Features

Nursery Management: Schools Forums - Team spirit

What are schools forums and why do they matter? With funding set to take on an extra dimension from September with the free entitlement extension to 30 hours, Charlotte Goddard investigates

Despite making crucial funding decisions, and having been around for more than 15 years, schools forums have not permeated the consciousness of even old hands in the early years sector. ‘I first became aware of the concept of a schools forum last month via a Facebook group,’ says Keith Appleyard, treasurer of Fiveways Playgroup in Brighton for the past 30 years.

‘We are one of the larger PVI organisations in Brighton, and we had never heard of the schools forum, or been contacted by the PVI representative,’ he adds.

Intrigued, Mr Appleyard conducted an informal survey online. While he found evidence of good practice and awareness from people around the country, an equal number of correspondents were in the dark, including one from Devon with 25 years’ experience in the sector.

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