in approved care.

For example, for a family with one child in approved care, the rate of CCB they receive will be reduced if their combined income is above $111,000 and will cut out completely at around $126,000.

For a family with two children in approved care, the rate of CCB they receive will be reduced if their combined income is above $119,000 and cut out completely at around $131,000.

Families who no longer receive the minimum CCB will still be eligible for the CCTR.

'While the Budget measures remove the minimum rate of CCB for higher income families, the increased CCTR payment means they will receive substantially more assistance than the modest amount they will lose through CCB,' said Ms McKew. 

Further details on eligibility criteria for CCTR and changes to the Child Care Benefit are available in fact sheets on the Office of Early childhood Education and Child Care website http://www.oececc.gov.au .

NEW ZEALAND

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

The government continues to invest in education so young people can successfully meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

The government is investing $182 million in operating funding, and $33.5 million in capital funding, over four years for an extra 762 teachers, delivering on the commitment to reduce class sizes for new entrants to one teacher per 15 students.

"We know that school is a big step for youngsters. This funding will ensure they have the best education start possible," Education Minister Chris Carter said.

Schools get an increase of $171.6 million over four years in Operations Grant funding, a 5 percent increase which includes $65.3 million over four years to help meet the cost of Information Communications Technology (ICT).

"ICT is a vital part of our education system. We must prepare our students for a world with rapidly changing technology and this funding is an important part of doing that," Chris Carter said.

The government also continues to invest in early childhood education, with an extra $63.6 million over four years to help services meet increased costs, reducing the need for these to be passed to parents. The government's school property programme, meanwhile, receives operating funding of $20.8 million over four years, and capital funding of $74.7 million over the next three years, to complete nine new schools announced in Budget 2007 and to begin construction on two new schools, 130 new classrooms, and to modernise existing school property.

Major initiatives in special education include the provision of $18.4 million of operating funding over four years for students with high needs and the provision of $7.3 million of operating and $659,000 of capital funding over four years to expand the newborn hearing screening programme. The government will also redirect $6.1 million over four years of existing operating funding to provide extra specialist staff to support blind and vision impaired students.
 
 
 

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