LATEST NEWS

November 2007
£340 million cash boost for Early Years

August 2007
Barnsley Childcare Survey 2007: including PRIZE DRAW

February 2007
CWDC asks Children's Workforce to Share Views

January 2007
Transformation Fund a boost for Private, Voluntary and Independent Settings

September 2006
New child car seat laws

£340 million cash boost for Early Years

Free nursery education for every three and four year old, backed by £340 million was announced today by Children's Minister, Beverley Hughes.

The cash will be used to extend the free early education entitlement for all 3 and 4 year-olds, from 12.5 to 15 hours each week. The extension will be rolled out across the country over the next three years, and all local authorities will offer the extended entitlement by 2010.

The funding emphasises the Government's commitment to ensuring every child gets the best possible start in life and helping thousands of families balance their work and home life through the expansion of free, flexible childcare.

Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said:

"Free nursery education is essential to supporting high quality early learning and care for children and to meet the needs of today's parents for flexible childcare.

"We want to support families as much as possible and this will help parents make difficult decisions such as returning to work.

"Children deserve the best start in life and nursery education helps them in the long term by boosting their communication, language and social skills. It is available to all those who want it and I hope to see even more children benefiting from the free hours. It also allows parents to sample childcare as a route back to work and training."

Twenty local authorities already offer 15 hours of free nursery education with £58 million invested from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and a further 14, Hackney, Lambeth and Brent, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Salford, Kirklees, Middlesbrough, North East Lincolnshire, Luton, Durham, Southampton, Nottingham City and Cornwall, will offer the extended entitlement from September 2008.

The remaining local authorities will have funding to deliver the 15 hours to their most disadvantaged families, from September 2009. A year later, the rollout will be completed, with every three and four year-old eligible to receive 15 hours free per week.

This funding is in addition to the more than £3bn already provided each year for the free early education entitlement as part of the Dedicated Schools Grant.

The Government also provides over £2m a day through the tax credit system to help around 400,000 families with childcare costs. The number of childcare places has doubled since 1997 to 1.3 million places.

Are you a parent or carer living in the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough and looking after a child under 18 years old?
Would you like a chance to win £50 of High Street shopping vouchers?

If the answers are YES then follow the link to www.barnsley.gov.uk/sufficiencysurvey and complete our
on-line survey or you can print it off, complete it and post it to Christine Brett Barnsley Choices FREEPOST NEA 12891 Barnsley S72 9BR

If you would prefer to be sent a printed copy then please contact Christine Brett on 01226 775977
or email christinebrett@barnsley.gov.uk or text 07624 809924.

CWDC asks Children's Workforce to Share Views

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has launched an online survey to gather the views and feelings of the children's workforce about the Sector Skills Agreement (SSA).

The SSA is designed to increase the quality of service by ensuring that the workforce is highly skilled and fit for purpose. A five-year strategy, the SSA will map out the current and future skills requirements of the workforce.

CWDC is asking a variety of people from the children's workforce including childminders, nannies, nursery managers, CAFCASS workers, Education Welfare Officers, Learning mentors and children's social workers to respond to their survey and give them a clear understanding of what skills they think the workforce needs. Respondents to the survey will be asked what they think is needed now and in the future and what actions need to be put in place to ensure that these needs are met.

Jane Haywood, Chief Executive at CWDC comments: "This survey provides people with an opportunity to help us gain a picture of the needs of the children's workforce in terms of qualifications, training and support. The results will allow us to input the sector's own views into any future plans and strategies. Gathering data from the people whom the SSA will directly affect is a fundamental element of the five-year strategy and a way to ensure that sector's needs are actually met. CWDC are encouraging people to take part in the online survey and have their say, and we hope to have a large number of respondents."

The 'Skills and Training' web based survey is available here.

CWDC will also be engaging with members of the children's workforce through a series of regional briefings being held in 2007 and a formal consultation phase has also been planned for later in the New Year.

Transformation Fund a boost for Private, Voluntary and Independent Settings

Nationally £51.8 million has been allocated to Local Authorities to support childcare settings offering childcare to the under 5s in the private, voluntary or independent sector, who offer full day care, sessional care, or are a registered childminder.

There are four strands to the Transformation fund:
• Quality Premium and Recruitment Incentive, which could be up to £8000 per year, if you employ a graduate level qualified person or are willing to do so and they commit to achieving Early Years Professional Status within 2 years of receipt of your grant.

• Training to level 3 and above including Foundation degree leading to full degree.

• Funding to support your work with children with disabilities and SEN.

Settings can also apply for supply cover costs while staff is attending training sessions.

The Government’s objective is to have an Early Years Professional (EYP) in EVERY full day care setting by 2015. If you think this goal seems years away and you don’t need to worry about it now, just think about what’s involved in reaching this status. The person working towards EYPS must have a relevant graduate level qualification, which could take 3 years to complete then complete EYPS training which can take anything from 3 months to 12 months.
Why put it off when there’s funding available right now?!?

To find out more about the Early Years Professional visit www.cwdcouncil.org.uk. If you would like to apply for Early Years Professional Status then call Sheffield Hallam University on 0114 225 3987 or Huddersfield University on 01484 478 249 who are the two centres in our area that offer the training.

If you want to find out more about what funding is available to you call Jackie Robinson or Claire Nicol on 01226 775977.

Download the Transformation Fund pack for further information or specific application forms.

Strand 1 – Quality Premium Application Form
Strand 2 – Recruitment Incentive Application Form
Strand 3 – Training to level 3 and above Application Form
Strand 4 – SEN Training Application Form
Strand 4 – SEN Grant Application Form
Supply Cover Costs Application Form

New child car seat laws

Parents are being urged to make sure that they are familiar with a new law which comes into force on Monday 18 September. This will require drivers to ensure that all children under 135cms (4' 5") or age 12, whichever they reach first, use an appropriate car restraint when travelling in their vehicle.

Road Safety Minister Stephen Ladyman said:

"I would urge all parents to check that they are using appropriate child seats or booster seats. Using the right seat for the size of the child will give parents peace of mind and help to ensure that children are as safe as possible in the vehicle at all times.

"Most people do use some kind of child restraint but it is very important to use the right one for the size of the child and to take the time to fit it properly; and not to use an adult belt before the child is big enough."

Parents unsure whether their children must use a child restraint should consider the following:

* Check the height of your child. Children up to 135cm in height (and under 12 years old), need to use a child seat, booster seat or booster cushion suitable for their weight.

* Before you buy or use any child restraint, check the label to make sure it is suitable for the child's weight.

* Check that any restraint is securely fitted. If your child travels in more than one vehicle, check the car seat or restraint fits each car so it can be moved between them each time they travel.

* Get expert advice. Many retailers have trained in-store experts who can advise on the best kind of car seat for a child and can demonstrate how to fit it.

For more information, parents can visit http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk or call our helpline for a leaflet 0800 32 72 52.