It's been quite a week, with the Children's Workforce Strategy consultation finally being unleashed, along with the Ofsted consultation on further changes to early years inspections (see News). Oh, and we mustn't forget the small matter of a general election, which should at last have been called by the time this issue of Nursery World hits your desk or doormat. The Conservatives' childcare and maternity leave proposals strove for originality (see News, page 4, and 'To the point...', page 9), seemingly offering a boost to unregulated, informal childcare - to the consternation of early years organisations. We'll be looking at the policies of all the major parties over the coming weeks leading up to the election.
It's been quite a week, with the Children's Workforce Strategy consultation finally being unleashed, along with the Ofsted consultation on further changes to early years inspections (see News). Oh, and we mustn't forget the small matter of a general election, which should at last have been called by the time this issue of Nursery World hits your desk or doormat.
The Conservatives' childcare and maternity leave proposals strove for originality (see News, page 4, and 'To the point...', page 9), seemingly offering a boost to unregulated, informal childcare - to the consternation of early years organisations. We'll be looking at the policies of all the major parties over the coming weeks leading up to the election.
The Children's Workforce Strategy is the most significant initiative in terms of moving towards a world-class early years education and childcare system in the UK. Let's hope it doesn't get swamped by general election fever. You have until 22 July to respond to the consultation, by which time the election will, of course, have been decided.
Take a breather from all this frenetic policy-making and read an historical perspective on childhood through the ages in our fascinating eight-page pull-out starting on page 17.
