Opinion: The Minister's view - A new year to consult further on the EYSFF

From the continued success of the Sure Start programme to the fantastic Early Years Foundation Stage Profile results, 2009 was a great year for early years. However, it was not without its challenges, particularly towards the end of the year, when we had to make some difficult decisions on a couple of issues.

I would like to use this opportunity to properly explain the decisions around the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF).

You will remember that we first announced plans for the EYSFF in 2007. Our ambition was to provide greater consistency and transparency in every local authority about the funding of the free entitlement for threeand four-year-olds.

As you are well aware, our intention had been that every local authority should implement the EYSFF from April 2010. However, in autumn 2009, it became clear that some local authorities were experiencing challenges in preparing for the introduction of the EYSFF. Local authorities were in open consultation with providers and I am grateful to all those who fed back, both negative and positive, because this has enabled us to develop a new way forward.

The feedback from local authorities was mixed, but it did reveal that only a third were in a position to progress to implementation of the EYSFF in April 2010.

We need to make sure we get this right, ensuring the continued provision of high-quality childcare in a variety of settings that meet the varied needs of every family. I was concerned about the impact that an under-prepared or ill-thought formula could have on providers. Therefore, I took the decision to postpone the formal implementation date by a year, until April 2011.

But be reassured that the extension of the free entitlement to 15 hours will not be affected and that our commitment to implementing the EYSFF remains.

I recognise the hard work of local authorities in reaching this stage in the process. Importantly, I want those authorities that have already made good progress to continue, and we therefore expanded the pilot programme to give every local authority the chance to implement the EYSFF from April 2010.

The new pilots, part of the existing pathfinder programme, will continue to receive assistance both from the Department and from Government offices as they near implementation.

I have asked my officials to collate the feedback from all of the pilots and to disseminate good practice to those local authorities that have experienced difficulties.

Having a larger number of pathfinders will really enable us to get to grips with the different challenges being faced by different types of authority. We want to understand the challenges faced by local authorities with a majority of PVI providers, with a majority of maintained provision or with a more even split.

It is also important that we understand the differences between rural and urban areas. Having this broad base of pilot local authorities will ensure all those experiencing difficulties can learn from the authorities that are most similar to them.

I really do want local authorities to take the additional year to speak to providers, to get in touch with nursery heads and to understand your concerns. I am adamant that the EYSFF is about fairness and transparency. It should not be used as a method of closing maintained nursery schools, and it must be developed in partnership with all providers. Only then can we truly measure its success in providing clarity for the families we are all working to support.