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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. More Educational Sites
 

1. DID YOU KNOW

We disappeared for a while but now we are back. Yes unfortunately due to an issue wth our domain name www.underfives.co.uk that site has been unavailable for 2 weeks. The domain names www.under5s.co.uk was  unaffected and those of you who have this bookmarked will not have experienced any change in service, so it is probably best to bookmark both !

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.
 

PARENTS LOSE OUT ON CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES

Thousands are not receiving the full subsidies for nursery care that they are entitled to

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/money/article3601803.ece
 
 

2. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
 

DINOSAUR PLAYGROUND

Have fun with dinosaurs on this website, games and activities for you to enjoy.

http://www.abc.net.au/dinosaurs/dino_playground/default.htm

Look out for the new Dinosaurs Focus Plan... coming soon !!
 
 

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
 

PRE-SCHOOL LEARNING ALLIANCE CONFERENCE 

Date: 20/06/2008
Time: 09:30 am - 05:30 pm
Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting

Learn more about early years policy developments, including the implementation of the EYFS, at this year's annual event. A full seminar programme in the afternoon will give an opportunity to develop your professional skills at a practical level.
Location: Novotel London West
London W6 8DR

http://www.pre-school.org.uk/

SUZANNE SHAW LAUNCHES SEARCH FOR THE NATION'S FAVOURITE NURSERY RHYME
 

Dancing on Ice star Suzanne Shaw and BT's Openreach division have launched a nationwide search for the nation's favourite nursery rhymes in support of children's communication charity I CAN. 

For every vote for a favourite childhood rhyme logged on http://www.rhymestars.co.uk, I CAN will receive £1 from Openreach, BT's local network business. By nominating their favourite nursery rhyme, members of the public will unlock a £50,000 target donation to the charity by Openreach - an easy way to contribute free of charge towards I CAN's work to improve children's speech, language and communication development across the UK. 

An additional 'sing and share' featured on the website offers children and adults alike the opportunity to showcase their talents through recording their favourite nursery rhymes online, releasing a further £2 per song from Openreach for the first 2500 songs recorded.        

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" has already earned a top vote from Celebrity Mum of the Year, Suzanne, who posed as her favourite rhyme for the launch of the campaign. She said: "Some of my most memorable moments as a child involved singing. I guess I never outgrew it, and now my son loves singing nursery rhymes too. In addition to the obvious fun factor, reciting nursery rhymes can make a significant difference to children's communication skills and overall confidence." She continued: "I loved transforming into a twinkling star for the day to launch Rhyme Stars - it was almost as much fun as skating." 

Karen Witts, managing director, Operations, Openreach, said: "The Rhyme Stars campaign is a wonderful way for the public to support the work of Openreach and I CAN in helping children develop better communications skills, without costing a penny. Every day, Openreach works to underpin the millions of phone calls and internet connections made in the UK - no one is more aware than us of the critical nature of being able to communicate effectively. That is why we continue to support the valuable work of I CAN to ensure that all children have the best possible chance of communicating effectively with the world around them from a young age." 

Virginia Beardshaw, Chief Executive of I CAN said: "Communication is the foundation life skill, the bedrock on which children learn, achieve and make friends. Singing nursery rhymes is a fantastic way of developing children's speech and language skills because they have repetition, structure and actions.  With the support of the public and Openreach, we can help children start their journeys towards a lifetime of skilful communication!" 

Whilst remaining an important part of BT, Openreach has its own headquarters, distinct identity and around 30,000 staff. The business is the second largest within BT Group by number of employees and has assets of around £11 billion and revenues of more than £5 billion, making it comparable in size to many FTSE 100 companies. 

Log onto http://www.rhymestars.co.uk to nominate the best nursery rhyme and for details on how to submit a song recording. 

PUTTING ARTS AT CENTRE OF EDUCATION 'COULD ACHIEVE CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE GOALS'

Embedding the use of arts and culture in formal education provision could deliver many of the aspirations outlined in the new Curriculum for Excellence, according to the latest issue of Children in Europe magazine.

The Curriculum for Excellence, which is currently being developed by the Scottish Government, states that the purpose of education is "to enable all young people to become successful learners, effective contributors, responsible citizens and confident individuals".

But children need the necessary experiences at an early age if they are to succeed in this aspiration. Many of these can come through the provision of creative activities and the nurturing of 'artistic' characteristics that occur naturally in all children.

One contributor to the magazine, Colwyn Trevarthen, professor (Emeritus) of child psychology and psychobiology, University of Edinburgh, believes that "Children are born to be creative artists". But for many children these creative and artistic abilities seem to dissipate as they progress through a school system dominated by examinations and league tables. 

Ironically, major employers now encourage 'creative corporate training' using art, music, drama and expressive writing to unlock creativity in employees who spent their educational years trying to pass exams to a set formula, with little room for any creative expression.

Joan Parr, guest editor of the magazine and head of education at the Scottish Arts Council, said: "In Scotland we are currently exploring ways of translating the aspiration to fulfill the potential of every young person into a reality. Learning in and through the arts is central to this ambition. Picture This illustrates some of the international, wide ranging debate and practice that is contributing to this process. Reading through the contributions has reinforced my belief that we have much to learn from young people themselves."

Bernard McLeary, Chief Executive of Learning and Teaching Scotland, a partner in Children in Scotland's 'Picture This' conference taking place this December, said: "Active learning is key to engaging children and young people in their education. Curriculum for Excellence offers education professionals the freedom and flexibility to use new and innovative ways to teach and the arts can play a big part in helping develop successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors." 

Children in Europe Issue 14, Picture this: young children and the arts goes on to examine the exceptional ability of the arts to transform and enhance the lives of young children, and contribute to lifelong creativity and wellbeing. Major themes include the centrality of the arts to education and learning, arts as communication or language and the relationship between arts and creativity.

Case studies from Norway and Palestine illustrate the link between the arts and local/community identity. In the words of Ramzi Abu Redwan, who runs Al Kamandjat, a non-profit organisation running music schools in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Southern Lebanon, music "constitutes a way to preserve one's identity, in a situation of occupation where everything is done to erase it".

Contributors from elsewhere in Europe explore whether we honour every child's right to participate freely in cultural life and how well educators, artists and arts organisations are trained to help them exercise this right. Picture this is a celebration of the arts' potential and a reminder that failure to invest could have serious consequences for a country's long-term success as a creative economy.

Bronwen Cohen, chief executive of Children in Scotland, the English language publisher of Children in Europe magazine, said: "This publication demonstrates how the arts can transform and enhance the lives of children. The arts have a major role to play in contributing to lifelong creativity and wellbeing, but need to have a more central role within the educational sphere, from parent and toddler groups to schools. The magazine also explores the need to strengthen understanding of the role of arts within initial and continuing education of the children's sector workforce."

To order a copy telephone 0131 222 2400 or visit

http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk/publications
 

REACHING BME CHILDREN - CHILDCARE WORKERS SPEAK OUT 

Daycare Trust calls for a childcare workforce that better represents the ethnic diversity of the children being cared for, and for better communication with parents whose first language is not English. 

This follows the results of focus groups with black and minority ethnic (BME) childcare workers. Daycare Trust believes action in these areas could help address the problem of BME families missing out on the benefits of the Government's flagship children's centre programme.
The focus groups were carried out in six children's centres in areas of high ethnic diversity, as part of the national childcare charity's Ensuring Equality project, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The results are published today in a briefing paper, Ensuring Equality - The black and minority ethnic childcare workforce, available from Daycare Trust.

Aoife Fitzpatrick, the researcher who conducted the focus groups, said: 'Many of the workers believed that some black and minority ethnic families are not using childcare because they see it as something for middle-class white people.' she said.

'The research shows that, to promote a sense of belonging and entitlement to childcare services, BME families need warm, welcoming childcare settings with staff from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. Excellent communication between parents and staff is essential, which may include access to interpreters.'

While some children's centres are making efforts to engage with BME families who are missing out, however, the childcare workers surveyed felt that this was most effectively done through people from the same community. Workers interviewed suggested a number of ways to effectively engage with BME families. These included:
 

outreach/information provision, carried out by people from the same ethnic background or from the same locality; 

creating a welcoming, inclusive childcare environment provided by an ethnically diverse workforce; 

and 

open communication between workers and parents, especially when the family first approaches the setting, including the use of interpreters where necessary.

'Having an ethnically diverse workforce has a number of advantages,' said Aoife. 'It helps BME families feel that they belong, helps families interact with people from ethnic backgrounds that they might not otherwise encounter, and helps children prepare for a multicultural society, particularly important when they start school.'

However, the workers felt that the precise ethnicity of a particular worker was not as important as (a) the diversity of the staff group as a whole and (b) employing good childcare workers who responded to the needs of the individual child and family. They also called for more men to be employed in childcare, something that many parents would endorse. 

"All the childcare workers interviewed for the report had been childcare workers for many years, loved their jobs and saw childcare as a vocation. They also wanted to point out that they were qualified educators and carers. They felt that their jobs had low status, and that their professionalism was not often recognised by the public," said Aoife.

'They also stressed the importance of good terms and conditions in retaining high quality workers, and felt that childcare workers themselves had a role to play in promoting childcare as a career.'

The report is available from Daycare Trust at a cost of £5. Email publications@daycaretrust.org.uk to order your copy.
 
6. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

USA

NHSA SURVEY: 77 PERCENT OF HEAD START PROGRAMS ARE "AT BREAKING POINT," UNABLE TO ABSORB NEW CUTS AND HUNDREDS OF NEW RULES  
 
Underfunded and overburdened Head Start programs across America are in crisis today, with more than three out of four (77 percent) reporting that they are "at or near the breaking point" and unable to absorb a Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 budget cut and hundreds of new unfunded mandates imposed in the 2007 Head Start Reauthorization Act, according to a survey released today by the National Head Start Association (NHSA).

After years of slashing budgets, employees and benefits to squeeze into an effective 11 percent budget cut from FY 2002-2008, Head Start programs are now warning that there are no more cuts to be made.  NHSA is now advising House and Senate appropriators about the urgent need for a $472 million FY 2008 supplemental appropriation to cover the nearly $11 million cut in the FY 2008 Head Start budget, as well as the wide array of costly new requirements in the Head Start Reauthorization Act signed into law in December .

The extensive NHSA poll of 477 programs in 49 states and Puerto Rico also found:

More than three out of five (63 percent) Head Start program directors expect to lose good teachers and assistants who lack the financial means to further their education or who will anticipate a salary increase if they acquire the required credentials under the Reauthorization Act.  With no new funds provided in the FY 2008 funding to help pay for the new credentials required under the 2007 Reauthorization Act, the end result is expected to be a major hit on Head Start teacher retention. 
About half (47 percent) of Head Start programs reported that they already are much less able to keep good teachers because many of the poorly paid teachers either leave the teaching profession or go to work in public schools where teacher salaries are often much higher. 
About half (49 percent) of Head Start programs reported that their waiting lists of children in need of services have increased, but these programs lack the enrollment slots to serve them. 
More than three out of five (62 percent) programs have been forced to reduce days of operation and/or reduce hours on operating days. 

Commenting on the new survey findings, National Head Start Association Board Chairman Ron Herndon, who is also director of the Albina Head Start program (Portland, OR) said:  "Head Start has squeezed every last drop of possible cuts out of the programs in the last few years.  Now, we are talking about what amounts to the slow-motion shuttering of Head Start programs across the nation.  Once you allow Washington to start cutting into the bone of these programs, you are essentially countenancing the destruction of Head Start.  Make no mistake about it:  Head Start either needs to get funded at a level commensurate with its mission or the program will die a slow death.  The 2007 Reauthorization Act without the funding to implement it is a deliberate decision by the Administration and some in Congress to set up the program to fail.   Now that the bar has been raised in the Reauthorization Act, these programs have been cut off at the knees and rendered unable to clear the bar."
 
Holyoke-Chicopee-Springfield Head Start Executive Director Janis Santos said: "In my 35 years working in the Head Start community, this is one of the direst funding situations I have seen, if not the worst ever.  The hardest thing for any program to do is have to request a reduction in enrollment.  We are at the breaking point today and have to count every penny and analyze every expense with painstaking detail.  The mandates in the reauthorization bill last year look to raise the bar for the program, as most reauthorization bills have in the past, but failing to fund these mandates has put additional strain on grantees already stretched to the breaking point.  We have 500 children on the wait list for our programs.  Now, we are being asked under the new bill to serve the extremely needy community of homeless, but we aren't even funded enough to serve the children already looking to our program for their education needs.  We want to help all the kids who need it but can't wi!
 thout the necessary funds to do the job."

Minnesota Head Start Association Executive Director Gayle Kelly said:  "In this heavily rural state, transportation is a major issue of concern with our programs. Providing transportation is really necessary for Head Start programs to properly serve their communities but with the cost of gas steadily increasing, programs are really struggling.  Many programs are saying they won't be able to continue to provide transportation next year but decreases in transportation affect enrollment and attendance.  It's a vicious cycle.  I would like to tell our lawmakers both in the state and on the federal level to 'fund your priorities'.  We have four-year-olds on our waiting list and if they don't get served, they will enter kindergarten next year unprepared.  That will mean unhelpful long-term consequences for those children and for the future of our country."  

OTHER KEY FINDINGS

More than a quarter (28 percent) of Head Start programs have had to cut or eliminate employee health care benefits over the past year.  About the same percentage (27percent) have had to cut or eliminate other employee benefits. According to Head Start directors, these factors have led to high turnover rates and low staff morale and have hindered their ability to maintain highly qualified staff members. 

More than three out of four (78 percent) programs reported that over the past year they have eliminated staff positions and reassigned job responsibilities to other staff members. According to the survey, Head Start programs have drastically cut "family service" staff and have increased the caseloads of remaining family service staff members. A program in Arkansas, for example, has its family service workers managing average caseloads of 83 families, and in a program in Ohio, each family service worker manages caseloads of 50 to 90 families. This far exceeds numbers that allow a family service worker to be effective.    

More than three out of five (77 percent) programs have been forced to slash transportation services.  Nearly half (45 percent) indicated that they have had to cut or eliminate bus services over the past year. In fact, a program in New York reported that they had to cut its transportation services by 75 percent. Transportation increases access to Head Start; without it, many children are not able to attend. 

Nearly one in five (16 percent) of programs have had to cut back from a full-day/full-year to a part-day/part-year program.    

Nearly one in four (23 percent) of programs have had to increase class sizes over the past year. 

More than one in 10 (13 percent) reported that they had to close classrooms over the past year. 

More than three out of five (61 percent) of programs reported that reduced funding has hampered training and professional development in their programs. Many programs expressed concern because they are unable to send staff to high-quality training that is responsive to their growing needs. Programs reported that they are unable to provide tuition reimbursement for staff.     
 

For the full survey findings, go to http://www.nhsa.org on the Web.

AMERICAN IDOL VIEWERS GIVE BACK TO AMERICA'S CHILDREN

Idol Gives Back Charity Event to Benefit Save the Children's US Programs

For a second consecutive year, Save the Children has been selected as one of the nonprofit organizations benefiting from Idol Gives Back, FOX's Emmy Award-winning charity event. The show will air Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
 
Last year's Idol Gives Back raised over $76 million to serve children living in poverty in Africa and the United States. Save the Children received $14.5 million of those donations, allowing the agency to reach thousands of children in need through health, education and disaster response programs in Africa and the United States. 

This year, Idol Gives Back donations will benefit Save the Children's US Programs. In addition to Save the Children, Idol Gives Back will raise funds for the Children's Defense Fund, the Children's Health Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right and Malaria No More.

American Idol star and Grammy Award-winning producer Randy Jackson had the opportunity to see Save the Children's work in the United States firsthand during last year's Idol Gives Back filming. Jackson returned to his home state of Louisiana to tour Save the Children's programs for children impacted by Hurricane Katrina, and the trip inspired him to become Save the Children's first-ever United States Programs Ambassador.

"I am proud to be an ambassador for Save the Children's U.S. Programs, and I am thrilled that Save the Children's U.S. Programs will benefit from Idol Gives Back," said Jackson. "I visited their programs in New Orleans last year and visited Goshen, California a few days ago. Save the Children is doing terrific work in the poorest communities in America, teaching kids to read and to lead healthy lives. I am happy to be helping them help kids."

"We are delighted to have Randy Jackson as our first-ever U.S. Programs Ambassador," said Mark Shriver, Vice President and Managing Director of Save the Children's US Programs. "When Randy visited our New Orleans programs he was terrific with the kids, and his warmth, compassion and sense of humor put families, who are still coping with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, at ease. We are excited to be working with him to bring attention to the needs of poor children in rural America as well."

Last year's Idol Gives Back donations are supporting early childhood development, literacy, physical activity and nutrition programs in some of the poorest rural communities in the United States. In addition, Idol Gives Back funds are touching the lives of America's children impacted by natural disasters, including children affected by the devastating wildfires in Southern California last fall and the tornadoes that tore through the South Central United States in February. In Africa, Idol Gives Back helped provide critical health, nutrition and early childhood development services to thousands of children living in six of the poorest African countries. Donations are also being used to help reduce common and preventable illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea, which are the leading causes of death for children under age 5. Funds also go to provide early educational support, with a particular focus on children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. In addition, Save the Chi!
 ldren is helping ensure that children in school have clean water, sanitation facilities and health services to address students' well-being and school attendance.

"Save the Children is thrilled to be chosen again to participate in Idol Gives Back," said Shriver. "FOX and American Idol deserve so much credit for raising awareness and challenging us all to get involved in the effort to eradicate poverty here in the United States and in Africa."

AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA

FREE BOOKS FOR TODDLERS IN $2.1 M LITERACY DRIVE

Every Victorian toddler will receive a free picture book as part of a Brumby Government drive to boost literacy by encouraging parents to read to their children, the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Maxine Morand, said today.

Ms Morand said under the $2.1 million Young Readers Program, parents visiting a maternal child health centre would be given a free literacy information pack when their child was aged four months and a free book when they are aged two.

"It is never too early for parents to start reading to their children," she said.

"Reading to a child is not only a great way for parents to bond with their children - it stimulates the child to develop communication skills that will get them off to strong start at kindergarten and primary school.

"Learning begins in the home and The Young Readers Program will give parents practical information about how to help children develop literacy skills from a young age. Importantly, the program will also identify and help parents with poor literacy."

Ms Morand said starting this week, Victoria's network of 824 maternal and child health centres will begin distributing the free books to an estimated 70,000 parents with two-year-old children. 

"Also, nurses will distribute adult literacy information kits and refer parents who need help to adult literacy programs."

Ms Morand said the program would also deliver:

· A free 'rhyme time' booklet and DVD, book bags, and information on local libraries to parents with infants aged four months of age; and

· Online support materials by early childhood literacy experts.
 

Ms Morand said the program was an excellent example of a community partnership, with the State Library of Victoria, the Municipal Association of Victoria, and local library services working together.

"Maternal and Child Health centres are in an excellent position to spread the word about literacy and the benefits of reading to children.

"Libraries are a great local community resource to help parents make reading a part of their family's routine."

All books in the Young Readers Program are written by Australian authors and were selected by a reference group for appeal to children and parents from diverse cultural backgrounds. 

HOLLAND

Childcare costs soar, budget is overspent

http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2008/03/childcare_costs_soar_budget_is.php
 
 

7. 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