Here is our selection of topical and relevant news stories about
children and children’s services.
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May
Snapshot research - Impact of the Economic downturn - Find out more...
Economic downturn.pdf
Improved Partnership will boost childcare use - Find out more...
Sustainability is biggest worry for PVI providers
By Catherine Gaunt, Nursery World, 6 May 2009
Private and voluntary nurseries have overwhelmingly singled out sustainability as their most common cause of concern, in the Pre-School Learning Alliance's third annual membership survey.
The Alliance said that in initial findings from the 1,500 responses received so far, 86 per cent said that keeping their business sustainable over the next 12 months was a major issue for them, followed by workforce development and nutrition.
Last year, members highlighted the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage as their biggest worry.
Comments by providers also indicated concerns that a rise in unemployment may lead to parents cutting back their childcare hours to rely solely on the free early years entitlement.
Another view was that the recession could have a positive benefit on recruitment and retention, with low staff turnover and new recruits drawn to the sector as people settle for lower incomes.
The Alliance's communications director, Neil Leitch, said providers were already starting to see the economic 'squeeze' on parents, with increases in late payments and returned direct debits and standing orders.
He said, 'There are concerns that people are increasingly falling behind with payments. We operate in many areas of deprivation where families rent their property. The reduction in mortgage interest payments will have little impact on the finances of lower earning groups.'
Private providers, who previously may have found it easy to get credit based on the value of their property, are now worried that their lending facilities will be reduced.
Other concerns include the costs of raising qualification levels for the workforce. Mr Leitch said, 'Great aspiration, but the question of how the associated salary cost will be funded long-term has not adequately been addressed.
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Ten years ago there were no Sure Start Children's Centres - and today there are over 3,000, with 2.4 million families now benefiting.
The Labour Party today celebrated the news that 3,000 Sure Start Children's Centres have now been opened across the country. Ministers and MPs are visiting local Children's Centres across the country to mark the significant milestone. The announcement means that the Labour government is on track to fulfil its manifesto pledge of 3,500 centres open by next year.
Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, and Ed Balls MP, Labour's Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families visited a children's centre in Sheffield today to see the achievements on the ground. But today is not just about celebrating our success - it is also to highlight the danger proposed by David Cameron's Conservatives. The Conservative Party plans to cut £200 million each year from the Sure Start budget, which could see one in five Children's Centres forced to close their doors.
The Labour Party, however, are going to continue to invest in children's centres. With funding of £1billion a year there will be 3,500 by 2010 - one for every community across the country, providing invaluable help and support for children and parents.
Gordon Brown MP, Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, said:
"I am proud of what the Labour Government has achieved over the past ten years for children and parents, with Sure Start centres providing a vital service up and down the country. I have visited many centres, and today is a fantastic chance for us to thank all those involved in making Sure Start centres a service which can transform children's lives.
"Children's centres form the foundations to so many communities. The Conservatives would cut Sure Start funding and this could put one in five children's centres at risk. It is essential we invest in helping people when times are tough - and not cut back on vital services like these when people need them most."
Ed Balls MP, Labour's Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said:
"We now have over 3,000 Sure Start Children's Centres making a huge difference to parents and children up and down the country. This is a fantastic achievement and I want to thank all the staff and volunteers who have helped make Sure Start such a success.
"By next year there will be 3,500 centres and each one of them will soon be linked to a named health visitor. And while the Tories would cut funding, the Labour government will keep investing in Sure Start to make sure every child gets the best possible start in life.
"Labour is working hard to make this country the best place for children and young people to grow up. David Cameron's Tories like to talk about helping families but behind the marketing they do not support the real help children and parents need.
"Today is a proud day, and I look forward to celebrating reaching our 3,500th Sure Start centre next year.
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Action plan to ensure every child gets the protection they deserve
The Government has announced a wide-ranging package of measures setting out how it will deliver the step-change in child protection called for by Lord Laming in his recent progress report.
The action plan commits to greater openness and public scrutiny of local child protection arrangements, as well as more investment in training and support for front-line social workers.
This reform will be driven forward by a new cross-Government National Safeguarding Delivery Unit. The action plan also confirms the role of Sir Roger Singleton, the first ever Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children. He will produce an annual independent report on progress on safeguarding, the first due in April 2010.
The package also outlines a £58 million six-point plan to transform the social work profession. This new money brings the total investment in the workforce to £109 million over the next two years.
The Government has also published the first report of the Social Work Task Force. Chair of the Task Force, Moira Gibb, has written to Ed Balls and Alan Johnson setting out their advice on implementing Lord Laming's recommendations, including about the future of the Integrated Children's System (ICS).
Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said:
In his progress report, Lord Laming found that we have good foundations in place, but that more needs to be done. We announced immediate action and today’s cross-Government action plan is our detailed response on how we will be driving forward reforms in child protection to build on those foundations.
This country has one of the best child protection systems in the world. But good practice is not yet standard practice everywhere and we should not rest until it is.
Today’s action plan also outlines how, in future, there will be greater public scrutiny of Local Safeguarding Children Boards by:
- Recruiting two members of the public from the local community
- New requirement for annual report on local progress
- Separate independent chairs for Children’s Trusts and LSCBs.
Alongside the action plan, the Government also published a full response on 6 May to the recommendations made by Sir Roger Singleton, Chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, as part of his of safeguarding arrangements in independent schools, non-maintained special schools and all boarding schools in England.
The purpose of the review was to examine the practical operation of the current statutory and non-statutory safeguarding arrangements that apply to these schools, and to make any recommendations where practice could usefully be improved. The Government has accepted all of Sir Roger Singleton's recommendations.
The report, a letter from the Secretary of State to Sir Roger, and the Government’s response are available to download from the Keeping our schools safe page of Teachernet.
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Sir Jim Rose presents finding of most ffundamental review of the primary
curriculum in a decade
• ICT joins English and maths as centre piece of new primary curriculum, with extra training for teachers
• New focus on speaking and listening
• Personal development to be key to raising standards
• Summer born children can start school in the September after their fourth birthday
Education expert Sir Jim Rose today published the findings of the most fundamental review of the primary curriculum in a decade, and a series of recommendations to modernise it for 21st
century pupils.
Ed Balls had asked Sir Jim to propose a curriculum which would inspire life-long learning while reducing prescription and giving teachers greater flexibility.
He was asked to look particularly at how primary schools could develop children’s personal skills to help them achieve academically as well as how to smooth pupils’ path between early years and primary, and into secondary school.
For the first time ever the proposed curriculum will set out what children should learn in three phases – taking them seamlessly from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1, and from primary to secondary education. The three phases show explicitly how the curriculum broadens and deepens to reflect children’s different but developing abilities between the ages of five and 11.
Sir Jim recommends that summer-born children should start primary school in the September after their fourth birthday rather than wait until January - however this would be subject to discussions with parents, taking into account their views of a child’s maturity and readiness to enter reception class. In some cases children might start school part-time.
To give parents choice and flexibility, the Government is today committing, from 2011, to funding both the cost of all children starting school in the September after their fourth birthday, and the full-time costs (up to 25hrs per week) of those children whose parents would prefer them to be in private or voluntary early years provision.Sir Jim’s recommendations also include:
• literacy, numeracy, ICT and personal development should form the new core of the primary curriculum;
• that the primary curriculum be organised into six new areas of learning, so children can benefit from high quality subject teaching and cross curricular studies;
• schools should teach one or two foreign languages, being free to choose which, but focusing on those taught at Key Stage 3;
• that teachers receive additional support to help them teach ICT;
• a new focus on spoken communication, making particular use of the performing and visual arts, especially role play and drama;
• that year six and seven pupils undertake extended study projects to help smooth their transition into secondary school;
• that parents be given a guide to the curriculum, so they can better understand what their children are learning at school;
• teachers to have new advice about how to stimulate play based learning, which would be passed on to parents
• the introduction of an extra training day for primary schools in 2010 so they can understand and start planning for the new primary curriculum;
• smoothing the transition from early years to primary by extending and building upon active, play-based learning, particularly for ‘summer-born’ children and those still working towards the early learning goals; and
• that the two Early Learning goals from the Early Years Foundation Stage he was asked to review be retained. However, he has suggested that the DCSF should offer additional guidance for early years teachers on how to support young children’s emerging writing skills, including examples of how these two goals are being achieved by many children.
Sir Jim Rose said:
“The touchstone of an excellent curriculum is that it instils in children a love of learning for its own sake.
“From what I have seen on my visits, the best schools demonstrate that these priorities – literacy, numeracy, ICT and personal development – are crucial for giving children their entitlement to a broad and balanced education.
“My recommended areas of learning will not ‘abolish’ subjects, such as history or geography. The essential content of these subjects must be taught well in order for children to be able to make links between them, which is what having the six new areas of learning will allow teachers to do.
”With regard to the early learning goals, Sir Jim Rose said:
“Large numbers of children are already achieving these early writing goals so I fail to see why we would want to put a ceiling on them and stop children in their tracks. There are other areas of learning, such as problem solving and creativity, where similar proportions of children are already achieving them, but we have not seen a call for these to be scrapped. The goals are aspirations that teachers encourage children to move towards in a supportive way, they are not hoops to jump through.
”As part of his Review Sir Jim consulted with teachers, parents and subject associations, as well as visiting over 50 schools. Almost 2,000 head teachers and local authority advisers attended nine regional events held on behalf of the Review by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.
Children’s Secretary Ed Balls today thanked Sir Jim for the comprehensive nature of his review and accepted every recommendation.
Ed Balls said:
“Many of our primary schools are already doing an excellent job in driving up standards in the three Rs, work which we want to build on. The new primary curriculum will slim down the existing compulsory National Curriculum subjects into six new areas of learning that ensure that all children learn core subjects like history and geography but also about their personal development.
“It’s a complete nonsense to suggest that it’s an either-or choice between learning history and geography on the one hand; and learning about personal skills and well being on the other. Children should learn both because that is the best way to raise standards for all.
“Sir Jim’s review will give primary heads and teachers more freedom to decide what to teach and how so children enjoy learning and make good progress. Children must be secure in English and maths and have good communication skills and learn these essential life skills if they’re going to succeed and that is central to the Rose recommendations.
”I believe that Sir Jim’s new curriculum will set a new standard in primary education in this country, which is central to us achieving the ambitions we set out in the Children’s Plan.
”Research being published today shows that 97 per cent of parents think that reading and writing are the most important skills for their children to learn at primary school. But 55 per cent think that children should also learn life skills at primary school such as effective communication, teamwork and creative thinking.
Six areas of learningThe new curriculum has been reorganised into six areas of learning.
These are:
• understanding English, communication and languages;
• mathematical understanding;
• understanding the arts;
• historical, geographical and social understanding;
• understanding physical development, health and wellbeing; and
• scientific and technological understanding.
The areas of learning will continue to incorporate traditional subjects - such as English, mathematics, science, history and geography for example - but will also contain more provision for ICT, personal development and health and wellbeing and include essential skills for learning and life. Children will learn how information and valid evidence underpin ideas and practice in science and technology through a greater emphasis on practical and exploratory skills and evaluation. Children will also explore the contribution of historically significant scientists. The range of learning will allow for more cross-curriculum activities and give teachers more opportunities to provide interactive and practical lessons which allow children to also develop maths skills, such as measurement and data handling, in science lessons. The range of learning will allow for more cross-curriculum activities and give teachers more opportunities to provide interactive and practical lessons.Parents
The Department for Children, Schools and Families also today issued research showing 97 per cent of parents think that reading and writing are the most important skills for their children to learn at primary. The majority of parents (55 per cent) also want their children to learn life skills such as communication, teamwork and creative thinking.
The research showed that parents currently have a low understanding about the curriculum itself, but when questioned they support a broad and balanced curriculum.
To help parents, Ed Balls said he wanted the parents’ guide to the curriculum, also published today, to be the start of a conversation with parents and pledged to involve parents more as the consultation on the detailed programmes of study progressed and they moved towards implementation in 2011.
Consultation
A public consultation on the Rose Review recommended programmes of study and guidance will be led by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA).
QCA Acting Chief Executive Andrew Hall says:
"I hope pupils, parents and teachers will all take advantage of the opportunity to offer their views in the consultation process. This will be a vital element in determining the success of the new curriculum, since the more people become involved, the more relevant and robust the final curriculum will be."
It is expected that the new curriculum will be implemented in 2011.
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. For more information about the Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum please see
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/primarycurriculumreview/Early Years2. The two early learning goals from the Early Years Foundation Stage that Sir Jim Rose was asked to review were about the higher levels of achievement in literacy and set the aim that by around age five, most children will be able to:Write their own names and other things such as labels and captions, and begin to form simple sentences, sometimes using punctuation (already reached by 28.3 per cent of children in 2008)Use their phonic knowledge to write simple regular words and make phonetically plausible attempts at more complex words (already reached by 48.2 per cent of children in 2008)The Review of the Early Years Foundation Stage will begin in September 2010. Ministers have not yet made any decisions about the detailed terms of reference for that review, but will discuss its coverage with stakeholders in preparation for the start of the review.Additonal quotes
Sir Peter Williams, Vice President of the Royal Society and Chancellor of the University of Leicester, carried out a major independent review of maths in primary school in 2008. His recommendations to improve the quality of maths teaching were accepted in full by the DCSF last year.
Sir Peter said:
“I recommended last year that learning about numbers and shapes should be rooted in play from an early age, and that children’s mathematical understanding should be cemented through wider activities at school and at home such as puzzles, games and cooking.
“Jim Rose’s recommendations will give teachers more freedom and flexibility to use maths in exciting and creative ways in the classroom, as well as focusing on the basics of times tables, mental maths and fractions. We must make sure that children leave primary school without a fear of maths, and the new curriculum will help to do that. Weaving in numeracy and wider maths activities across the curriculum will help to get children excited about maths and help to reverse the ‘can’t do’ culture that sometimes surrounds the subject.
“Today’s report is good news for the future of maths in this country.”Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, said:“Sir Jim’s recognition that children need to enjoy learning, and that families need to understand and be involved with their children’s education is very encouraging. We know that family involvement in children’s literacy is one of the key factors in achievement.
“The review also clearly recognises the fundamental importance of all four key literacy skills – reading, writing, speaking and listening. Speaking and listening skills are sometimes separated from reading and writing, yet they are essential parts of literacy and have as great an impact on an individual’s life chances, happiness and success.
”CEO of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, Kamini Gadhok said“The Rose Review offers the chance to focus on raising standards in spoken English for children in primary schools. It also provides an invaluable opportunity to develop the skills of children who have identified difficulties with listening, vocabulary, language development and understanding.
”Giles Long MBE, triple gold-medal winning Paralympic swimmer said:“Good sport comes from having good technique. Technique comes from thinking yourself better. Eating healthily, understanding the way the body works, overcoming challenges and using technology to improve your performance are all parts of being an elite athlete.
“Children need to see teamwork and physical activity as part of their daily lives as well as taking part in sports on their own and in teams. It’s great that the new curriculum gives teachers more freedom to help children enjoy sport at school, and to help them make the links between playing, sport, healthy living and learning. I hope this means that more children will ultimately find a sport that they love and be motivated to keep it up throughout their life”Historical Association“The Historical Association has always maintained that the national curriculum as it stands is over-prescribed, and this is detrimental to teaching and learning. We fully support a modified framework that supports the development of a less prescriptive and a more flexible National Curriculum that draws upon subjects like History as tools for learning, as indicated in the Interim Report.
”BECTA Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive of Becta, the government agency for technology in learning, said:“Becta welcomes the Rose Review and the emphasis it puts on technology in our schools. We absolutely believe that technology should be built into all subjects to support teaching and enhance children’s development through school – something which is backed by our extensive research and which we are very pleased to see as recommended in the report.
“The traditional core skills of reading and writing must always remain at the heart of primary teaching, but we must also recognise that there is a wealth of technology available today which, when used effectively and imaginatively, can complement the traditional skills and aid teaching. It can bring lessons to life, make learning more enjoyable and can ultimately help children achieve more.“There is no substitute for good teaching but technology is a vital tool which can develop knowledge and understanding and provide children with real skills for their future education. We want to see all young people leave primary school knowing how to put technology to best use in a way that enhances and advances their learning through secondary education and beyond.”
Graham Holley, chief executive of the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) said:“The TDA welcomes the publication of Sir Jim Rose’s recommendations for the primary curriculum. We believe that the proposals are a sound basis for ensuring that primary age children develop a love of learning that will stand them in good stead for life. In the coming months we will be working with our colleagues in the QCA to encourage all of those with an interest in the training and development of teachers to participate in the consultation and to consider how training programmes would need to be adapted in order to implement the recommendations.”
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