Following on from our article, Opening a nursery, we’ve had a number of new childcare business owners request guidance on implementing policies and procedures into their setting.

Ofsted requires all settings to have a set of policies and procedures. Policies should be clear and concise and revised regularly to make sure they reflect best practice. Writing these can seem daunting but they are essential for the smooth running of your business and the welfare of children, staff, parents/carers and committee members.

Please find some useful links below that can assist with creating policies and procedures in early years. If there are methods or best practice that you could recommend, please leave your comments below.

Useful links;

Policies and Procedures in early years and childcare
Source: Surrey County Council

An essential guide to policies and procedures supplied by the NDNA

HR 4 Nurseries – Professional, friendly HR experts in the early years sector who can offer their experience and advise on your next steps.

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today responded to the Education Committee’s report ‘The Role and Performance of Ofsted.’

NDNA said that whilst a number of the recommendations were welcome, nurseries would be keen to ensure that any changes ensured an improved inspection system that parents fully understand, with inspectors having the right skills and knowledge to support continuous improvement.

Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) comments: “The proposal to split Ofsted into two parts is an interesting one, but NDNA believes that more detailed discussions would be required and careful consideration of the impact and benefits of such a move thoroughly considered.

Nurseries in particular have a strong role to play in delivering early education and NDNA would want to ensure that any changes in approach to inspection would support both service improvement and the delivery of high-quality early education. NDNA agrees that Ofsted reports could be developed to be more accessible for parents, and it is important to balance providing the depth of intelligence the report recommendation’s outline with helping parents to understand that an Ofsted report is just one part of the decision making process when choosing a nursery.”

“NDNA welcomes the report’s recommendation that all inspectors need to be experienced and up-to-date with the sectors they work within, including through secondments and supporting this by reporting on the progress of current outsourced inspection arrangements. Although on the whole nurseries find inspections a helpful experience, NDNA continues to hear reports from settings who find that the inspector does not have the right skills and experience to make an informed judgement and there are concerns around consistency of inspection. Measures such as secondments, training and increased preparation time as outlined in this report will help the inspection process be consistent, and ultimately deliver improved outcomes for children.”

Purnima concludes: “A number of recommendations in this report require further discussion, especially in light of the Government’s forthcoming response to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). We look forward to discussing these recommendations in more depth and exploring how the role of inspection in delivering high-quality services is strengthened and enhanced.”

Further reading;

Ofsted should be split in two, says MPs’ committee

Watch our 'Parents as Partners' webcast for valuable tips on how to maintain a positive relationship

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) urged nurseries to ensure that staff had the skills to develop strong partnerships with parents during difficult times.

NDNA highlighted how nurseries understand the value of working with families so that children can gain the very most from their time at nursery and learning was extended into the home.

However, the organisation added that it was vital that practitioners are also equipped with the skills to support parents during challenging times such as financial difficulty, separation or bereavement.

NDNA has said that many of its members were reporting growing issues with debt and redundancy, and shared how it was crucial that the nursery team understood how such issues can change the dynamics of a parent-partnership and be equipped with the skills and knowledge to maintain the relationship.

Watch our ‘Parents as Partners’ webcast

Stella Ziolkowski, Director of Quality and Workforce Development at NDNA comments: “The current economic climate means that some parents are struggling financially or have worries, and these can affect the relationship between them and the setting.

“Of course, children can be affected too and it is important that practitioners can access information so that they can help the family. Indeed, recent research shows that two thirds of parents may have to reduce their childcare due to cuts in support from tax credits, so it is also critical that parents understand the value of nursery for their child.

“Various factors can influence the relationship with parents, and staff must be equipped to respond and deal with new challenges as well as continuing to offer a supportive environment.”

Last month, Parenta hosted an exclusive live childcare webcast with professional Dawn Burnham on ‘Parents as Partners’, tackling key aspects regarding connecting with parents, maintaining a relationship and evaluating parental relationships.  View the webcast

The Ofsted report found that the early years and childcare sectors continues to perform well and suggests that the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage has forced ineffective providers to leave the system.

In 2009/10, the proportion of early years registered providers judged good or outstanding for overall effectiveness increased to slightly over two thirds. A remarkable achievement considering the difficult climate providers continue to face nationwide.

Of those providers judged inadequate in 2008/09 and who have since been reinspected, 95% are now satisfactory or better.

The report also revealed that the quality of provision is lower in areas of high deprivation; the more deprived the area, the lower the proportion of good and outstanding providers. Just over half (52%) of childminders in the most deprived areas are good or outstanding, compared with 71% in the least deprived areas.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has responded to Ofsted’s 2009/10 Annual Report, welcoming the high standards of the early years sector. However, Purnima Tanuku, chief Executive of NDNA expressed her concerns with the fall in the number of providers and clear differences in provision for children in disadvantaged areas.

Purnima Tanuku commented, “NDNA welcomes how Ofsted’s Annual Report continues to demonstrate how early years provision goes from strength to strength, with an increase in the number of providers judged ‘good’ or ‘outstanding.’

‘Early years provision goes from strength to strength’

“We are also pleased to see that providers who are part of a quality assurance scheme are more likely to receive higher ratings and that Ofsted recognises there is a ‘strong correlation’ between being part of a scheme and the drive for quality improvement. For a number of years, NDNA has seen nurseries who undertake its e-Quality Counts scheme achieve higher inspection ratings for the benefit of children and families.”

However, Purnima did add that the lack of quality provision in deprived areas is causing concern, “The NDNA is concerned that children in disadvantaged areas continue to have access to services of a lower quality. High-quality provision is critical for such children, and as we move to an 15 hour entitlement for all disadvantaged two year olds, they must be able to access a service in their local community that meets their needs and supports improved outcomes.

“It is critical that we look to address this trend, including supporting providers in disadvantaged areas with business support, to overcome some of the challenges associated with their location. As this report identifies, self evaluation and engagement with parents remains a challenge for some providers, and NDNA would like to stress that a robust quality improvement scheme, training, and advice can again support these areas.

“However, overall this report demonstrates that nurseries are working extremely hard to raise standards in what is a difficult climate, and NDNA would like to congratulate the sector on continuing to deliver high- quality services that clearly benefit the lives of children and families.“

Downloadable Resource: Ofsted released a small scale survey identifing some of the factors that contributed to good outcomes for children in need in a range of different types of early years and childcare settings.

What are your views on this year’s Ofsted report? Do you think that the Early Years Foundation Stage is helping raise the standards in the early years sector? Join the discussion below.

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today responded to news that the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is to have funding withdrawn, with ongoing core activities being transferred into the Department for Education.

NDNA congratulated CWDC regarding how it has raised the bar and enhanced the children’s workforce. However, NDNA has highlighted that it is disappointed by this decision and stressed it was vital that the focus and momentum on early years workforce development was not stopped.

Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of NDNA comments: “NDNA would like to praise CWDC for all its work in developing the early years workforce, and raising its profile as a career option for those who may have not previously considered early years as a career option. As well as Early Years Professional Status, the organisation has also reformed qualifications to fit with the modern practices if working with children and supported early years settings in important areas such as child protection. This work has been extremely valuable. NDNA has worked closely with CWDC since its creation, and represents nurseries on the Members Group and we hope the wealth of knowledge and expertise the staff team has across the children’s workforce footprint will be fully harnessed by the DfE.”

Purnima adds: “All the studies show that investing in children in their earliest years through a highly qualified workforce supports improved outcomes for children. It is critical that as functions are moved to DfE we do not lose the focus and momentum on the development of those caring and educating children in their earliest years, where the most difference can be made. The continued investment in the workforce is critical to the success of the Government’s £2bn Fairness Fund to improve the life chances of children. We are pleased that the Minister has indicated that further investment is to be announced regarding how quality can continue to be increased through the development of the workforce and that the Government remains committed to a graduate-led workforce.

NDNA will be working closely with DfE and CWDC to highlight the critical importance of ensuring that all those working in the early years sector can access the right support, resources and advice to develop their workforce. Whilst we fully recognise the valuable contribution CWDC has made in the past five years, there is still more to be done to improve quality through a skilled and qualified workforce that can continue to improve outcomes for all children. It is critical that we remain focused on maintaining progression towards a well-qualified, high-quality workforce.”

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today responded to the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). Whilst NDNA welcomes the commitment to children in their earliest years, the organisation highlights that the reduction in the percentage of costs working parents can claim back for childcare will have implications for the affordability of childcare.

NDNA said the move to reduce the amount of childcare costs covered and the increase in working hours would affect parents’ ability to work, particularly those on the lowest incomes.

Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of NDNA comments: “Whilst we are pleased that children will continue to benefit from a continued 15 hour free entitlement and that more needy two year olds will be reached through a free place, we are concerned about a reduction in the amount families will be able to claim back for childcare. Parents’ ability to work or train is central to the successful recovery of the economy but reducing the amount of childcare costs a parent can claim will hurt the poorest parents the most. Low income families are the ones that can claim the highest proportion of childcare fees and a reduction to only 70% of their costs could mean that families cannot balance their finances. There may also be cases where an employer is unable to offer additional hours to meet the new criteria of parents working 24 hours per week, so the contribution to childcare costs may be lost entirely and work is not an option. Nurseries will be very concerned that this move will hit the families who stand to gain the very most from their child being in high-quality childcare.“

“In addition, whilst it is good news for children and families that 15 hours of care and early learning will still be available for all three and four year olds, and that there is an offer for two year olds,  this means that resolving funding issues is even more pressing. NDNA looks forward to exploring how this can happen. The loss that nurseries have to sustain on these ‘free’ places means that many are struggling to survive. Without high quality nurseries the economy can not survive, and the current cuts to local authority budgets means that creating new childcare places is not an option. We must ensure that nurseries are funded properly for free places to ensure that they can play their full part in supporting families and the economy.”

She continues: “The ultimate affect of the reduction in Working Tax Credits could be that nurseries struggle even more as parents either find work does not pay because of childcare costs, or cut down on their usage by turning to informal care. NDNA will be urging government to look at this as part of the Single Universal Credit system as work will not pay if childcare costs are not considered and supported. Whilst NDNA understands the UK is in a period of austerity, we must recognise that parents have to be helped with the cost of childcare, children must be able to benefit from high quality experiences in their early years and vitally, the sustainability of nurseries must be supported so that parents can access the care that meets their needs.”

Read about the full spending review for childcare.

Source: NDNA

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today welcomed how the Government is looking to extend free nursery places for two year olds as part of a £7bn ‘fairness fund’ for disadvantaged children. However, NDNA highlighted it was crucial to resolve issues with funding for existing free sessions to ensure the sector could provide a high-quality entitlement for two year olds.

Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) comments: “NDNA welcomes how government is recognising the value of early years, and seeing how high-quality provision can support children from less advantaged backgrounds. Evidence demonstrates that working with families in their child’s earliest years delivers long-term outcomes that continue throughout a child’s schooling and into adulthood. We are keen to know more about what proportion of this money will be available for free places for two year olds, and how many children may benefit. More widely, NDNA is also urging government to recognise how it is vital to continue to provide investment in early years, including in the workforce, to support these children in receiving a continuously improving service.”

Purnima adds: “However, whilst nurseries will welcome the benefits of more free places for needy children, many will be worried about the impact this will have on their viability. Currently, nurseries face huge issues with funding levels for the free places for three and four year olds and this is impacting on the sustainability of the sector. The word ‘free’ is a misconception as a significant proportion of nurseries are having to subsidise these places so that parents receive them for free, which impacts on their ability to invest in areas and to minimise any fee increases for parents. In addition, although there have been successful pilots of free care for two year olds, it is important to recognise that these have had the benefit of additional funding, which has meant nurseries have been able to provide them. NDNA does welcome more support for all children, and we are pleased that this package is designed to support them throughout their entire childhood. However, nurseries are at a critical point with the existing free places and we firmly believe that the funding issues in the system must be resolved before we can look to extend free places. NDNA will be reviewing the full details of the scheme as they emerge, and sharing with government why addressing current issues is an absolute must.”

To read more about NDNA’s campaign for fairer funding for the free early years entitlement visit http://www.ndna.org.uk/events-campaigns/freeearl-years-entitlement

You can also add your voice, by signing the Early Years Childcare campaign ‘Free Childcare’ petition.

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has announced that initial research with its nursery members has revealed that the majority do not wish to see large-scale change with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). However, one of the key areas that nurseries have said needs addressing is the level of red-tape under the framework.

NDNA has conducted research with a focussed group of nurseries in England who represented a total of over 400 settings to gather initial feedback following the announcement of the review. This will be supported by national consultation events on 29 September in Leeds and 30 September in London so that members can attend to debate the review and feed into NDNA’s response on behalf of the sector. However, this initial research exercise has revealed a high level of support for the EYFS, with 83% saying that they felt that the EYFS supported children to get the best start. NDNA has already shared some of these initial findings with those leading the review prior to submitting a full response.

Most shared that they felt that the EYFS was a good tool that supported them to deliver high-quality care and early learning for children. Top priorities included looking at how to reduce red-tape and administration but avoiding any wide-scale changes.

Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of NDNA comments: “Although this is early research, it does reflect the overall mood of the sector which is keen to ensure that the success of the EYFS is maintained. However, nurseries would also like to explore ways that some of the administration around the framework can be reduced. Most of our members shared that it had been very successful for them, and were keen to continue with it. Of course, there are some identified issues, especially around administration and reporting and the review is also an opportunity to make the EYFS work better for children, families and providers. It is vital that the sector has a strong voice and government receives the widest possible range of views and we would urge all nurseries both to submit their own responses and share their views with NDNA. We are receiving clear signals about the positives of the EYFS, and recommend government focuses on refining and improving the EYFS rather than introducing radical change.”

Key results from the research include:

• Over four in five (83%) felt that the EYFS was effective in supporting children to get the best start
• 79% felt that it offered an inclusive approach
• 79% felt that all providers should be required to follow the same standards, indicating the wide support for a single framework

The majority commented that assessment of children was critical for early intervention, and that the EYFS allowed practitioners to plan for next steps.

The volume of paperwork, both in terms of reporting for transition to school and to the local authority, was the biggest concern of NDNA member nurseries.

Source: NDNA

What are your thoughts on the EYFS? Can you suggest anything that you would like to see changed or reviewed? Drop your comments below to join the discussion!

How much is free childcare costing you?

All three- and four-year-olds in England will be entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week from 1 September. Ross Watson, CYPNow, asks what providing an extra 2.5 hours of free childcare will mean for parents and providers.

Two-and-a-half hours of free childcare a day is not enough time to get anything done, according to Belle Kaur, whose three-year-old son Jason currently attends the nursery at Fox Hollies Children’s Centre in Acocks Green, Birmingham, each morning. “It is hell doing the day-to-day essentials like shopping. He has tantrums in the car and in the shopping centres,” she says.

Like every other three and four-year-old in England, Jason is currently eligible for 12.5 hours of childcare a week under the government’s free entitlement scheme. Kaur uses her free hours over five days, paying extra for Jason to stay longer on Wednesdays and Fridays.

But from 1 September the Kaurs will be eligible for an extra 2.5 hours of childcare a week under government plans to extend the free entitlement to 15 hours a week for all three and four-year-olds. The new rules are also more flexible, allowing parents to use all their hours over a minimum of three days if they wish. Local authorities are also encouraged to work around the needs of individual families, even allowing parents to use their free childcare allowance for up to 10 hours a day.

Kaur believes the changes will boost her family’s quality of life. She sufferers from fibromyalgia, a debilitating condition that affects her muscles and ligaments, and the extra hours will give her a much-needed rest and allow Jason to receive further professional support for his speech and language needs while at nursery. “I’ll be sending Jason to nursery on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for free, keeping him at home on Tuesday and only paying for him on Thursday,” Kaur says. “I have three days to do the essentials like shopping, cleaning and getting some rest in, while Jason has more routine and more time to improve his learning and understanding.”

In north London, mother of two Monica Patel has been able to take advantage of the flexible 15 hours of free childcare for the past year. Patel lives in the London borough of Brent, one of the 19 areas to test plans to extend the free entitlement. Her four-year-old son Ravi used to attend his nursery from 8am until 6pm Monday to Friday, but thanks to the added flexibility of the new system, she is now able to use all her free hours over four days a week and stay at home on the remaining day with her son. “I was able to pull Ravi out of nursery on a Friday, knowing I could still use all of my free hours across the rest of the week,” she says. “Previously he had to attend every day to get all his free hours – it was too rigid.”

Last year, the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ evaluation of 14 of the pilot areas found there was an increased parental demand for extending the free entitlement. More than one-third of childcare providers experienced more demand from parents as a result of taking part in the pilot scheme. And almost half of the parents who took advantage of the extended hours said it made it easier for them to work and more financially viable for them to hold down jobs.

However, the reaction of the pilot childcare providers has been mixed. In February 2009, an evaluation carried out by the previous government claimed that almost a quarter of providers were in better financial health as a result of government-funded childcare and only eight per cent were worse off. But fast forward two months to April 2009, and market intelligence providers Laing and Buisson revealed that 62 per cent of nurseries felt the funding they got from their local authorities to deliver free childcare did not cover their costs.

Emma Beard manages Fox Hollies, the 50-place nursery that Jason Kaur attends. She remains concerned about recovering the full cost of offering the extended free entitlement. “One of the ways the extension is likely to impact our budget is through the cost of catering,” she says. “The cost of dinner is built into our fees because children who only come for 2.5 free hours a day do not stay for lunch. But soon people will stay all day without paying anything so we need to find a way to cover the cost of meals.”

The nursery will also need to look at getting more staff to cover the potential influx of children wishing to stay all day. Currently, parents can use their free hours at Fox Hollies between 9.30am and 12pm, or between 1pm and 3.30pm. The move to 15 hours has increased demand for places at the nursery and with the new flexibility, Beard may have parents wanting to use their free entitlement all at the same time.

Ask how we can help ease the free entitlement burden!

“We could effectively have the whole nursery full by 8.30 in the morning. So we need to look at our staffing and get more banked staff in to cover shifts,” she says. “I would always look at having the same people in to get consistency. The trouble though is if it’s not a full-time job, people come and go.”

According to the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), Beard’s predicament is all too common. “The message from our members is they don’t believe they’re going to get funding that covers their costs,” says Claire Schofield, NDNA’s director of policy.

According to its research, the average cost for nurseries to provide the free entitlement is £4.52 per hour, compared to the average funding level of £3.58 per hour. That means nurseries face a shortfall of 94p on average for every free hour of childcare they provide. “It’s a very difficult situation to be in because the loss of £1 per child per hour can add up to several thousand pounds a year and make nurseries unsustainable,” Schofield says.

Nurseries used to charge parents “top-up” fees to ensure they did not make a loss on free hours, but last year’s code of practice outlawed charging extra amounts.

The previous government also tried to solve the problem by developing the early years single funding formula in 2008. The formula ensures that funding for free childcare is given to providers based on the number of children who attend their facility, not the number of places they offer. This was meant to prevent council-run nurseries getting more funding due to their excess of unfilled places. But the new payment structure, which was due to take effect in April 2010, was delayed after it transpired that the changes would cripple council-run nurseries without really improving the situation for other providers.

Schofield says the majority of NDNA members deliver the free entitlement but many are considering pulling out. She wants the government to temporarily lift the ban on top-up fees until the funding issues are resolved. She believes this might be the simplest solution as she is unconvinced more money for childcare is a government priority in the current climate of cuts.

Families like the Kaurs welcome the extra hours and believe that the government and providers need to find a way to make sure they can continue to offer free places. “Jason loves being around other children,” says Belle Kaur. “The extension to 15 hours gives him that extra time at nursery each day and gives me the break I need.”

How one nursery has seen its costs increase

Ken McArthur, owner of Polly Anna’s Daycare Nursery, has a word of warning to local authorities planning their extended free entitlement. “When calculating budgets they need to look at the parents currently taking less than the 12.5 hours they are entitled to,” says McArthur, whose nursery is located in York, one of the 19 extended entitlement pilot areas. “If they assume they simply increase the budget by 2.5 hours for every child, they are mistaken.”

McArthur says that since parents have been able to use more than 2.5 hours of their free entitlement per day, they have become a lot smarter about how to use it.

“Where a parent used to come in for three five-hour sessions a week, they would get the first 2.5 hours free each morning and pay for the rest,” he says. “Now they get the whole five hours free each day and I have no way of making any extra money.”

This would not be an issue for McArthur if his costs were met by local authority funding. But at present he receives £3.46 per child per hour to deliver free entitlement childcare, despite costs being 28 pence more per hour, per child. “In York the funding has dropped and we fear it will again,” he says. “As part of the pilot we used to get enhanced funding for encouraging flexibility but that has gone.”

McArthur is aware that “top-ups” are still being charged by some pilot providers, despite a government ban, and sympathises. In order for him to stay afloat he admits he may have to look at fee structures, or charge for things the government deems to be “extras”, such as food.

“Over the year 50 per cent of my income is government-funded. When so much comes from one source and you have no control over how much you get, it is a big challenge,” he says.

Ken also had his say on last week’s leading story, joining in the debate on average weekly costs of nurseries.

How much is free childcare costing you? As always, we love to read and publish your comments and encourage you to get involved in the discussion below!

Source: CYPNow

From September 2010 the current free entitlement will increase from 12.5 to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year, and parents will be able to use it more flexibly than at present – over at least three days a week. Since September 2009, all local authorities (LAs) have been required to make the offer available to 25 per cent of their most disadvantaged 3- and 4-year-olds.

The extension to the free entitlement from two-and-a-half hours to three hours, delivered flexibly, is a real issue for some private providers, as the funding from the local authorities will not cover the true costs of running a business.

Purnima Taunuku, chief executive, National Day Nurseries Association was quoted as saying, ‘Many settings are struggling to find a solution to this very difficult issue.’

To help nurseries cope with the changes, the NDNA and local authorities have compiled a good practice guide that draws on examples of local activity aimed at creating a sustainable approach to allocation, distribution and development of the free early years entitlement.

The case study examples highlight where councils and early years providers are designing innovative ways to make sure that the free entitlement works as smoothly as possible by using a partnership approach.

What’s more, Parenta is currently running a promotion aimed at easing the transition of new free entitlement regulations to provide nurseries with greater flexibility dealing with the administrational changes.

How are the new free entitlement changes affecting your nursery? Has your nursery come up with a solution that will solve the changes related to free entitlement? Drop your comments below!