The National Day Nurseries Association reports that members are disappointed at the Government's decision to produce only an electronic copy of the revised framework, leaving nurseries and childminders to print their own hard copies.
This is an issue for some settings, who say they have not budgeted for the cost of printing as they expected to receive a hard copy of the revised framework as before, which came as a pack with a poster and practice cards.
The National Day Nurseries Association estimates that for an average size nursery, a setting with 14 staff, the initial cost of printing the revised documentation is around £100.
Copies of the revised EYFS, Development Matters and the guidance on the EYFS progress check at two are even being sold on Ebay, (below), with prices ranging from £4.99 to £27.
Ann Langston, the director of Early Years Matters consultancy, said that the revised framework was a 'no frills document' without pictures or drawings which she said was 'hardly eye-catching.'
She said, 'One has to wonder whether there can really have been so little funding that we couldn't afford some pictures.
'Sadly, the document is unlikely to ignite, enthuse or inspire a generation to pick it up and gasp in awe and wonder.'
Another issue raised by the sector is what small nurseries or childminders without internet access or computers will do. In reaction to questions from the sector about why the framework has only been made available online, the DfE issued the following statement:
'Reducing bureaucracy, alongside spending controls, has changed the way the Government produces and communicates guidance and other similar documents. The controls mean that hard copies of documents will rarely be produced and an online version is the default.
'Using a digital approach means that content and documents are easy to update, are easy for our audiences to search and adapt for their own uses and are low-cost. The Government understands that settings may be worried about the cost of printing copies of the revised Early Years Foundation Stage. Settings need only print a couple of centrally accessible copies for staff to share. The revised framework is significantly shorter than the 2008 version so printing costs should be minimal.'
Fiona Hakin, an Early Years Professional and curriculum manager at Bright Beginnings Childcare in Leeds, said, 'We will be printing and binding copies for all our 50 members of staff. We are fortunate in that we have a good budget, but it is the time it will take to print everything. Staff like to personalise their document and use them to apply to the children in their care, but they can't print a copy within their working hours as it takes time away from the children. It would have been better had the documentation been available as a hard copy. Last time we got printed copies from the local authority and could order them from the department's website.'
Ms Hakin said that along with the issues surrounding printing the document, it is also the additional time that they will have to spend going through existing profile paperwork and policies to check whether they are still relevant and if any changes need to be made.
However, she did say that the changes are not huge and the document has not changed too much. She added, 'With the extra time and money spent printing the documents and training staff something (in nursery budgets) has to give.'
- The NDNA is offering professionally printed and bound copies of the framework and Development Matters for £9.50 from www.ndna.org.uk/eyfs
The Pre-School Learning Alliance is also offering members printed and bound copies of all three documents for £7.00 from https://shop.pre-school.org.uk/A002
Early Education is selling Development Matters for £5.75, available from www.early-education.org.uk/ and the National Childminding Association is selling bound copies of the revised framework for £5.50. Pre-order by calling 0845 880 0044.