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Making sure two year olds do not miss out in mixed age settings: Guidance published for settings caring for two year olds

NEWS RELEASE

14 June 2005

Making sure two-year-olds do not miss out in mixed age settings: Guidance published for settings caring for two-year-olds

Leading childcare charity the Pre-school Learning Alliance has published the first guidance specifically for settings caring for two-year-olds. Created in response to concerns expressed by practitioners that two-year-olds were ‘missing out', this interactive publication will assist practitioners working across the age range of two to five years to provide appropriately for the two-year-olds in their care.

Making Their Day — Providing for two year olds in mixed age settings addresses the gap in resources and materials appropriate for this age group. The publication provides a framework for development and learning that links Birth to Three Matters to the Foundation Stage to meet this need.

The publication contains useful photocopiable materials including questionnaires, action plan templates and formats to guide planning. Seven colour posters highlight aspects of two-year-olds' learning linked to the message of Birth to Three Matters framework. Also included is a chart linking the direction of development matters for 'walkers, talkers and pretenders' of Birth to Three Matters towards the ‘stepping stones' of the Foundation Stage.

Stephanie Mathivet, Curriculum and Standards Manager at the Pre-school Learning Alliance and author of Making Their Day said:

"We saw that there was a need to develop materials to support practitioners that celebrated two-year-olds and challenged the myth of the ‘terrible twos'. With much of the focus of attention on three to five year-olds and the delivery of the Foundation Stage or on babies and younger toddlers, it is important that the needs of two-year-olds are not overlooked. We also wanted to suggest tools and strategies for practitioners to help shape effective practice".

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Anna Roberts
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7278 9037
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Anna Roberts

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