New Sure Start children’s centre statutory guidance   New statutory guidance for Children’s Centres was published by the Department for Education on 15 April.   This guidance replaces existing Sure Start children’s centres statutory guidance. It:   clarifies what local authorities and statutory partners must do because it is required by legislation, and what local authorities [...]

As you know, the Department for Education consulted in May and June 2012 on proposals to revise arrangements for exemptions from the EYFS learning and development requirements. The proposals included introducing a new route for good quality independent schools, as well as maintaining a more streamlined ‘established principles’ route. Minsters have decided to proceed with the [...]

Following on from the success of last year’s events the Department for Education’s Early Years and Childcare’s strategic partnership is running a further round of FREE events focused on: • The Childcare Commission • Parenting Support • Implementation of the EYFS and update on EYFS assessment including the profile • Early Years data • Children [...]

Achieving Two Year Olds project is launched this month Mott MacDonald with its partner Hempsall’s has been appointed by the Department for Education to support the rollout of free early education places for less advantaged two-year olds.   The Government is introducing a legal requirement to secure free provision, through regulations under section 6 of [...]

Department for Education are pleased to publish the Final Nutbrown Report today – Foundations for Quality   Professor Cathy Nutbrown’s independent Review of Early Education and Childcare Qualifications (Foundations for Quality), has now been published.   Professor Cathy Nutbrown was invited by Government to lead an independent review to consider how best to strengthen qualifications [...]

In response to the sector continuing to highlight the difficulties linked to information sharing the Department for Education and Department for Health Ministers (Sarah Teather and Anne Milton respectively) have asked for an “ information task and finish” group to be established. This group is made up of representatives from early years and health and [...]