We have been raising the issues of childcare funding for over 10 years. It has been so long, I am amazed at how patient I’ve remained – and I’m not usually that patient. I get an itch waiting in queues.
November 16 marked Social Enterprise Day, so Happy Social Enterprise to you all. My dream is for every business to operate like a social enterprise and never have to explain it to anyone again!
With recent reports DfE officials are considering plans to extend the school day so children catch-up with lost learning, can we not consider what children have gained or need instead?
It seems every year we have the same debate about academic assessment. And as the years pass by, the pendulum of fashion and trends swings one way or the other.
Since I have been operating the LEYF business from home, I’ve increased my video conferencing to check-in everyday with the 15 nursery hubs that still remain open.
At the annual Adventures with Alice Pedagogy and Play Residential, I listened to Suzanne Zeedyck speak passionately about the importance of connecting with babies. In particular, helping parents and Early Years staff understand the importance of this connection.
As a former psychiatric nurse who trained and worked at the Maudsley Hospital, I realised quickly that mental health was the Cinderella service of the NHS. Years later, I joined the Cinderella service of the education service, otherwise known as the early years.
Given this is the beginning of a new decade, I glanced at some previous New Year blogs. Not my best idea! The world of early years is still Groundhog Day with little progress in gaining recognition and funding for the sector. So, in 2020 it’s crucial things must change.
Perhaps when Boris has his new baby and needs childcare he will finally begin to realise what we do as a sector and how we operate as an essential business.
I recently had the opportunity to attend (in person) the launch of new research: Implications of COVID for Early Childhood Education and Care in England, a study funded by the Nuffield Foundation, that was carried out by the Centre for Evidence and Implementation, the University of East London, Frontier Economics, Coram Family and Childcare and the Institute for Fiscal Studies.