The race is on to get Ofsted's Early Years Directorate up and running. But time is short and the issues and problems that need to be sorted out are many, as our coverage this week shows. The national daycare standards have finally been published, and our Special Report ('On the road', pages 10-11) looks at the main requirements and changes that have been made from the draft proposals. However, the much-needed guidance to accompany the headline standards is not due out until early July, by which time the EYD should be taking over new applications for registration. There seems to be a squeeze on getting holiday playscheme applications through, with Ofsted warning that providers should apply immediately to their local council as the EYD will not be able to process registrations for playschemes in July and August (see News, page 8).
The race is on to get Ofsted's Early Years Directorate up and running. But time is short and the issues and problems that need to be sorted out are many, as our coverage this week shows. The national daycare standards have finally been published, and our Special Report ('On the road', pages 10-11) looks at the main requirements and changes that have been made from the draft proposals. However, the much-needed guidance to accompany the headline standards is not due out until early July, by which time the EYD should be taking over new applications for registration.
There seems to be a squeeze on getting holiday playscheme applications through, with Ofsted warning that providers should apply immediately to their local council as the EYD will not be able to process registrations for playschemes in July and August (see News, page 8).
And there is concern over the position of registered nursery inspectors who have been carrying out the education inspections. One inspector ('In my view', page 34) explains how the expertise and experience of 700 RGNIs will go to waste as the social services inspectors take over the education side as well.
