April 2024: The latest early years sector news
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA)
Brighter thinking for early years / Meddwl disglair ar gyfer y blynyddoedd cynnar
Your free early years activity: How to create a happiness bucket
Encourage the children in your care to become more aware of their emotions and what makes them feel happy by implementing a happiness bucket with this guide.?
Our free early years activity for this newsletter looks at how early years practitioners can support children to become aware of their emotions, in particular what makes them feel happy. We aim to encourage them to understand what makes them feel relaxed, what relaxed feels like in their bodies and promote awareness of others’ feelings.?
Your free early years top tips: Celebrating and promoting diversity in the early years?
Creating an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging means promoting and celebrating diversity.?
Whilst it is important to have resources that promote diversity, it is about creating a culture in your setting where children feel safe and able to ask tricky questions, and practitioners feel confident enough to talk to children about diversity.? The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) also seeks to provide equality of opportunity and ant discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported. Inclusive practice means the diversity of individuals and communities in your setting is valued and respected. No child or family is discriminated against.??
England early years policy updates
National Audit Office (NAO) concerns over childcare expansion?
A recent NAO report highlights concern around the impact of rapid growth on the sector as it responds to the demand for additional childcare places.
It cites quality of provision and quantity of places for vulnerable children most at risk. Listen to NDNA's Cara Brundle on BBC Radio 4 discussing the challenges surrounding childcare expansion deadlines.
Sign petition to scrap business rates?
NDNA member, Debbie Moliterno, has launched a Parliamentary petition to scrap business rates and VAT for nurseries in England. NDNA and Federation of Small Businesses are backing the petition which has already received more than 2,000 signatures.
Consultations – have your say??
The Department for Education (DfE) is running two consultations currently. One is a four-week consultation on the proposed new model for the experienced-based route, as well as the proposed eligibility criteria and process requirements.
?? Please give your views by 20 May 2024??here
DfE is seeking your views on proposed changes to safeguarding requirements in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.
?? Please give your views by 17 June?2024 here
Scotland Early Learning and Childcare policy updates
￡12 per hour uplift - guidance?
The Scottish Government has made a commitment to provide funding to allow PVI settings to pay ￡12 per hour for staff providing funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). Their guidance suggests that settings should be paid a minimum of 7.6% uplift and this should be backdated to 1 April 2024. We are currently carrying out a freedom of information request to ascertain who is paying what.??
SSSC Codes of Practice?
The new SSSC Codes of Practice will be used from 1 May 2024. NDNA Scotland contacted SSSC to ask for the codes to be released prior to the 1 May for employers.
Children’s rights – are you ready for ??
Are you ready for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act??
The Act comes into force in July 2024. We have you covered and are here to support you in every way.
NDNA members can access a wealth of information and resources we have created on the UNCRC.
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Wales childcare policy updates
New minister for early years?
A cabinet reshuffle has led to a new Minister for the childcare brief in Wales.? Jayne Bryant SM is now the Minister for Mental Health and Early Years. She has within her remit:?
???? Read more here
Child poverty
Answering a First Minister’s question on child poverty, Vaughan Gethin SM told the Plenary on 16 April:???
I think you'll find Jayne Bryant, as the new Minister for early years, will take seriously the challenges in the first 1,000 days of a child's life, working across the health and social care team, and, indeed, working with the education Secretary. It's deliberately created to try to draw together all the different levers we have and to understand the difference that that can make in child poverty.?
Your free early years factsheet of the month
Equality Named Co-ordinator
This free factsheet will help you to understand the Equality Act 2010, a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equality of opportunity for all. It will guide you through appointing an Equality Named Co-Ordinator to underpin equality for all in your early years setting.?
Discover how NDNA Networks give you a stronger voice on local issues
“Being a member gives me confidence that I’m not alone.”?
A collective voice is much louder than a lone one. As a group, you can have greater influence on local decision-making. Many networks invite local authority representatives to network meetings so that decisions can be discussed and challenged. Often, the Network Chair will sit on the local Schools Forum (or equivalent) to give the childcare sector a much-needed voice and presence.?
“Working with the local authority as an NDNA Chair makes a difference. My voice is heard and respected.” Mohammad Younis OBE – Chair, Peterborough Network?
Promoting Positive Behaviour in early years settings
Learn all about understanding behaviour in your setting with NDNA's online course, Promoting Positive Behaviour
Early years practitioners - we've got you covered! The course provides effective communication and strategies for good relationships between children and their parents/carers and covers challenging behaviours. It also covers:?
?? What is behaviour and the key theories of behaviour??
?? Identify your impact as a role model for behaviour?
??Creating a positive inclusive environment?
And much more!?
Why not take our free online quiz to see if you can answer:?
??What are the?ten key emotional needs that all human beings have??
?? Which actions would you associate with positive behaviour??
?? Which kind of environment promotes positive behaviour??
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