Meeting documents

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) requires the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) to submit a 3 year Strategic Plan followed by an annual implementation plan. This plan will be the final year of the Strategic Plan 2001 - 2004. In order for the Plan to be approved by the DfES it requires approval by the Local Authority.

2 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 That the Executive considers and approves the draft Plan with amendments as appropriate.

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 The approval of the Plan by the DfES releases funding to support the targets within the Plan. There is a base budget for the plan and associated developments within the plan. However, this is the final year of the Strategic Plan and the increase was built into a phased introduction of certain target requirements over the 3 years. The additional pressures total approximately £58k and are built into the Education pressures being discussed by Education Budget Forum. This funding is to provide support for 1 day of additional training for all Foundation Stage Practitioners; an additional day for all pre-school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCo); additional teacher support for all settings; and additional area SENCos in line with DfES requirements. The funding for training is taking into account money also received through the Standards Fund grant for the Foundation Stage.

4 THE REPORT

4.1 The DfES has required the EYDC Plan to work towards meeting cumulative targets over a 3 year period and 2003 - 2004 will be the final year of the Strategic Plan.

4.2 The targets have been met in many areas and explicit plans submitted where there has been a shortfall in order to meet or exceed predictions for the end of the plan period.

4.3 Out of school provision and expansion of childminding provision have been major areas for development which during year 2 of the plan have been vastly improved.

4.4 The EYDC Partnership will work closely with partner agencies and officers to achieve the targets set out in this 2003 - 2004 Implementation Plan.

5 CONSULTATION

5.1 As part of the planning process a large scale childcare audit was carried out involving parents, practitioners and children.

5.2 The aim was to accurately assess the level and range of early education and childcare provision for 0 - 14 year olds and to assess the level of need across the Authority.

5.3 The data obtained from the audit is used to inform the decisions on planning targets and local priorities within those targets.

5.4 The EYDCP attend a conference to review progress in 2002 - 2003; to assess its performance; and to set priorities within DfES guidelines. Elected Members are also invited to the planning conference.

5.5 The draft plan is distributed to all members of the EYDCP and of the Joint Elected Members Early Years and Childcare Group for comment/agreement.

APPENDIX 1

Education Service

EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT

AND

CHILDCARE

SUMMARY OF STRATEGIC PLAN

2001 - 2004

TARGETS

1. Target 1 - To provide a free, part-time, early education place for all

three year olds whose parents want one by September 2004

Table (a)

2. Target 2 - to have set up at least 795 new out of school childcare

places for 1584 children by 2004

Table (b)

Table (c)

3. Target 3 - to ensure that a minimum of 80% of all NOF sponsored

4. Target 4 - to ensure that new childcare places created add

Table (d)

5. Target 5 - to have set up, by 2004, a minimum of 207 new childcare places with childminders (non disadvantaged areas)

Table (e)

6. Target 6 - to set up a new 50 place nursery by 2002 in Twerton,

Bath, an area of high disadvantage

Table (f)

7. Target 7 - to have set up, by 2004, a minimum of 3 additional childminder networks

Table (g)

8. Target 8 - to have aided the conversion, by 2004, of at least 192 playgroup places to move to daycare/wraparound care provision

Table (h)

9. Target 9 - to keep Childcare Tax Credit under review to ensure it provides affordable, accessible, quality childcare for all low income groups and pre-schools as well as after school care; and to ensure that take up increases, with inter departmental monitoring to start by December 2000

Table (i)

Table (j)

10. Target 10 - to boost recruitment at national and local level over the next three years so as to expand the workforce for early years, childcare and playworkers to meet the demand of expanding services.

Table (k)

11. Target 11 - to increase the recruitment of the following under-represented groups to the level of the following national target by 2004:

Table (l)

12. Target 12 - To raise the quality of childcare by raising training levels, with specific targets for the level of qualifications to be achieved by 2004.

13. Target 13 - to ensure that all practitioners delivering Foundation Stage education have access to an average of 4 days relevant training and development per year, by 2004

14. Target 14 - to ensure that, by 2004, all settings that deliver a Foundation Stage curriculum have access to the input and advice from a QTS teacher. The target ratio for involvement is 1 to every 10 non-maintained settings, by 2004.

DfEE Table 5a [strategic] 

Table 5a [strategic]

15. Target 15 - to ensure that, by 2004, all qualified teachers involved in delivering the Foundation Stage have undertaken appropriate training and development to improve their specialist knowledge of early education.

16. Target 16 - to ensure that at least 40% of providers have been accredited by a quality assurance scheme by 2004.

17. Target 17 - to ensure that 94% (nationally) of all Foundation Stage settings inspected by OfSTED to be satisfactory or better, by 2004.

18. Target 18 - to ensure that, by 2001 - 2002, all settings delivering the Foundation Stage have identified and trained a SEN Co-ordinator (SENCo), responsible for establishing and implementing the setting's SEN policy, with a target that setting-based SENCos should have benefited from an average of 3 days relevant training per year by 2004.

19. Target 19 - to put in place a network of area SENCos, with a target ratio of 1 area SENCo to 20 non-maintained settings delivering funded early education, by 2004.

20. Target 20 - to ensure that all sectors of the community have equal access to childcare and early years services, regardless of their gender, age, special educational needs, disability, background, religion, ethnicity or competence in spoken English

21. Target 21 - to ensure that Partnerships have effective equal opportunity strategies which are monitored at least annually and that they ensure all settings identify and train someone to take responsibility for establishing and implementing the settings' equal opportunities strategy by 2004.

22. Target 22 - By 2004, to significantly increase the amount of support employers give their employees on childcare, working through Partnerships and other organisations.

23. Target 23 - To ensure Partnerships review information for parents on early education places at least annually and to ensure that parents have the information they need to enable them to express clear preferences for an early education place from amongst the settings available.

24. Target 24 - To significantly boost integrated services for 0 - 5s by 2004. To set specific targets for 2004 by September 2001 for the number of early education places for 3 and 4 year olds which have (a) wrap around facilities and (b) fully integrated facilities for 0 - 4 year olds.

Table (m)*

* Abbey/Kingswood = 90 responses, 174 children

Radstock/Midsomer Norton = 218 responses, 425 children

Keynsham North/South = 187 responses, 298 children

High Littleton/Paulton = 108 responses, 214 children

Table (n)

Table (o)

Table (p)

NB - Data from 2000/01 Audit information.

25. Target 25 - To ensure all CIS's meet the 14 minimum service standards, which include accuracy and confidentiality, and are integrated with the national regulatory system set up by OfSTED's Early Years Directorate by September 2001

26. Target 26 - To ensure Partnership's keep membership, working practices and progress under review so that they are successful in the delivery and evaluation of their Strategic Plans and key objectives.

27. Target 27 - To ensure Partnerships work closely with other strategic partnerships, including the Local Strategic Partnership where appropriate, to ensure consistency, sensible community planning and efficient use of resources and to contribute to other plans as appropriate, for example, Education Development Plans and Children's Services Plans.

28. Target 28 - To ensure Partnerships work with local councils to derive benefit from Best Value for young children and parents in their communities and apply the principles of Best Value to their own activities and processes.

29. Target 29 - To ensure Partnerships, together with OFSTED's Early Years Directorate, Children's Information Services and appropriate local authority staff, develop a clear protocol for working together effectively so as to deliver coherent training, advice and information services that build capacity and strengthen the quality, choice, accessibility and diversity of provision locally.

Table (q)

APPENDIX 2

Education Service

D R A F T

EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT

AND

CHILDCARE PLAN

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

2003 - 04

Please enter your local authority name in the box below:

Bath & North East Somerset

DfES Strategic Goal/Target 1: To put in place universal nursery education for 3 year olds by September 2004.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 goal/target and any intermediate milestone targets

Target for 2003 - 04 in Strategic Plan 74%.

Box 2: Progress to date

86% of 3 year olds access nursery education and it will be universal by September 2004.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

Until universal provision, to work on needs criteria and to increase opportunities for all to access a full nursery education place.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic goal/target

We have exceeded our strategic target and will be universal by 2004.

DfES contact: Sarah Leach Dervise Ali-Riza

Return to Table of contents

DfES Strategic Goal 2: To create new childcare places for 1.6m children by March 2004 which, taking account of turnover in existing places, should allow around 1m extra children to benefit from childcare in England alone.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 goal and any intermediate milestone targets

To create 2891 new childcare places by April 2004.

Box 2: Progress to date

568 Places in out of school, including childminding places exceeding overall target of 468 for 2002 - 03.

214 Places for pre-schools, including childminding places out of a target of 487.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· Childminding provision - expansion and retention.

· Expansion of extended day provision.

· Sustainability of out of school provision.

Actions

· Publicity and expansion of networks for childminders to increase recruitment and

· Additional support and development work for out of school providers.

· Regular briefing sessions and provision of start-up packs for pre-school providers.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic goal

The number of places for childminders for 2003 - 04 will be 160. This will give a total target 2001 - 04 revision of 160 which realistically reflects the average number of places per childminder as average if 3 rather than the inflated average of 6 per childminder. 160 additional places will be challenging, but achievable.

DfES Contact: Margaret Leopold _

DfES Strategic Target 2: To have set up at least 360,000 new out-of-school childcare places for 720,000 children by 2003.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

To set up 795 new out of school childcare places by 2004 not including childminding places.

Box 2: Progress to date

514 new out of school places in 2002 - 03 which makes 720 cumulative total.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· Sustainability.

· Ensure maximum number of providers take advantage of remaining NOF rounds.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

895 total by April 2004.

DfES Contact: Jill Wiltshire _

DfES Strategic Target 4: To ensure that on average, new childcare places created between April 2001 and March 2004 add significantly to the local level of stock for the relevant category: for every 10 new out of school places that open, no more than 1 should close; and for every 10 new childcare places for pre-school age children created, no more 3 than should close. On childminding, from the current position of an average of 10.5 places closing for 10 that open, Partnerships should ensure that there is an improvement to at least a 10% positive turnover, i.e. for every 10 new childminder places created, no more than 9 should close.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

Ratio of places opened to closed by 2004.

Out of school childcare 10:1

Pre-school childcare 10:3

Childminding 10:9

Box 2: Progress to date

Current position is:

Out of school childcare 10:3.9

Pre-school childcare 10:6

Childminding 10:9

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· Additional business and financial support for pre-schools.

· Additional training opportunities for developing business skills in pre-schools.

· Build on recommendations re: rural communities based on Mendip Project outcomes.

· Further develop mutual support networks of pre-schools and for out of school clubs.

· Develop a tracking system for childminders.

· Support through mobile Scrapstore project.

· Additional targeted training and recruitment support.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

Targets as planned.

DfES Contact: Margaret Leopold _

DfES Strategic Target 5: To have set up, by 2004, a minimum of 120,000 new childcare places with childminders across England in addition to the 25,000 places in areas of disadvantage referred to in target 6.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

2001 - 02 New childminder places 382

2002 - 03 " " " 497

2003 - 04 " " " 527

Box 2: Progress to date

160 new childminding places 2002 - 03 reflecting high impact of start-up grant and effective support and guidance from Fourways Childminding Association. This Association is also linking the briefing sessions to the ICP training to maximise childminder take up.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· Continue to link the initial childminding practice qualification with other input including

· Continue to build on the strong links with Family Information Services and the Grants

· Continue to support through childminder start up grants.

· Develop a tracking system for childminders to monitor take up and continued service

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

The initial target was based on an average place per childminder of 6 and the revised figure represents the more accurate predication of this per childminder. The target was also set before the initiative was begun. The average is 3 places per childminder and the revised childminding place target will be 480 (160 out of school and 320 pre-school).

DfES contact: Lorna Ward _

DfES Strategic Goal 3: By 2004, the Government's ambition is that there should be a childcare place in the most disadvantaged areas for every lone parent entering employment. The percentage of lone parents perceiving childcare as a barrier will be monitored nationally to help measure progress.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 goal and any intermediate milestone targets

72% of children from birth to 14 living in Twerton should have access to a childcare place by 2004.

Box 2: Progress to date

All lone parents in Twerton can access 3 terms of Nursery Education 3-year-old grant. All providers are given information for parents especially lone parents regarding accessing places and funding.

Family Information Services working closely with the lone parent advisers from the Employment Service ensure information is given on Working Family Tax Credits and new deal opportunities. Close working with the Health Service supporting lone parents.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

Twerton is part of the South West Bath Sure Start Area and support for lone parents will be a priority within the programme including training opportunities.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic goal

The target of 72% has been exceeded and it is anticipated that by April 2004 all lone parents entering employment will have access to childcare. EYDCP's work with employers should support greater emphasis on work life balance practices which is often a barrier to lone parents.

DfES Contact: Colin Stiles

DfES Strategic Goal 4: By March 2004 to reduce the difference in the number of formal childcare places available in England for children aged 0-14 between the 20% most disadvantaged wards and other areas to no more than 3.7 places per 100 children.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 goal and any intermediate milestone targets

To establish one 60 place neighbourhood nursery in Twerton.

To focus on developing out of school childcare in disadvantaged wards (2001 - 02 60% target of the total places established {129 places}).

Neighbourhood Childminding 2002 - 03 target: to support the start-up of 76 new places.

Box 2: Progress to date

2002 - 03

Twerton has 24.13 places per 100 children.

Peasedown has 6.60 places per 100 children.

Keynsham has 15.62 places per 100 children.

Other areas have 16.70 places per 100 children.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· To focus on supporting existing early education provision in Peasedown to extend to 3½ hours minimum.

· To establish out of school provision in Peasedown.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic goal

N/A

DfES Contact: Colin Stiles

DfES Strategic Target 6: To have set up, by 2004, a minimum of 70,000 new childcare places for pre-school aged children in areas of disadvantage; this figure to broadly comprise 45,000 group-care based places (equivalent to 900 new 50 place nurseries) and 25,000 childminder based places.

This target covers all aspects of the Neighbourhood Childcare Initiative, and as previously is split into three separate sections - on Neighbourhood Nurseries (target 6a), Neighbourhood Out of School projects (target 6b) and Neighbourhood Childminding (target 6c).

Strategic Target 6a - Neighbourhood Nurseries

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

The EYDCP is to establish one 60 place Neighbourhood Nursery in Twerton, Bath.

Box 2: Progress to date

The nursery is to open April 2003 offering 60 places. Another Neighbourhood Nursery is planned for Keynsham which has pockets of deprivation and that is at the consultation/application stage.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· To open the Twerton Neighbourhood Nursery offering 60 places 2003.

· To open the Keynsham Neighbourhood Nursery offering 60 NNI places and 10

· To develop the Sure Start initiative in SW Bath to further increase provision.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

By March 2004 there should be 120 neighbourhood nursery places in areas of deprivation.

DfES Contact: Colin Stiles

Strategic Target 6b: Neighbourhood Out of School projects (New Opportunities Fund out-of-school childcare in Disadvantaged Areas)

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

Target of 795 places by 2004 funded by NOF with the focus on areas of disadvantage including Twerton, Keynsham, Radstock, Peasedown, Midsomer Norton and other parts of Bath, as well as areas of rural deprivation. 216 new places to be created in 2002 - 03 of which 60% to be in areas of disadvantage.

Box 2: Progress to date

Places opened in areas of deprivation NOF funded - 254.

Places already opened in receipt of continuation funding - 24.

Total number of places to be created and supported in 2003 - 04 -105.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· To build an expertise and siting of the Neighbourhood Nurseries to further expand

· To work with community groups in developing provision in areas of need.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

N/A

DfES Contact: Jill Wiltshire

Strategic Target 6c: Neighbourhood Childminding (Childminder Start up grant and Sustainability Grant)

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

By 2004 to have set up a minimum of 224 childminder places in areas of deprivation.

Box 2: Progress to date

April 2002 - March 2003

30 Childminders in receipt of start up grant (£300 max).

27 Childminders in receipt of start up grant (£600 max).

57 Total childminders funded in 2002 - 03 through Childminder Start-up Grant.

1 Childminder has received £85 per week for up to 3 weeks to support sustainability.

20 Childminders are currently being trained.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· Recruitment of new childminders for pre-school and out of school children.

· Retention of existing childminders and encouragement of collaborative approach

· Expand the initial training and support package.

· Build up the network programme.

· Use the tracking system to identify childminders in difficulty and offer intensive support.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

DfES contact: Lorna Ward _

DfES Strategic Target 12: To ensure sufficient training is available so that all childcare providers can meet the national standards for under eights day care and childminding.

This strategic target originally suggested that we would set specific local targets for the level of qualifications to be achieved by 2004. Instead, we have decided to set a flexible target to allow each local authority with its Partnership to take account of local circumstances. You should set local targets for training to contribute to the national targets. As before you are expected to report on progress towards the local targets for training you have set jointly with your Local Learning and Skills Council. The targets should take account of the qualification requirements of the National Childcare Standards for Under Eights Day Care and Childminding and the training and qualification needs of local childcare providers.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

To raise the quality of childcare by increasing the take up of training courses leading to relevant qualifications and providing development opportunities to enhance the competence and skills of the workforce.

Box 2: Progress to date

2002 - 03 take up of level 3 or higher qualification has been level 3 = 118 & level 4 = 16

2002 - 03 take up of level 2 or higher qualification has been level 2 = 49.

?? of early years education staff have relevant qualification.

?? of childcare staff have relevant qualification.

?? of playwork staff have relevant qualification.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· Bath & North East Somerset has exceeded Care Standards requirements and

· Continue to focus on promoting training for playworkers and childminders in particular.

· Set up rolling programme of training to support the Care Standards e.g. Risk

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

N/A

DfES Contact: Harkirtan Dogra

DfES Strategic Target 13: To ensure that all practitioners delivering Foundation Stage education as part of their EYDC Plans have access to an average of 4 days relevant training and development per year, by 2004.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

All practitioners to have access to 4 days non-award bearing early years training per year - 2 days training and 2 day conferences as well as a minimum of 50% funding from TSF for award bearing courses.

Box 2: Progress to date

Practitioners funded for 2 days training per year.

Practitioners funded for 1 conference per year.

9 twilight sessions per year for all practitioner Foundation Stage Profile training.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· To secure funding from LEA to support a further day's training to cover for each

· To build on outcomes of OFSTED inspections to target training needs.

· To build on cluster group training opportunities.

· To provide an additional conference for all practitioners per year.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

The target of 4 days training and development will be met subject to funding.

DfES Contact: Patricia Craig _

DfES Strategic Target 14: To ensure that, by 2004, all settings that deliver a Foundation Stage curriculum have access to the input and advice from a QTS teacher. The target ratio for involvement is 1 teacher to every 10 non-maintained settings, by 2004.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestones/targets

The ratio of qualified early years support teachers to non-maintained settings without a qualified teacher is 1:6 giving approximately 4 sessions of support per term to each setting.

Box 2: Progress to date

The ratio is 1:6 including intensive support/targeted visits, cluster group support, and support for childminder networks.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

Funding from LEA to additionally support the expansion of provision and responsibilities as part of the growth in provision.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

N/A

DfES Contact: Michael Collins _

DfES Strategic Target 16: To ensure that at least 40% of providers nationally have been accredited by a quality assurance scheme by 2004.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

To ensure that at least 40% of providers have been accredited by a quality assurance scheme by 2004. The aim for 2001 - 02 was 15 accredited settings across pre-schools and out of schools.

Box 2: Progress to date

2 pre-schools have been accredited.

12 pre-schools in process of accreditation.

8 out of schools are in the process of accreditation.

20 childminders are in the process of accreditation.

10 settings working on inclusion endorsement procedure (part of accreditation) plus 2 of which have met the first level of the process.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· Promote accreditation on through publicity and linking with NVQ courses to collect

· Offer additional support through development workers and other agencies e.g. PsLA

· Offer more training for mentors/assessors.

· Accreditation scheme acceptance part of new providers training and allowed for in NOF

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

DfES Contact: Jerry O'Connell _

DfES Strategic Goal 5/Target 17: To ensure that 94% of early years settings, inspected by Ofsted, are making satisfactory or better progress in delivering the Early Learning Goals, by September 2004.

We shall obtain information direct from OFSTED to ascertain progress on this goal/target. Your plan should focus on action you have taken and will take to help weaker settings and new settings deliver the Early Learning Goals.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 goal/target and any intermediate milestone targets

Local target is for 100% of settings making satisfactory or better progress in delivering the Early Learning Goals.

Box 2: Progress to date

· Providers with 2 - 4 OFSTED outcome = 98%

· Providers with 1 - 2 OFSTED outcome = 2%

· Providers with unacceptable outcome = 0%

· Total = 98% settings with a satisfactory or better rating.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· To agree an action plan for settings on at 1 - 2 OFSTED outcome.

· To give additional support to new settings starting up.

· To work closely with childminder networks to ensure quality education provision.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic goal/target

N/A

DfES Contact: Jerry O'Connell _

DfES Strategic Target 19: To put in place a network of area SENCOs, with a target ratio of 1 area SENCO to 20 non-maintained settings delivering funded early education, by 2004.

Box 1: Local 2001-04 target and any intermediate milestone targets

To provide 5 areas SENCos by 2004 with a ratio of 1:20 non-maintained settings delivering funded early education by 2004.

Box 2: Progress to date

8 areas SENCos appointed for end of 2002 - 03, making 5 full time equivalents. Excellent team building particularly on the strengths of the staff team released for outreach work by the reorganisation of a maintained day nursery for children with special needs.

Box 3: Key priorities and actions for 2003-04

· To obtain sufficient LEA funding to further support the are SENCos.

· To develop Authority wide action plans based on requirements of the Disability

· To develop individual action plans as part of the SEN/EO strategy.

Box 4: If applicable, proposed revised strategic target

N/A

DfES Contact: Anita Onyeledo _

Please note:

1. Not all targets from the Strategic Plan are required in the Implementation Plan 2003 - 04.

2. Tables which accompany this plan will not be available until final analysis of the childcare audit. Copies will be forwarded as soon as available.

APPENDIX 3

GLOSSARY

Foundation Stage - Education for 3 - 5 year olds.

Practitioners - Teachers, early years workers and play

Settings - Pre-schools, nurseries, schools and out of

Providers - Those who offer early education and/or

Out of School Provision - Breakfast, lunch and after school care

Childminding - Care of children by a registered

Childcare Audit - Providers complete questionnaires