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This week

1. Did you know
2. Website of the Week
3. Under5s Download Centre
4. Date for your Diary
5. News
6. International News 
7. International Events
8. More Educational Sites
 
 

1. DID YOU KNOW

FREE RESOURCES FROM LISTEN TO YOUR BABY

Communicating Dads 

This resource recognises the importance of the father's role in their children's learning and early years communication. It supports practitioners with ideas and tips on supporting dads with their children's early language skills. Resources to give out to dads are also included.

Communicating Dads has been produced with the Fatherhood Institute. 

http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/Communicating%20Dads.pdf

Baby's First Word

Baby's First Word is a Talk To Your Baby initiative to encourage parents to communicate with their baby by asking them to listen out for, and share, their child's first word. Talk To Your Baby is asking libraries, nurseries and other early years settings to take part in Baby's First Word, by setting up display areas featuring first words and the stories behind them. 

Everything you need to get involved in Baby's First Word, including a step-by-step guide, poster and hand-out for parents, is included in the pack below. There is no time frame for running Baby's First Word - just choose a time that suits you. 

 
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talktoyourbaby/babysfirstword.pdf
 

Can you hear me? The right of young children to participate in decisions affecting them

Participation enhances children's self-esteem and confidence, promotes their overall capacities, produces better outcomes, strengthens understanding of and commitment to democratic processes and protects children more effectively. It is also a matter of social justice and human rights - all people, however young, are entitled to have their views respected and valued. This paper makes the case for children's participation and discusses how it can be put into practice and measured

http://www.bernardvanleer.org/
 

2. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

Equal Opps Shop

The Equal Opp Shop was founded by two childcare professionals, Louise Wareing and Gill Grayson, who between them have over 22 years experience in childcare and the education sector. They celebrate diversity in a fun yet educational way by offering a range of multicultural educational toys. Established leaders in the market they have successfully supplied diversity resources to clients such as Sure Start centers, Local Authorities, Childcare Development Officers, Primary Schools, Nurseries, Registered childminders and playgroups, 

As specialists in this area, their bespoke and themed 'Diversity Resource Packs' as well as 'Childcare start up boxes' are well received, which is evident, due to the large and comprehensive range packs they supply. With a proven track record at providing childcare professionals with the resources they want, The Equal Opp Shop is the only choice when it comes to 'delivering the goods!' 

Experience has enabled them to choose resources to reflect diversity, multiculturalism and disability awareness. Their excellent multicultural toys include books celebrating diversity and promoting disability awareness, multicultural crafts, A range of Down Syndrome dolls, multicultural dolls with Asian, Black, Mixed heritage, White and Hispanic skin tones. They also offer the best value available 'Religious Resource Bags' which introduce children to the six main world religions. 

The Equal Opp Shop also offers a very successful 'Festival Planning Workshop' ideal for childminding events and conferences, Having provided these training courses across the UK they are able to provide you with references and details upon request.
 

http://www.theequaloppshop.co.uk/index.asp
 

3. UNDER5S DOWNLOAD CENTRE 

DON'T FORGET - you can find 24 different plans in the Download Centre and  all of our planning is available to download today.  

Don't miss the fantastic Let's Sign signing resources. 

Childminders - if you are struggling with Birth to Three, take a look at the Birth to Three Planning Guidance. 

http://cnb-host4.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/under5s?op=catalogue-categories-null 

EARLY LEARNING FORUMS 

Join Us ! 

To discuss early years issues. To find support and advice on early years education. To relax and chat amongst friends. Come on in and have a look...  

http://www.earlylearningforums.co.uk 
 

4. DATE FOR YOUR DIARY

The 18th conference of the European Early Childhood Education Research Association will take place in Stavanger, Norway, on 3-6 September 2008. The theme of this year's conference is 'Reconsidering the Basics in Early Childhood Education'. To submit a paper, visit the EECERA pages on the University of Stavanger website (deadline for paper submission 28 February 2008).

http://www.uis.no/samfunn/naeringsliv/konferanser/18th_eecera_annual_conference/
 
 

JOINT LETTER TO THE TIMES 

Charities write joint letter to the Times protesting at OFSTED regstration fee increases

Dear Sir, 

 
We write to express our concern at the proposed increase in the cost of registering with Ofsted for childcare providers. Today, the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) closes its consultation on "Future Approach to Fees and Subsidies", seeking feedback on plans to increase registration fees for childcare providers by between 190 and 2150 per cent over the next three years. 
 
Collectively, we represent 350,000 childcarers across the UK, who are responsible for the care of nearly one and a half million children, and we are alarmed at the potential impact of these proposed increases upon parents and providers. At a time of considerable policy change, with the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage and a new inspection framework, the proposals will potentially undermine the sustainability of many childcare businesses, and cause a number to close. This would have an additional impact of reducing the number of childcare places available and undermining parental choice at a time when government is encouraging greater flexibility in childcare services. Alternatively, childcare providers will have to raise fees for parents in order to support these increases and we are concerned that the recent consultation on Ofsted fees suggests that there is a possibility that in the future CRB checks may not be subsidised, impacting further on sustainability.
 
Under this new proposal, subsidies that are currently distributed equally among childcare providers would be re-directed to local authorities, to target as they feel appropriate. However, our experience suggests that these resources tend not to be used to support providers in the private, voluntary and community sector who need it the very most. 
 
We urge the Department for Children Schools and Families to reconsider its proposals as a matter of urgency and retain consistent subsidies for all childcare providers.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Anne Longfield, Chief Executive, 4Children
Alison Garnham and Emma Knights, Joint Chief Executives, Daycare Trust
Liz Bayram, Chief Executive, National Childminding Association
Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive, National Day Nurseries Association
Steve Alexander, Chief Executive, Pre-school Learning Alliance
 

FREE RESOURCE AND SUPPORT 

NDNA Reveals Free Resource and Support to Help Nurseries Build a Strong Localised Voice

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today revealed a new resource designed to help day nursery owners and managers develop networks to support representation with local authorities and provide opportunities for partnership working and information sharing. 
 
With new duties upon local authorities coming into force on 1 April, it is increasingly important that day nurseries ensure that their voice is heard and that there are opportunities for providers to meet collectively to discuss local issues and ideas. Networks are key to achieving this as they provide nurseries with a collective voice for communicating with local authorities and are also a way to feed in views and issues to inform NDNA’s work nationally. NDNA has a number of successful networks already running across the country, and the organisation is urging members to recognise the importance of networks as a local representation mechanism and make sure that they get involved. 
 
NDNA has developed a new toolkit ‘NDNA network guidance’ which is designed to help individuals set up and run a successful local network. Launched today at NDNA’s Annual Network Chairs meeting, the resource comes in two parts. The first section guides individuals through the network start up process right from explaining the role of the network to how to invite other nurseries to join the first meeting. The second part is designed to support those running a more established network and contains a CD-ROM which provides sample agendas and minute templates and is sent when a network is established to help ensure it runs as efficiently as possible. In addition, NDNA makes an annual £10 per member contribution to all official NDNA networks to help with running costs and ongoing support is available from the NDNA team. 
 
Recognising the increasing importance of networks, NDNA has launched the resource not only to encourage the set up of more networks for nurseries but also to provide increased support for those who are running established networks. 
 
Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of NDNA comments: “We are pleased that this new toolkit is available and we believe it will be invaluable in supporting the growth of new networks and helping established ones run more effectively. Having a collective voice to raise issues and needs with local authorities has never been more important as we move to a new way of working, and this resource will ensure that providers can develop a strong presence locally. Networks are also an important way for NDNA to hear about the issues that matter to providers. In addition, networks are also a good way to share innovative ideas, and feedback from existing NDNA networks illustrates how being a member is an invaluable way to strengthen the nursery as a business and ensure that views are represented effectively. We are sure that the toolkit will be well-received by our existing network chairs, and we look forward to hearing the success stories of new networks.” 
 
 

6. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

FAMILY FACTORS CRITICAL TO CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT GAP 

USA 

Gaps in the critical home conditions and experiences of young children mirror achievement gaps that begin early in life and persist through high school, according to a new report from ETS.

The Family: America’s Smallest School examines the family and home experiences that influence children’s learning. Factors include single parent families, poverty and resources, parents talking and reading to children, quality day care, and parental involvement in school. The report was written by Paul E. Barton and Richard J. Coley of ETS’s Policy Information Center. It includes a preface and endorsement by Marc H. Morial, president of the National Urban League.
 
"When parents, teachers and schools work together to support learning, students do better in school and stay in school longer," says Barton. "Our analysis shows that factors like single-parent families, parents reading to children, hours spent watching television and school absences, when combined, account for about two-thirds of the large differences among states in National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading scores."
 
Findings in the report show that:

Thirty-two percent of U.S. children live in single-parent homes, up from 23% in 1980. 

Thirty-three percent of children live in families in which no parent has a full-time, year-round job. 

By age 4, children of professional families hear 35 million more words than children of parents on welfare. 

Half of the nation’s two-year-olds are in some kind of regular day care. Seventy-five percent are in center-based day care rated of medium- or low-quality. 

A comparison of eighth-graders in 45 countries found that U.S. students spend less time reading books for enjoyment — and more time watching television and videos —than students in many other countries. 

"It’s understandable that education reform efforts would focus on improving schools," says Coley. "In the broader arena of public policy, however, we will have to go far beyond this focus if we hope to significantly improve student learning and reduce the achievement gap. If we are to improve America’s academic standing within the global community, and close our all-too-persistent achievement gaps, we must help assure nurturing home environments and supportive, encouraging family lives for all students."
 
Other highlights from the report include:

Forty-four percent of births to women under 30 are out-of-wedlock. 

Nationally, 11 percent of all households are "food insecure." The rate for female-headed households is triple the rate for married families. 

Sixty-two percent of high SES kindergartners are read to every day by their parents, compared to 36 percent of kindergartners from low SES groups. 

One in five students misses three days or more of school a month. The United States ranked 25th of 45 countries in students’ school attendance. 

"The important educational role of parents is often overlooked in our local, state, and national discussions about raising student achievement and closing achievement gaps," notes Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, former president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and former mayor of New Orleans. "This report supports the League’s Blueprint for Economic Equality - the Opportunity for Children to Thrive. In this guiding principle, we assert that every child in America deserves to live a life free of poverty that includes a safe home environment, adequate nutrition, and affordable quality health care. We further assert that every child in America deserves a quality education that will prepare them to compete in an increasingly global marketplace."
 
Download the full report, "The Family: America’s Smallest School," for free at http://www.ets.org/familyreport. 
 

BUDGET PUTS CHILDREN OF WORKING PARENTS IN JEOPARDY

The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) warns that President Bush's proposed budget for fiscal year 2009 could put the children of working parents in jeopardy.

Under the proposal, the budget would freeze funding for child care for the seventh year in a row. As a result of the proposal, 200,000 children will lose their child care assistance within the next two years, according to the President's own budget estimates. 
 
"Parents cannot work without child care," said Linda Smith, Executive Director of NACCRRA. "Without sufficient funding to help parents pay for the rising costs of child care, our children will suffer. All children need access to high-quality child care in order to ensure their growth and development. Like groceries, gas, and college costs, the cost of child care increases for parents every year. Child care funding has been frozen for nearly a decade; that's nearly two generations of incoming kindergarten students whose child care needs have been ignored by this Administration. It is time we stopped leaving children to chance and address this issue this year—through increased access to subsidies and initiatives to improve the quality of care. Whether children receive a subsidy or not, child care ought to be safe and promote early childhood development. Too often today it is neither."
 
Nationally, about 2.7 million children currently receive child care assistance, which is administered through the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). Funds are allocated to each state based on a formula, but each state determines how the funds will be used within broad federal parameters. At least 4 percent of the funds must be used to improve the quality of child care. In order to receive funds from CCDBG, states must have policies in place designed to protect the health and safety of children.
 
"Freezing funding for a seventh year not only results in fewer children being served, but also results in states cutting funds for training providers and inspecting or monitoring state standards," said Smith. "We just released a report last week on the condition of family child care homes throughout the states. State standards are weak and, sometimes, state monitoring is nonexistent. Too often, the health and safety of children is not protected. If anything, we need to expand efforts to strengthen the quality of care, not shift funding from quality investment to subsidies to make up for federal budget cuts. Both are critical."
 
Nationwide, nearly 12 million children under age 5 spend time every week in a child care setting. With the increasing number of women in the workforce, many parents now use child care from their child's infancy through kindergarten. The quality of that care is a matter for concern, whether children receive subsidies or not.
 
According to research, the early years of life are critical to a child's development. Research has also shown that 80 percent of the brain develops by age 3 and 90 percent by age 5. Child care settings that are of high-quality help ensure the safety, health, and well-being of the children in care.
For more information on high-quality child care or for a full copy of NACCRRA's recent report - Leaving Children to Chance: NACCRRA's Ranking of State Standards and Oversight of Small Family Child Care Homes, visit http://www.naccrra.org.
 
 

7. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Entre Deux Mers * Between Two Seas - Bridging Children and Communities

The Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia in partnership with the Canadian Child Care Federation is pleased to present our 37th Annual Conference 

May 29, 30, and 31, 2008 
Best Western Richmond Hotel and Convention Centre, Richmond, BC

http://www.ecebc.ca/events/files/conference2008/ecebc_conference_flyer08.pdf
 
 

8. MORE EDUCATIONAL SITES 

For more educational sites visit 

Sites for Teachers 

http://www.sitesforteachers.com/perl/rankem.pcgi?id=under5s 
  

Kind regards 
  

The Under5s Team 
Http://www.under5s.co.uk