FP staff 'left in the dark'

Academics from the University of London's Institute of Education and the University of Wales Institute found, in their final evaluation of the play-based FP pilots, that stakeholders reported that they received 'no information and communication at all'. Others complained that 'too little was often provided too late' and that the channels of communication were often 'unclear and arbitrary'.

The evaluation report recommends that structural change is needed to ensure that local authority staff are better equipped to support FP settings and says that without this, 'implementation will flounder'.

Welsh education minister Jane Davidson told delegates at the launch of the action plan at the 'Building the Foundation Phase' conference in Cardiff on Monday that the Assembly is developing a national marketing plan to support local and national staff recruitment and retention programmes. She said she will also be looking at ways to explain to parents, carers, governors and the public what the FP is about and what changes it will bring.