Framework guides under-threes care

Practioners caring for under-threes are being issued with new guidance from the Government.

Birth to Three Matters: A framework to support children in their earliest years was developed by Professor Lesley Abbott and a team at the Institute of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University, and funded by the Department for Education and Skills.

Launching the framework last week, early years minister Catherine Ashton said, 'The availability of high-quality childcare is crucial to ensure that all children are given the best possible start in life. This new pack recognises and values the role of carers and supports their skills by providing practical advice on how best to encourage babies and young children's development.'

The framework will be sent to all registered childminders in England this week. The guidance says it is underpinned by principles which include:

• Parents and families are central to the well-being of the child.
• Relationships with other people (both adults and children) are of crucial importance to a child's life.
• Babies and young children are social beings, and are competent learners from birth.
• Learning is a shared process and children learn most effectively when, with the support of a knowledgeable and trusted adult, they are actively involved and interested.
• Children learn by doing rather than by being told.

The framework is not organised under specific topic headings but around four 'aspects' of babies' and young children's skills and competence, entitled A Strong Child, A Skilful Communicator, A Competent Learner and A Healthy Child.

Practitioners are expected to use the framework both individually and in groups. It has been designed to be user-friendly and includes an introductory booklet, a 25-minute video showing children and adults interacting in a range of contexts, a CD-Rom with additional information, suggested reading, discussion and case studies, a poster and 16 component cards which relate to areas within each of the four aspects of the framework.

Practitioners working with under-threes, including in day nursery and pre-school settings, can get the guidance pack free by phoning 01787 884444.

Bristol Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership has launched the 'Bristol Standard for Birth to Three-Year- Olds' in response to the Government's urging early years settings to take part in their own quality assurance schemes. The Bristol Standard is divided into ten measures of quality by which nurseries, pre-schools and child- minders can assess their practice.

Jeanette Edwards said, 'The Bristol Standard provides a benchmark of quality that is extremely useful for providers and parents alike. It gives early years providers a simple way of evaluating what they do and guides them towards making improvements. For parents, it means they can be reassured that all early years settings using the Bristol Standard are working continually to maintain the high standards of provision they want for their children.'

The scheme has been adopted by early years partnerships in Wiltshire, Plymouth, Gloucestershire and North Somerset.