'Achieving 2 year olds' conference: official feedback

[Simona]

This is the official feed back from the conference with the presentation slides form 4Children's Sue Robb, NDNA Purnima Tanuku and James Hepsall in charge of rolling out the funding in all 152 LAs

If your LA is still putting barriers in your way or pretending to not know what the guidelines are from the DfE, this should dispel any worries they have...the message is clear: all cms can do 2 year old funding and it was added : no need to belong to a network...so please take this message to your LA
(The conference was reapeated the following day for LAs and addressed by Truss...so they cannot get away with saying they are still insure what to do)


http://www.westminster-briefing.com/...ides_FINAL.pdf

Apart from NDNA and 4 Children Family and Childcare Trust were also represented and all 3 organizations said they were concerned about agencies and keeping their eyes open!

[Simona]

Pacey attended the same conference the following day, which as I have said was mostly for LAs

This is their feedback

''PACEY attended Achieving 2-year-olds: National Network Meeting on 6 June 2013 in London. It was a very successful day where we met lots of local authorities at our stand and discussed how we can work in partnership with them to provide support and training to childcare professionals and support them in the delivery of the free entitlement for 2-year-olds.

Speakers included Tom Jeffery, Director General Children’s Services and Departmental Strategy, David Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of Foundation Years: Early Education and Funding Division, and keynote speaker during the event was Elizabeth Truss, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare.

Speaking about the challenges around meeting the Government targets for the 2-year-old offer, Truss was clear that the newly established rates of funding for delivering 2-year-old places would mean an additional premium of around £475 a year on the average hourly cost of a childcare place - a premium which it was hoped would attract more qualified childcare professionals, to ensure that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children most at need would benefit from a higher level of quality care. She also mentioned that the rate of 2-year-old funding was intended to move to participation funding from 2015.

Truss used the opportunity to reiterate her aims set out in More Great Childcare, including the need for a higher standard of qualification for new entrants into the childcare workforce, in the form of the Early Years Educator qualification, the content of which she stated would be annouced soon.

She also discussed at length the reasoning behind the current consultation on local authority responsibility. Truss was clear that it is not her intention to cut local authority support for the early years, simply to remove certain statutory responsibilities relating to monitoring. It was clear that the Government agenda is for local authorities to focus less on Quality Improvement (which she implied that Ofsted would be more involved in providing), and more on ensuring sufficiency of childcare provision and supporting providers in areas of deprivation.

Local authorities were also reminded that childminders are currently under-used with regard to delivery of funded places, and that they would be key to delivery on Government targets. Home-based settings represent an ideal respite for the most vulnerable children, giving them an opportunity to experience what an encouraging home environment should be like'' (end)

So if the message is very clear that cms are to be included in the funding, why are some LAs, mine at least, still saying they need further guidance before they allow us to join the scheme?
So much waffle really from the govt ...it gets very frustrating!

[Rick]

Thanks for your feedback

[rickysmiths]

Pacey attended the same conference the following day, which as I have said was mostly for LAs

This is their feedback

''PACEY attended Achieving 2-year-olds: National Network Meeting on 6 June 2013 in London. It was a very successful day where we met lots of local authorities at our stand and discussed how we can work in partnership with them to provide support and training to childcare professionals and support them in the delivery of the free entitlement for 2-year-olds.

Speakers included Tom Jeffery, Director General Children’s Services and Departmental Strategy, David Fitzgerald, Deputy Director of Foundation Years: Early Education and Funding Division, and keynote speaker during the event was Elizabeth Truss, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare.

Speaking about the challenges around meeting the Government targets for the 2-year-old offer, Truss was clear that the newly established rates of funding for delivering 2-year-old places would mean an additional premium of around £475 a year on the average hourly cost of a childcare place - a premium which it was hoped would attract more qualified childcare professionals, to ensure that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children most at need would benefit from a higher level of quality care. She also mentioned that the rate of 2-year-old funding was intended to move to participation funding from 2015.

Truss used the opportunity to reiterate her aims set out in More Great Childcare, including the need for a higher standard of qualification for new entrants into the childcare workforce, in the form of the Early Years Educator qualification, the content of which she stated would be annouced soon.

She also discussed at length the reasoning behind the current consultation on local authority responsibility. Truss was clear that it is not her intention to cut local authority support for the early years, simply to remove certain statutory responsibilities relating to monitoring. It was clear that the Government agenda is for local authorities to focus less on Quality Improvement (which she implied that Ofsted would be more involved in providing), and more on ensuring sufficiency of childcare provision and supporting providers in areas of deprivation.

Local authorities were also reminded that childminders are currently under-used with regard to delivery of funded places, and that they would be key to delivery on Government targets. Home-based settings represent an ideal respite for the most vulnerable children, giving them an opportunity to experience what an encouraging home environment should be like'' (end)

So if the message is very clear that cms are to be included in the funding, why are some LAs, mine at least, still saying they need further guidance before they allow us to join the scheme?
So much waffle really from the govt ...it gets very frustrating!

Arh! Now that explains why a number of school Nurseries are opening School Nurseries to 2 year olds from this Sept. It's the additional funding!! I thought it would be that. I was at a Conference in Bloomsbury this morning run and addressed by 4Children's Sue Robb Learn, Explore, Debate Supporting Families in the Foundation Stage.

I also got feed back from some of the LA people I spoke to there that they are not happy with the idea of Agencies. They see them as an actual level of Management, and as confusing for parents.

The removal of obstacles with regard to the delivery of Funding was announced at the Pacey meetings in April by D of E so that is not new news. The barrier is going to be the LAs reluctance to loose control and take away the barriers but they have got to even if they don't like it..

Ofsted is going to take over the monitoring of Quality. They are setting up 8 Regional offices around England, the lead for each area has already been appointed, and will have expert HMI in Early Years who will be doing this. They will begin with all providers who are graded less than good. Feccers and Eccrs ( you know what I mean!!) are being reviewed and a new measure will be introduced to replace these.

[4365]

Is it official yet that cms can offer funded places just on the basis of a good/outstanding grade? My local authority insist on you doing a whole load more work and I am in discussions with them but they seem to think it doesn't apply yet. All the forms for next year are coming out now so I think even if it does become compulsory to only go by the Ofsted grade...and I think they will try to get around it anyway... they won't let cms sign up as they will have missed "the deadline."
They admit that other settings do not have to do all the extra work. Apparently they do it to safeguard children but cms all look after children who all need safeguarding. In my mind it is such a complete waste of time and money to have this duplication and I think it is being continued to protect jobs not children.

So if anyone has a link to a statement that all cms with the higher Ofsted grades must be allowed to access funding automatically (even if it only starts in September) I would be really grateful.

A hopeful thanks

Anni

[Simona]

4365...it is the DfE policy and they have repeated it over and over again...Good/o's cms can be part of the funding and some satisfactory too where there is shortage...just for the moment because later that will not happen

LAs have to relinquish their control but it has to be sooner rather than later..if they do not provide enough places for those kids they are accountable to the DfE

Ricky_smiths...Yes Ofsted are setting up the 8 Regions and yes they will have seminars to support weaker settings BUT...it does not include cms because we have to wait until the agency inspection framework has been set up...(see my PLA conference feedback and my question to Sue Gregory)

I do not feel it is appropriate for cms to have to fight LAs' red tape...up to our representing associations maybe?? that is what they are paid for!
(also see my post in pacey local)

[sarah707]

I've just been to a 2 year old meeting.

The messages were - we are targeting areas where there will be need for childcare... and providing childcare in those areas.

We are inviting childcarers - it's not a free for all.

There will be extra recording requirements but not many. Mostly it will be the same as for the 3 year olds with some extra progress monitoring.

The focus will be on 1. Good quality care and education 2. Supporting home learning.

So there are still barriers, justified as 'targeting support where it is most needed'....

Thank you for the feedback guys!

[loocyloo]

I've just been to a 2 year old meeting.

The messages were - we are targeting areas where there will be need for childcare... and providing childcare in those areas.

We are inviting childcarers - it's not a free for all.

There will be extra recording requirements but not many. Mostly it will be the same as for the 3 year olds with some extra progress monitoring.

The focus will be on 1. Good quality care and education 2. Supporting home learning.

So there are still barriers, justified as 'targeting support where it is most needed'....

Thank you for the feedback guys!

The only extra I have to do for 2 yr olds is an extra 2 forms. ..One monitoring language and the other social/language skills. I get an email each term ( along with my termly head count ) asking me to send updated info!

[4365]

Yes Sarah this is what I am hearing from childminders in my local authority. Still the same barriers and for network childminders only, but maybe under another name.

It is so unfair. The stupid thing is that paperwork is what puts childminders off doing this anyway. All the outstanding and good childminders at my local group would offer funded places if the process was less onerous and pointless, even though most would take a pay cut as the rates here are low (but OK for 2 yr olds) So guess what, the children go to satisfactory pre-schools or nurseries where the children have lower outcomes but the providers are trusted to care for them without extra paperwork. Great. I have emailed pacey to see if they can help.

Hopefully the Government will make it a statutory requirement to give cms the same chance as other providers (without more work) otherwise I can see some LA's just carrying on as they are.

Meant to say thanks to all you campaigners. My head is spinning with all the information you are providing and the victories so far. I don't know how you find the time and energy but it is really appreciated.

[Smiley]

Sarah, my LA session this evening sounds like yours, they are targeting areas where there is demand and they read out the list of areas. However, they are encouraging childminders to join their directory of providers and they gave us a poster and information leaflets about the 2 year old offer to market it to parents as they are expecting some parents to refer themselves and apply. Currently it has to be via a children's centre or a health visitor.

James Hempsall did the initial presentation which included predicted stats etc

[Simona]

I bet you that if we had one cm from each of the 152 LAs each one would have a different story, a different set of conditions and a variety of barriers to overcome...no wonder the system is so bureaucratic and costly!!

How can a childcare policy work well when we have so many variations?...LAs have to be made to 'standardise' their support...it is even difficult to peer support as there is no set rule

My idea is 'get rid of networks', introduce a uniform support system for all cms, none of this elite belonging to a special club and we would not need to go looking for support in CCentres or anywhere else for that reason

Each section of the childcare sector has something to offer, whether nurseries, preschools or cms but this is not doing cms any favours...the Cinderellas of the workforce we remain waiting to be hoovered up by any agency or CC who thinks they can cater for our needs, know our practice best and give us support when they will basically teach us to suck eggs!

For once in my campaign I am ranting as well...I detest what Truss is doing to childcare and left to her she will dismantle all of it and with it all the achievements we made

Smiley...many of the vulnerable 2 year olds can only come via the LAs...we do not have access to the data as to why they are 'entitled' to the care...how many HVs have a list of cms? ...so again we are dependant on our LAs
Hempsall will be repeating the same message in each LA and each one will do what they want

Off to bed now as I have another conference to attend tomorrow...more waffling and head spinning!

[Smiley]

Have a good day tomorrow Simona

[rickysmiths]

4365...it is the DfE policy and they have repeated it over and over again...Good/o's cms can be part of the funding and some satisfactory too where there is shortage...just for the moment because later that will not happen

LAs have to relinquish their control but it has to be sooner rather than later..if they do not provide enough places for those kids they are accountable to the DfE

Ricky_smiths...Yes Ofsted are setting up the 8 Regions and yes they will have seminars to support weaker settings BUT...it does not include cms because we have to wait until the agency inspection framework has been set up...(see my PLA conference feedback and my question to Sue Gregory)

I do not feel it is appropriate for cms to have to fight LAs' red tape...up to our representing associations maybe?? that is what they are paid for!
(also see my post in pacey local)

Sorry but we were told today that it does include cms because the Quality aspect will be controlled by Ofsted alone and not LAs or Agencies. They will be inspecting and working with all cms who are graded less than good first and each area has an Early Years specialist HMI who will be looking at ALL sets who have 2 year olds first. This has nothing to do with the Agency inspection framework. We were also told today that 85% of cms want to remain independent anyway so they would be inspected individually.

[Simona]

Thank you Rickysmiths...I have no reason to disbelieve you but when I fedback from the conference it was from 'notes and slides' and words from the 2 top women in Ofsted and my question to Sue Gregory was why were cms not included in the seminars...the rest is documented


If Ofsted are now saying something different then I will make sure I raise it today...pacey will be there maybe they should clarify it for us?