Social media posts shared by the Department for Education on 2 April claim that school-based nurseries, 300 of which have been approved to start providing early education and care from September under the first round of Government’s new programme, provide ‘high-quality early education in familiar school settings’, that they give children ‘a smoother transition to Reception’, and are at ‘the heart’ of the Government’s ‘Plan for Change’.
The DfE's post on its Facebook page (below) publicising the school-based nurseries attracted more than 200 comments, many of which oppose the messages the Department is promoting.
Within his letter to the early years minister, Stephen Morgan, the EYA’s chief executive Neil Leitch argues that there appears to be ‘no consideration given to the impact of the messaging around school-based nurseries on early years professionals working in PVI settings.
He says he ‘cannot understand why the Government continues to put out messaging that suggests a vital part of the sector is held in such disregard.’
The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and PACEY have shared similar concerns.
DfE Facebook post
Leitch’s letter states, ‘I’m writing to share my concern and frustration over the statements made by the Department for Education as part of today’s announcement of the first wave of 300 new school-based nurseries.
‘These statements include assertions that school-based nurseries provide “high-quality early education in familiar school settings” and give children “a smoother transition to reception year”, and that school-based nurseries are at “the heart [of the government’s] Plan for Change”.
‘As far as I can tell, there seems to have been no consideration given to the impact of these messages on the thousands of dedicated, hard-working early years professionals working in private and voluntary settings.
To be clear, those working in the PVI sector also provide high-quality early education, and ensure that children have smooth transitions to school. What’s more, many operate for far greater hours during the day than many schools, as well as during typical school holidays, providing vital support to working families. As such, I’m in no doubt that they too should be at the heart of the government ‘Plan for Change’, particularly given that they continue to deliver the vast majority of early years places.’
He ends the letter by asking to meet with the minister to discuss the school-based nursery policy.
'Insensitive and extremely demoralising'.
Reacting to the announcement on the first 300 school-based nurseries and the messaging from the DfE, PACEY’s chief executive Helen Donohoe said they are ‘deeply concerned that the policy overlooks the crucial role of PVI providers’.
She went on to say, ‘We need a long-term strategy that strengthens the entire early years workforce, including urgent action to support and grow the number of registered childminders and to improve funding levels so that all early years professionals receive the recognition, resources, and investment they deserve.’
The NDNA previously hit out at claims by the DfE that school-based early years provision ‘tends to be more inclusive with a higher proportion of children with special educational needs than other settings.’
Executive chair Purnima Tanuku said, ‘At a time when the sector is struggling, and the local authority variations on new statutory guidance is causing enormous stress to providers, it is insensitive and extremely demoralising when the largest funder of early education and childcare - the Government - says “that school based early education tends to be more inclusive with a higher proportion of children with special needs than other settings”.
