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Alliance welcomes the Early Years Foundation Stage, but raises concerns about ratios and emphasises training and support crucial to success

NEWS RELEASE

28 July 2006

Alliance welcomes the Early Years Foundation Stage, but raises concerns about ratios and emphasises training and support crucial to success

The Pre-school Learning Alliance today broadly welcomed the publication of the Government’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) but raised specific concerns around ratios; the lack of recognition of the importance of parents in their children’s learning; and the lack of clarity between legislative “must do’s and good practice “should do’s”.

Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said:

“Overall the EYFS is very positive in its intent and we welcome the bringing together of early learning, development and care to create a single framework.

However we have some concerns around the detail. Our main area of concern is around staff to children ratios. Current ratios are stretched enough in full day care and increasing the ratio for those with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to one member of staff to 13 three to five year olds will adversely affect child development and serious impede upon one-to-one interaction. The sector has long lobbied for improvements to ratios and we cannot lose ground by retrograde measures that will dilute support and adversely affect quality. It is unfortunate that the government has not taken this opportunity to define the relationship between qualified teacher and those with Early Years Professional (EYP) status.

We have further concerns regarding the lack of clarity around legal obligations for settings and what is considered good practice. For example the EYFS states that providers “should” take action to support and include children with additional needs but legislation says they must and it is crucial for these children that providers are aware of their obligations. Similarly the Race Relations Act places a requirement on providers to remove barriers to participation for children from black and ethnic community groups and this requirement needs to be highlighted in the framework.

We are also concerned that while the central importance of parents and families for each child’s well being and as their first educator is mentioned in the Principles of the EYFS, this is not referred to again in the text.

Furthermore, given the fundamental importance of play for children’s learning, social and emotional development, we feel the section on play is could go further and question whether it provides sufficient guidance for it to be of practical use.

Finally the Alliance stresses that for the EYFS to be implemented successfully for greatest benefit to all children, an in-depth and comprehensive training and support programme for all early years workers and volunteers is essential.”

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Kate Summerside
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2502
Out of hours press calls: 07956 499621
E: Kate Summerside

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 800,000 young children and their families in England. Established in 1961 and registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and operates a number of Neighbourhood Nurseries. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk
  2. A copy of the Alliance’s response to the Early Years Foundation Stage can be accessed at www.pre-school.org.uk.
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