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Expansion of fully-funded early years SENCo training announced by DfE

An additional 2,000 fully-funded SENCo training places have been announced for early educators by the Department for Education.

The accredited Level 3 Early Years SENCo (special educational needs coordinator) training expansion offer is particularly focused on increasing training uptake in the north-east and north-west of England, both of which are currently underrepresented.

Part of the early years education recovery programme, the DfE’s aim is to train up to 7,000 SENCos in total by August 2024.

Existing Early Years SENCos with a Level 3 EY educator qualification, or those due to take up the role of SENCo, including childminders, are eligible for the training.

This announcement comes on the heels of another DfE initiative, which is set to see seven free special schools built across England to double the number of special schools places available from 8,500 to 19,000.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, Alliance chief executive, said: “While we welcome this announcement, much more is needed if the severe challenges surrounding SEND provision in the early years are to be properly addressed.

“Our own research shows that the existing early years SEND system is simply not fit for purpose. Not only is it complex, inconsistent, and slow but funding regularly falls far below than what is needed, making it incredibly challenging for settings to be able to easily deliver high-quality education and care to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.”

Coutinho cabinet reshuffle causes concern at crucial moment for the early years sector

Rishi Sunak has confirmed that Claire Coutinho, Conservative MP and former children, families and wellbeing minister, has been

promoted to the cabinet. Coutinho is now energy security and net-zero secretary, making her the youngest member of the cabinet following the promotion of fellow Conservative MP Grant Schapps to defence secretary. Her replacement, Conservative MP David Johnston, was previously chief executive of the Social Mobility Foundation.

The move comes on the cusp of an early years expansion rollout in September – described by politicians as “the biggest investment in early years” – prompting concern about the choice of timing. Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: “While we congratulate Claire Coutinho on her promotion, the fact that the early years will soon be on its tenth minister in as many years is beyond frustrating for the sector. “What we need more than ever over the coming months is consistent policy, driven by ministers who have a clear understanding of the early years sector and the challenges it faces. This reshuffle is likely to deliver the exact opposite.”

Each region in England struggling with early years recruitment, according to TUC analysis

95% of English councils say that early years providers in their area are finding
it difficult to recruit staff with the right

skills and experience to do the job, with 80% describing it as “very difficult”, data collected by Coram Family and Childcare and analysed by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has found.

According to the analysis, the regions struggling most with recruitment of skilled, experienced “childcare workers” – as they are referred to by TUC – are the West Midlands, the North-East, and East of England. These are closely followed by the North-West, the South- West, and Yorkshire and the Humber.

According to the data published:

62% of early assistants and practitioners earn less than the real Living Wage.
Early educators earn 56% of England’s median salary each year, while early years assistants earn 58% of this median.

The TUC argues that the early years sector is facing “a staffing crisis” as a result of “endemic low-pay and insecure work”, which will significantly impact the “predominantly female workforce”. As a result, the union body is calling for a comprehensive strategy for the sector in England, with a nationally-negotiated framework that allows for:

consistent and high-quality early years education
fair remuneration for all staff
progression opportunities, such as accredited skills training
clear health, safety, and wellbeing policies for all staff

Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said:
“For far too long, working in the early years has meant being overworked, underpaid and undervalued. It comes as absolutely no surprise, therefore, that so many settings are finding it so difficult to attract and recruit suitable staff.

“And, of course, it’s not just an issue of recruitment. Over recent months and years, we have seen a sharp increase in the number of existing early years professionals opting to leave the sector permanently, taking with them extensive experience and expertise that we simply cannot afford to lose, especially in light of the planned expansion of the early entitlement offers.”

Children’s Commissioner launches new campaign to amplify children’s voices in the run-up to next election

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has
launched The Big Ambition, a new campaign that aims to empower the

voices of children and young people in political arenas.

The campaign hopes to capture children and young people’s opinions and questions for government ahead of the next general election in a wide-ranging survey described by the Children’s Commissioner as both “ambitious and comprehensive”.

The survey is aimed at children and young people aged six to 18, though parents of children under six or with additional needs are encouraged to complete the survey on behalf of their child to ensure the full spectrum of children’s experiences is included.
The survey findings will be put to policymakers to facilitate deeper consideration of the needs of children and young people, as well as of the issues and concerns affecting them – both now and in the future.

Early Education and Childcare Coalition marks full launch with release of polling data report and short film Further Together

The Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) has marked

its full official launch with the release of polling data on public attitudes to the early years sector alongside a short film, Further Together.

The EECC has been formed with the aim of using its collective voice alongside robust research to “build public and political support for a sector that underpins all of our lives”.

"42% of British voters state that childcare and early education reform will be key in their voting decision at the next general election"

To mark its formal launch, the coalition has shared a new report: Pulse Check: Public attitudes towards early education and childcare. The report, conducted by Claremont and More in Common for the EECC, found that a majority (51%) of UK voters believe that early education and childcare supports a child’s development and wellbeing, while almost two-thirds (59%) of voters think that good early years education benefits the whole country, not just parents. As a result, 42% of British voters state that childcare and early education reform will be key in their voting decision at the next general election.

The study also found that:

40% of voters support investing taxpayers’ money in early education and childcare – a figure rising to 59% for those planning for children in future
44% think childcare and early education professionals are underpaid, despite 49% stating well-trained staff were essential for high-quality early provision

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, Sarah Ronan, acting director for the EECC, said: “Right now, we have an opportunity to truly transform the future of early education and childcare through sustainable reform of the sector. Voters understand that we all benefit from an early education and childcare sector with the right investment. Politicians need to understand that, too, and invest accordingly.”

"Right now, we have an opportunity to truly transform the future of early education and childcare through sustainable reform of the sector"

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “It’s positive to see that such a significant proportion of the general public recognises just how crucial quality early education and care is, not just for children and families, but the country as a whole.

“As we move ever closer to the next general election, it’s critical that politicians – from all political parties – understand this, too. For far too long, manifesto pledges and policies have focused on promising more and more ‘free childcare’, with no thought given to how to make this work in practice, rather than developing a clear and comprehensive plan to support providers to deliver high- quality, affordable and sustainable early education.

“As the coalition’s research shows, all political parties need to head into the next election with the early years at the heart of their respective policy agendas. Anything less will not only fail to persuade voters but, in the long run, put the future of the sector at risk.”