PAPER B
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSON’S COMMITTEE – 23
JULY 2003
REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
REASON FOR COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
Request from Committee for further information on Early Years Services
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE COMMITTEE
For Information only
New developments in Early Years education and childcare. New strategic guidance received beginning of
July 2003, requires all LEAs and Early Years Partnerships to consider the
implications of the new guidance and the challenges of new initiatives and new
arrangements for local delivery of childcare and early education.
New proposals include:-
·
Local
authorities to review partnership working within departments and with other
agencies and organisations. Planning to
ensure that arrangements are effective.
Key partners will be:-
§
The Health
Authority
§
The Primary
Care Trust.
§
The Voluntary
sector
§
The Maintained
school sector
§
Ofsted
§
Learning and
Skills Council
§
Training
providers
§
Job Centre
§
Parents
§
Children
·
Performance
management framework as opposed to a full Early Years plan will facilitate more
focussed local activity.
·
Simplified
grant structure, referred to as the General Sure Start Grant, but to include greater
funds.
·
Additional
Capital funding for Children’s Centres and Out-of-School provision targeted at
areas of disadvantage.
·
Universal early
education for 3 year olds routed through EFS.
·
Local
authorities will now be measured against targets outlined in Public Service
Agreements (PSAs).
New Initiatives:-
·
Children’s
Centres
·
Extended
Schools
·
Childcare for
students and young parents
·
Full service
schools
·
Home child
carers
·
New childcare
places
·
Partnership
working with Job Centre Plus
·
New monitoring
arrangements and baseline data systems
Links with other initiatives or strategies:-
·
Play Strategy
·
Lifelong
Learning/ Family Learning and Family Support
·
Sure Start Ryde
local programme
·
Children’s
Information Services (FIZ)
·
Integrated
Children’s Services
·
Preventative
Strategy
·
Economic
Regeneration
·
Corporate
Strategies
·
Cultural and
Leisure Services
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1)
Summary for
local authorities of the guidance document.
2)
Developments in
Early Years and the Challenges Ahead – paper June 2003
CONSULTATION PROCESS
None
FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS
Costs associated with the activities in the plan will be funded from
specific grants, child care grants, and base budget provision.
The approval of the Early Years plan when complete is currently a
statutory requirement under s120 School Standards and Framework Act 1998, and
is one of the small number of plans which form part of the Policy
Framework. This position is likely to
change. The local authority will also
need to ensure that they take steps to adhere to recent key legislation
including the Race Relations (Amendments) Act; the Special Educational Needs
and Disability Discrimination Act 2001.
APPENDICES ATTACHED
1)
Summary for local authorities of the guidance
document 2004 - 2006
2)
Full guidance document 2004 - 2006
3)
Developments
in Early Years and the Challenges Ahead – paper June 2003
As attached.
Contact Point : Marion East, tel 528645 e-mail
[email protected].
Rose Ward, tel 823420 e-mail
[email protected]
Strategic Director of Education and Community Development