Like the approaching snow, there was quite a flurry of early years policy announcements last week after a fairly quiet period.
The removal of the requirement for children's centres in deprived areas to offer full daycare is no great surprise. The high cost of this provision, plus the inability of parents to pay fees that would cover costs, have meant subsidies that have looked increasingly unsustainable as economic conditions worsened.
It is true that in some areas there has just not been much demand for full-time nursery places at children's centres. It could be argued that providing them ate up budgets that could be used to better effect on other services.
Equally, however, if the aim is to move parents into work and off benefits, childcare will be needed, and the private sector will not be rushing into severely disadvantaged areas, because the business case does not stack up. This move could end up working counter to the aim of reducing the welfare bill.
Meanwhile, the Children's Workforce Development Council is to have its funding and status axed, with its key functions moving into the Department for Education. Cue concern and near-despair from many in the sector, especially those who have worked so hard to gain degrees and Early Years Professional Status. The DfE insists that the commitment to a graduate-led early years sector remains, but as yet there is no word on whether there will still be funding after March 2011. And the removal of the CWDC's current role means that it will be harder to maintain the focus on improving workforce skills and qualifications.