NDNA Highlights Role of Nurseries in Supporting Families in the Foundation Years

July 19, 2011 - PRLog -- National Day Nurseries Association, Head Office, 18 July:  National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today responded to the launch of the Government’s ‘Supporting Families in the Foundation Years’ publication. NDNA welcomed how the publication recognises the role of the early years sector in delivering the right support for families.

Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of NDNA comments: “It is clear how the Government has fully taken on board the important recommendations outlined in the recent Field, Allen and Tickell reviews. Early intervention offers huge benefits to families and we welcome the publication of this strategy which sets out what Government will do to make the vision of the right support for families a reality. Helping families during a child’s crucial early years can make a huge difference, and we welcome how this publication confirms that Government will be looking to ensure that this happens for all children. Early years settings are ideally placed to make a difference to families, including through the delivery of free nursery education places and we are pleased that this has been recognised.”

“It is clear from this strategy that access to free nursery education places is viewed as a key way to support families in need, especially with the potential that early years providers will be required to carry out a developmental check on children under a revised EYFS. Whilst we welcome the Government’s clear commitment to continuing with a universal offer for three and four year olds and an expansion of places for two year olds, it is crucial that funding issues are resolved. Whilst a revised Code of Practice may go some way to supporting increased flexibility, it is crucial  that under-funding issues are addressed urgently so that free nursery education is free to both the parent and provider. If providers do not receive a rate of funding which covers costs their ability to raise standards in important areas such as their workforce sustainably is reduced. Any move to allow local authorities to develop a ‘basket of eligibility’ criteria for selecting providers to deliver free nursery education must be considered extremely carefully to avoid the creation of further issues in the system. It will be crucial to balance parental choice with supporting providers to deliver a high-quality service that this vision outlines.”

Purnima continues: “The idea of a new ‘covenant’ between the sector, local authorities and the Department for Education is a very interesting. We are pleased to see that government has recognised in this that a diverse early years sector is crucial to the vision it has set out and as part of this we would welcome discussions around how such a covenant could create a more level playing field. Part of the Government’s aim is to create an entrepreneurial, sustainable and diverse sector and we hope that open channels of communication will help address some of the existing barriers to doing this. This vision also explores the importance of a well-qualified workforce in delivering the right services for families, and we welcome how as part of this Government has signalled its commitment to continuing to invest in graduate-level training for the sector. We look forward to discussing how this can work in greater detail along with how providers in the early years sector can be empowered to work together with other agencies to provide the best possible outcomes. ‘Supporting Families in the Foundation Years’ has raised many points for discussion, and along with responses to the consultation on the EYFS, NDNA will be supporting nursery members to understand what this means for them and helping them to play a full and sustainable role in its delivery.”

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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.