Nadhim Zahawi sets out next steps for £20m early years fund

The £20m fund, announced last summer, will be delivered from 2019 over two academic years to improve children’s early language, literacy and numeracy through high quality, evidence-based professional development support for early years practitioners in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

Nadhim Zahawi said that part of the fund would be used to appoint a national training partner to develop and deliver a comprehensive programme of continuing professional development to nominated Early Years “Champions” in over 50 local areas. 

The minister said, ‘The champions will then disseminate this knowledge to practitioners in local partnerships.

‘We will fund local authorities to establish around 100 continuing professional development partnerships in areas identified as being in greatest need and pay for at least 400 champions to be trained. We anticipate that the benefits will be felt by up to 60,000 children in pre-reception settings.

‘We have been engaging with participating local authorities to start their planning and we expect to launch an invitation to tender very shortly to engage a national delivery partner for the project.’

The minister also announced £2.4 million funding for the National Children’s Bureau and nasen to deliver projects aimed at improving the confidence, knowledge and ability of the workforce to identify and support children with special education needs, with a particular focus on speech, language and communication.

Mr Zahawi said, ‘To inform all of our work we need to know with greater certainty, what approaches work best for supporting disadvantaged children.

‘Today the Education Endowment Foundation has announced the successful projects from round one of our ‘what works’ fund. One project involves piloting and testing a Canadian language programme that makes adults aware of the language they use and how they can model sophisticated language to children. These projects will help build the evidence base on early language, literacy, mathematics and staff development to inform practice across the country.

‘Round two of this fund has opened today and we particularly welcome bids for projects that focus on developing better evidence for reception year and early mathematics.’ 

Funding

The minister came under fire from delegates about ongoing underfunding issues of 30-hours childcare.