NDNA Highlights How Nurseries can be a ‘Smart Investment’ for Early Intervention Strategies

July 5, 2011 - PRLog -- National Day Nurseries Association, Head Office, 5 July: National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today responded to Graham Allen’s second report on early intervention ‘Early Intervention: Smart Investment, Massive Savings.’ The organisation welcomed how the report outlines a clear case for investment in early intervention and said that nurseries had a clear role to play in the actions outlined.

Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of NDNA comments: “NDNA warmly welcomes this report which sets out a clear case for the benefits of investment in early intervention and evidences the huge difference it can make. For many years nurseries have been proactively identifying the needs of children and already play a significant role in delivering early intervention. As Graham Allen MP shares, early intervention offers a huge range of cost-effective benefits and helps ensure that children grow up and achieve their full potential. NDNA fully agrees that there needs to be a step-change in attitudes, and that society must change its ‘late reaction’ culture which costs more long-term than providing support early on when it is needed. As Graham Allen MP highlights, there must be commitment to early intervention across all parties and successive governments, and we very much hope that this will be achieved, including through the establishment of an independent Early Intervention Foundation and making early intervention a key priority in the Comprehensive Spending Review.”

“Nurseries have understood the difference that the right help can make for many years, seeing first hand how support in the early years can help a child achieve more. The report shares how those first years of life are crucial in giving children the essential social and emotional security they need. Early years settings are ideally placed to identify and secure the help that children and families require, and we hope that this potential is fully recognised. We were pleased to see that the report understands the value of funded early education places for children and that studies have shown that the average economic benefits of early education for low-income three and four year olds are close to two and a half times the initial investment. As this report highlights, some returns are even higher. This is fantastic and nurseries see on a daily basis the difference free sessions can make – however, in a significant number of cases these sessions are under-funded, hampering the sector’s ability to make even more of a contribution by reducing its ability to invest in areas crucial to delivering the higher investment ratio such as staff training and qualifications. If we are to achieve more for the neediest two year olds as the availability of free places are scaled up, funding issues must be addressed.”

Purnima continues: “We were pleased to see that Graham Allen MP has worked closely during the writing of this report with Dame Clare Tickell as leader of the review on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The assessments mentioned for the under-fives in this report, and in the review of the EYFS, are something that the early years sector is ideally placed to deliver, as is the close partnership working with other agencies. However, nurseries must be supported to do this through adequate funding and an understanding of their professional role by other agencies. Assessments must also be backed up with the availability of support for any issues identified. There is a great deal raised in this report, and NDNA believes implementing the recommendations can make the difference needed. Nurseries are willing and able to play their full role, and we will be exploring how this can be achieved with the right support, including a results-based system that ensures results are delivered but the neediest children still receive the help needed. “

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Notes to editors:  

For more information, to arrange interviews or photographs please contact Hayley Wilson on T: 01484 40 70 66 E: hayley.wilson@ndna.org.uk  

National Day Nurseries Association is a national charity representing children’s nurseries across the UK, giving them information, training and support, so they can provide the best possible care to young children. NDNA is the voice of the sector, an integral part of the lives of nearly one million children and their families.

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National Day Nurseries Association is a national charity representing children’s nurseries across the UK, giving them information, training and support, so they can provide the best possible care to young children.