PAPER C2

For Decision

Committee :    EXECUTIVE

Date :              12 FEBRUARY 2002

Title :              THE EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT AND CHILDCARE PLAN 2002/2004

PORTFOLIO HOLDER - EDUCATION AND LIFE LONG LEARNING

SUMMARY/PURPOSE

The Education, Community Development and Life Long Learning Select Committee will be considering this item on 11 February 2002 and their recommendations will be reported to the Executive.

To provide a briefing on current issues and development within the Early Years field locally and nationally.

To consider and approve the Isle of Wight Early Years Development and Childcare Plan 2002/03.

BACKGROUND

The Education and Community Development Directorate is required to submit an Early Years Development and Childcare Implementation Plan to the DfES by 1^st March 2002. This Plan reviews activity and outlines further developments required in the coming year as part of the Strategic Plan (2002-2004) approved by the Council last year.

The LEA must develop the new plan through an EYDCP comprised of relevant organisations, agencies, other local authority directorates, interested individuals and member representatives. The plan must follow the guidelines provided by the DfES and must meet both local and national targets for childcare, early education, special needs in the early years, parental support, recruitment of childcare staff, training and quality assurance, pre-registration advice and support, and development of new provision.

The draft plan must be consulted upon by a cross section of relevant organisations and providers.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Funds totalling £300,000 have been made available through the DfES Childcare Grant for 2002-2003. New Opportunities Childcare places funding to a total of £203,700 over two years, is included in this year’s plan.

The LEA must ensure that adequate funds are allocated through a variety of funding streams to implement activities outlined in the plan. These funds should include SSA, Childcare Grant (DfES), Standards Fund, Foundation Key Stage Training Grant, New Opportunities Fund, Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative, SEN Inclusion Budget, Sure Start and other Regeneration Initiatives, and other training funds.

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OUTLINED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN

2001-2002 saw an increasing role for Early Years in the national and local agendas of Social Inclusion, Anti-Poverty strategies and Regeneration. Major projects have rolled out this year through the Sure Start programme and the Childcare Initiative, and an increasing focus on the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative has impacted on the work of the Isle of Wight EYDC Partnership (EYDCP) and local authority.

New initiatives, for example, the Toy Library project and the retained functions by the authority following the move of Registration and Inspection staff to OFSTED, have also been incorporated into the work of the LEA Early Years Unit and Partnership infrastructure.

The Early Years SEN team, that supports children from 0 into the Foundation Key Stage, has made a successful start. The Pre-school Providers on the Island have embraced the principles of Inclusion whilst issues relating to the support and management of children with profound and complex needs remain a challenge.

We continue to promote quality and high standards in Island settings and have again been successful in ensuring that all non-maintained settings have achieved a 2-4 year OFSTED outcome. The Island’s quality assurance scheme has been the basis for considerable debate and application with 19 settings achieving the Kite Mark award. A further 29 settings are in the process of assessment.

Challenging targets were set for Childcare and Early Education places on the Island. We have successfully reached those targets, and have set additional out of school targets for this year as well as working towards universal free education places for three year olds.

Also outlined in this years plan is the development and support for the Foundation Key Stage with its implications for all early years settings, and the developments at the three maintained nursery classes.

The local authority and EYDCP must ensure adequate resources and infrastructure, as outlined in the plan, are in place to meet the growing demands of an ever expanding service.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

Draft Early Years Development and Childcare Plan 2002-2004.

Contact Point : Marion East, ☎ 528645