While they welcome the guiding principle of the EYFS in response to the recent consultation, they dispute details about its implementation, with ratios a key issue. Training, inspecting and inclusive practice were also not well enough defined for some.
The National Childminding Association has successfully campaigned to change the childminding ratios proposed by the DfES (News 20 July), but other organisations remain concerned about ratios in settings.
The Pre-school Learning Alliance's chief executive Steve Alexander, said, 'The sector has long lobbied for improvements to ratios. We cannot lose ground by measures that dilute support and adversely affect quality.'
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association, queried the 'clarity and accessibility' of the document, claiming it was 'open to interpretation'. She added, 'We are still very concerned about the proposed relaxation in ratios. The proposed 1:13 ratio for three-to five-year-olds jeopardises the quality of care and education children will receive. We believe this ratio is in the interest of schools rather than children. NDNA would like to see a ratio of 1:8 across all settings.'
The steering group for the Forum for Maintained Nursery Schools and Children's Centres called for a 1:10 ratio, as opposed to the existing 1:8 for children over three, and for reception to be fully integrated into the Foundation Stage with the same staff ratios. They also feared the EYFS would over-formalise approaches to children under three.
The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) said Early Years Professional (EYP) statusand the Integrated Qualifications Framework must be developed in line with the EYFS.
Jane Haywood, chief executive of the CWDC, said, 'We believe that over time only those with EYP status should lead the delivery of EYFS. In addition, we will be advising the DfES about how a higher percentage of the workforce can become qualified to Level 3, so eventually all those in early years will have achieved this level or be working towards it.'
Andrew Fletcher, the NCMA's director of policy and public affairs, hoped the language relating to childminding would change 'to remove the implication that registered childminders have a secondary role and complement other settings'.
Herman Ouseley, chair of the Focus Institute on Rights and Social Transformation, and Jane Lane, advocate worker for racial equality in the early years, recommended including a proposed section on the subject and inclusion of the Race Relations Act.