Summary - Presented by Linda Uren to Jan 99 Conference

EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT & CHILDCARE PLAN 1999/2000

ACHIEVEMENTS 1998/99

Production of Early Years Review & Development Plan
Provision of early education place for eligible four year olds
Promotion and implementation of Bristol Standard
Development of links between play and early years training and progression routes
Establishment of Local Networks and `Partnerships=
Childcare Grant to expand provision in East Bristol
Creation of 122 additional out of school places
Information and database development
Consultation events
Establishment of Web site
City Council Integrated Early Years Centre
Effectively, functioning Partnership                                  back to top

EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT & CHILDCARE PLAN 1999/2000

                STATEMENT OF PROPOSALS FOR FOUR YEAR OLD DUTY ANNEXES

1 Background

2 Access to Admissions

3 Three year olds

4 Preparation for and delivery of new childcare places

5 Strategies for recruitment, training and quality of provision

6 Children=s Information Service

7 Funding

8 Special Educational Needs

9 Additional Elements

Appendix Childcare Audit                                  back to top

CHILDCARE AUDIT

EMERGING ISSUES

Good levels of Childcare provision overall but not equally accessible across the city
Large provision for 3 - 5 year olds but often does not meet working parent=s needs
Provision for very young children unevenly distributed
Areas where unmet need is apparent include East Bristol
Parents want local, affordable, flexible care
Lack of provision for 10 - 14 year olds across city
Accessibility for disabled children
Need to recruit and train workforce that reflects population served
Links with Employers and the TEC                            back to top

OVERALL OBJECTIVES

1. The promotion of quality in all settings should be a primary objective in order that children=s best interests can be met.

2. To prioritise for expansion in the first instance those areas where there is a current mis-match between demand and provision.

3. To develop strategies to sustain childcare provision in areas of high deprivation.

4. To ensure the involvement and consultation of parents and children in service planning and delivery.

5. To co-ordinate childcare activities with other initiatives and plans e.g. education achievement plan, Children=s Services Plan, Quality Protects bids, Regeneration.

6. To develop a partnership approach to local delivery of services across sectors, having regard to Best Value principles.                        back to top

Prioritise areas of East, South Bristol for development
Create more flexibility and quality in nursery education provision for 3 - 5 year olds
Out of school provision an overall priority
Increase provision for 0 - 3 year olds
Projects to increase the accessibility of provision for disabled children.

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INFRASTRUCTURE

Clear system of support and development encompassing all new and existing providers
Support for local networks
Co-ordination and support for Partnership activities
Support for the Bristol Standard
Ongoing consultation and involvement of parents/carers and children
Support for Newsletter                                                        back to top

Promote quality in all early years and play settings
Promote introductory training to aid recruitment
Early Years and Play Training Units
Promote progression routes
Development of curriculum support through advisory teacher
Promote and extend Bristol Standard
Develop Equalities Policies                                     back to top

INFORMATION

Continue to support local parents= Information Service
Develop I.T. database within Local Authority and C.I.S.
Establish Web site
Promote development and expansion of service 1999/2000             back to top

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Training programme for S.E.N. Code of Practice
Early support and co-ordination of placements
Access programme for disabled children
  - pre-school
  - out of school

Local Authority to establish Integrated Early Years and Childcare Service
Creation of additional Early Years Centres
Promotion of local partnerships               back to top

Revenue Support Grant for Maintained Schools
Specific Grant
Standards Fund (Training)

CHILDCARE

DfEE Childcare Grant    Bristol indicative allocation ,320,000
         + Sustainability Fund , 67,000
         - covers infrastructure, place expansion

New Opportunities Fund - Lottery
          ,170m available nationally for out of school 3 - 14 years.
          Bids received direct.
          ,15.5m of this available for integrated childcare and education projects.

Childcare Tax Credit
          Up to ,100 per week for parents with one child (operates from 5 October 1999)

                                                                            back to top

ISSUES TO CONSIDER

QUALITY - How can this be promoted?
        Curriculum
        Training,recruitment & qualifications
        Regulation
Children=s interests and perspective
Consultation and partnership with parents
  Priorities for expansion of places
             -  by age?  by area?  by sector?
  Nature of support and development
  Access to Services : Disadvantaged `hard to reach= children and families
  Information dissemination
  Partnership organisation
  Implications for City Council funding and organisation
  Role of employers

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