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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
 

Hope you all had a happy easter break.
 
 

1. DID YOU KNOW
 

NEW Play Plan launched - Olympics !!

Celebrate the 2008 Olympic Finals with this brand new Play Plan

http://cnb-host4.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/under5s?op=
catalogue-products-null&prodCategoryID=59
 

Early Years Matters

The Spring/Summer edition of this useful publication from LTS Scotland is now available online

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/earlyyearsmatters/updates/index.asp
 

2. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

PAYING FOR CHILDCARE - NEW ONLINE RESOURCE LAUNCHED BY DAYCARE TRUST

Daycare Trust has launched a new website, http://www.payingforchildcare.org.uk, a one-stop guide through the maze of finding help with childcare costs.

The website provides targeted information for a wide range of circumstances - aimed at working parents, those thinking of studying or training, and parents of disabled children. It provides easy-to-read introductions to each of the main types of benefits, grants and subsidies that are available to help ease the financial burden of paying for childcare.

"Childcare costs are soaring and the credit crunch is starting to bite, so it's more important than ever that parents get all the help they're entitled to," said Information Manager Lucy Bosher. "We hope that http://www.payingforchildcare.org.uk will take some of the mystery out of the complex mix of financial help with childcare costs that is available to parents."

A main feature of the new website is the Tax Credit Checker, a quick and easy click-through tool which can tell you if you're likely to be eligible for the childcare element of Working Tax Credit. This can pay up to 80 per cent of the cost of eligible childcare, but very few parents apply for it. The Checker is intended for use by parents and those who advise parents on a regular basis, but have little knowledge of the help available through tax credits.

"Many people seem to think that tax credits are only for those on the lowest incomes," said Lucy. "They are means-tested, so you will only qualify for the maximum help if you're on a low income, but if you're eligible for Working Tax Credit at all, you could well be entitled to some help with your childcare costs and many parents are missing out."

The website, designed by Guardian Professional, has been produced with financial support from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). It will complement Daycare Trust's existing suite of information services for parents and carers, including its Information Line (020 7840 3350, 10.00am-5.00pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) and website http://www.daycaretrust.org.uk.
 

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 Under5s Events and Festivals page has now been updated for 2008

http://www.under5s.co.uk/eandf.html#Events%20and%20Festivals
 

NDNA HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL AUTHORITIES MUST ENGAGE WITH PVI PROVISION AS NEW DUTIES OF CHILDCARE ACT 2006 BECOME STATUTORY

NDNA calls for true partnership working as duties of Childcare Act 2006 officially come into force 

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) today highlighted that local authorities must engage with private and voluntary day nurseries to ensure that they could meet the duties under the Childcare Act 2006, which become statutory today. 

From today, local authorities are required to improve outcomes for children, reduce inequalities, and assess the local childcare market to ensure it meets the needs of families. The duty to secure a free minimum amount of early learning and care for all three and four year olds whose parents want it has been re-enacted and the requirement to provide information to parents has been extended.

Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of NDNA comments: "The 1 April deadline has arrived, and local authorities now have to start delivering on the aims of the Childcare Act. True partnership working with private and voluntary providers is key to improving outcomes for children, and ensuring parents can access sufficient, affordable childcare. In addition, the Act once again highlights how local authorities must ensure parents can access the funded places for three and four years olds. Private and voluntary day nurseries play a huge role in ensuring parental choice when it comes to the free early years entitlement. However, with the current issues of under-funding in a significant number of cases, Nursery Education Funding remains a threat to sustainability. Some providers are raising fees in an attempt to recover losses on the free early years entitlement, which could cause new issues in ensuring parents can access childcare that meets their needs at an affordable price."

"In addition, whilst the duties state that local authorities are not expected to provide childcare directly, issues are still being reported in terms of duplication of services. It is crucial that local authorities ensure that they fully investigate the local childcare market before commissioning or creating new childcare places. Case studies show that childcare provided by the PVI sectors as part of children's centres works effectively, and NDNA would like to re-iterate the importance of working in this way as the drive for a Sure Start Children's Centre in every community continues. Sustainability remains a key issue for day nurseries and with margins becoming increasingly narrower, there is a real challenge in ensuring that childcare is both sustainable and affordable. Without additional financial support, PVI providers will find it hard to meet needs such as increased care for disabled children. NDNA believes increased direct investment into the sector will be a vital part of meeting these duties."

She adds: "In addition, The Childcare Act 2006 also outlines the statutory nature of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which will bring additional costs for nurseries that could ultimately impact upon parental fees, both in its implementation and the drive for graduate level leadership. Whilst NDNA recognises that placing these duties upon local authority should ultimately support families, it is critical that the role the PVI sectors has to play in meeting these requirements remains high on the agenda. True partnership working is vital to the success of the Childcare Act, and we would urge local authorities to ensure that strong relationships are built with the PVI sectors, which as a sector already delivers over 80% of childcare."

BYRON REVIEW URGES GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY AND PARENTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP MAKE CHILDREN SAFER IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

A comprehensive package of measures to help children and young people make the most of the internet and video games, while protecting them from harmful and inappropriate material, was launched today with the publication of the eagerly anticipated Byron Review into Children and New Technology. 

In launching her independent Report, Safer Children in a Digital World, Dr Tanya Byron, a clinical psychologist and mother of two, set out an ambitious action plan for Government, industry and families to work together to support children's safety online and to reduce access to adult video games.

Since being asked by the Prime Minister in September 2007 to lead an independent review, Dr Byron has engaged in a rigorous process and has been widely complimented for setting new standards in engagement with the public and industry on such an important debate. As a result of these efforts, Dr Byron has been able to set out a detailed analysis of the evidence of the risks and benefits of new technologies, examine this evidence against child and brain development theory and research and provide a comprehensive evaluation of the work already being done to protect children when they are online or playing video games. 

Dr Byron concludes that while new technologies bring incredible opportunities to children and young people, parents general lack of confidence and awareness is leaving children vulnerable to risks within their digital worlds. Many parents seem to believe that when their child is online it is similar to watching television. Dr Byron is keen to emphasise that in fact it is more like opening the front door and letting a child go outside to play, unsupervised. Digital world risks are similar to real world risks but can be enhanced by the anonymity and ubiquity that the online space brings.

In order to improve children's online safety, Dr Byron makes a number of groundbreaking recommendations including: 

. The creation of a new UK Council for Child Internet Safety, established by and reporting to the Prime Minister, and including representation from across Government, industry, children's charities and other key stakeholders including children, young people and parent panels.

. Challenging industry to take greater responsibility in supporting families through: establishing transparent and independently monitored codes of practice on areas such as user generated content; improving access to parental control software and safe search features; and better regulation of online advertising.

. Kick starting a comprehensive public information and awareness campaign on child internet safety across Government and industry, which includes an authoritative 'one stop shop' on child internet safety. 

. Setting in place sustainable education and initiatives in children's services and education to improve the skills of children and their parents around e-safety.

On video games, Dr Byron recommends a range of high profile and targeted efforts to help inform parents what games are right for their children, such as: 

. Reforming the classification system for rating video games with one set of symbols on the front of all boxes which are the same as those for film.

. Lowering the statutory requirement to classify video games to 12+, so that it is the same as film classification and easier for parents to understand.

. Clear and consistent guidance for industry on how games should be advertised. 

. Challenging industry to provide sustained and high profile efforts to increase parent's understanding of age ratings and improved parental controls. 

Dr Byron said: 

"The internet and video games are now very much a part of growing up and offer unprecedented opportunities to learn, develop and have fun. However, with new opportunities come potential risks. My recommendations will help children and young people make the most of what all digital and interactive technologies can offer, while enabling them and their parents to navigate all these new media waters safely and with the knowledge that more is being done by government and the internet and video game industries to help and support them. 

"We live in an increasingly risk averse culture where we are limiting our children's out of home experiences because of fear of harm. However, risk taking is a developmental imperative of childhood - young people and children will always want to explore boundaries by taking risks, and they will sometimes play this out, at home, in the digital world with many parents unaware of this. In the same way that we teach our children how to manage 'real world' risks, for example crossing roads, in stages and with rules, supervision and monitoring that changes as they learn and develop their independence, we need to engage with children as they develop and explore their online and gaming worlds. 

"This is also about overcoming the generational 'digital divide' where parents do not feel equipped to help their children because they didn't grow up with these sophisticated technologies themselves and therefore don't understand them; this can lead to fear and a sense of helplessness. This is compounded by children and young people's greater skill and confidence in using new technology. 

"But by putting in place the right roles and support for children, young people and families we can reduce much of the anxiety that currently exists by taking a joint and shared responsibility, with everyone - industries, government, education, child welfare organisations and law enforcement - playing their part.

"A useful way for us all to think about this is to look at how we protect children in places of benefit and risk in the real (offline) world: public swimming pools. Here there are safety signs and information; shallow as well as deep ends; swimming aids and lifeguards; doors, locks and alarms. However children will sometimes take risks and jump into waters too deep for them or want to climb walls and get through locked doors - therefore we also teach them how to swim. We must adopt the same combination of approaches in order to enable our children and young people to navigate these exciting digital waters while supporting and empowering them to do so safely."

INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND ANNOUNCES £1.1M FOR 'RESPECTING DIFFERENCE' PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMME

The International Fund for Ireland is to provide just over £1.1m/?1.6m for an innovative new pre-school project aimed at helping young children to develop positive attitudes to diversity.

Developed and run by Early Years - the Organisation for Young Children, the 'Respecting Difference' Programme will deliver mutual understanding and diversity training and resource packs for teachers, parents and pre-school management committees across Northern Ireland. Teachers will then deliver the programme to pupils, with ongoing support from Early Years' specialist. There will also be a series of TV cartoons complementing and supporting the classroom-based programme. These will be screened three times a year by UTV, RTE and Channel 4.

It is hoped that 240 pre-schools across Northern Ireland, Co Louth and Co Donegal will take part in the Programme over the next three years.

Confirming the funding for the Programme at the Fund's recent Board meeting, Denis Rooney, Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland,, said: "Research has shown that children as young as six have sectarian attitudes and are making sectarian and racial remarks. If we want to move forward in our society towards lasting peace and a shared future, we have to find ways to help our children to embrace diversity and difference. The 'Respecting Difference' Programme provides an innovative and proven way of helping young children to understand the need to be inclusive and respectful of others. We are delighted to be able to support such an initiative."

Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of Early Years - the Organisation for Young Children said: "Today's announcement by the International Fund for Ireland to support the Early Years Respecting Difference Programme will make a significant contribution in changing sectarian attitudes and behaviour of young children in Northern Ireland and Southern Border Counties. The funding will ensure the roll out of the programme over the next 3 years to pre-school children providing the materials, training and skills for pre-school teachers to tackle issues of sectarianism, racism and inclusion. The IFI is making a significant investment in our children and our future.

"The Respecting Difference Programme is a unique media initiative for children using cartoons and interactive play materials to help young children understand and respect those who are different and encourage inclusion in a very simple child-friendly way. The programme, backed by research and evaluation from Queen's University Belfast, has been effectively tested and piloted to ensure it delivers an effective programme for young children - what is good for children is good for everyone."

The Respecting Difference Programme is also being funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department of Education for Northern Ireland.

The International Fund also approved a further £1.97/?2.88 million for a range of community regeneration and reconciliation projects across Northern Ireland and the Southern border counties.
 

6. INTERNATIONAL NEWS

USA

REPORT: NEARLY 7 MILLION PARENTS SERVED BY CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL AGENCIES NATIONWIDE

The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) released its newest report today, which takes an in-depth look at the services Child Care Resource & Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) provide to parents in their local communities. The report entitled, Covering the Map: Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies Providing Vital Services to Parents Throughout the United States, reveals that CCR&Rs reached nearly 7 million parents in 2006 with various services including referrals to child care, subsidy payments, consumer education, language and literacy programs and activities, and training workshops. Additionally, CCR&Rs reported almost 10 million contacts with the parents served throughout the year.

"This report demonstrates that CCR&Rs are doing tremendous work for families and children nationwide," said Linda Smith, Executive Director of NACCRRA. "The work of CCR&Rs is so important to communities, and this report shows that parents realize this. CCR&Rs have become a trusted and vital resource that families can turn to for educational materials, information, and resources, and ultimately to find high-quality child care and the means to afford it."

CCR&Rs are located in every state and most communities across the nation. Together, they serve parents and providers in over 99 percent of all populated zip codes. They work with their communities to identify child care needs and create solutions by recruiting and training nearly 500,000 child care providers and creating 450,000 new child care spaces annually.

Significant findings of the report revealed that almost 39 million parents visited their local CCR&R websites. Additionally, CCR&Rs handled 1.6 million child care referrals via the Internet and telephone, of which 48 percent were for infant/toddler care, 30 percent were for preschool-age children, and 22 percent were for school-age children. CCR&Rs also provided nearly 568,000 referrals to other programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and employment services. 

CCR&Rs also distributed almost 11 million pieces of consumer education material to more than 5 million parents in English and other languages and provided training workshops to almost 134,000 parents. Additionally, CCR&Rs administered more than $1.95 billion in child care subsidies to almost 730,000 children. 

Nearly 12 million children under age 5 in the United States are in some type of child care arrangement every week. Almost two-thirds of women with children under 6 are in the workforce. Children of working mothers spend an average of 36 hours per week in a child care setting. Research has shown that 90 percent of brain development occurs by age 5, which means the setting in which children spend most of their time is critical to their overall development. 

"In today's economy, families rely more than ever on child care to work," said Smith. "Parents in dual-income households, as well as single-parent households, need to work to meet basic household expenses. In order to work, parents need child care and they need help identifying and finding high-quality child care where their children can thrive physically, emotionally and mentally. CCR&Rs provide families with options and the knowledge to make informed decisions so they can work with peace of mind knowing that their children are in care that safeguards their health and safety and promotes development and learning."

In order to ensure the continued work of CCR&Rs across the nation, NACCRRA recommends that Congress reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and increase the quality set-aside to 12 percent; require adequate amounts to be allocated toward consumer education on child care to help parents make informed decisions; and authorize specific funds for a community-based child care provider training system administered through the CCR&Rs to strengthen the quality of child care across the nation. 

CCDBG funding is the primary federal funding source for child care in the United States. It provides $11 billion in funds for quality investments and subsidies, and each state determines how the funds will be used within broad federal parameters. In order to receive funds from CCDBG, states must have policies in place designed to protect the health and safety of children. Under current law, a minimum of 4 percent of these funds are set aside to improve child care quality. 

Covering the Map: Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies Providing Vital Services to Parents Throughout the United States is a detailed compilation of survey results based on responses from 189 local CCR&Rs representative of the CCR&R population based on region, budget size, and organizational structure. The survey asked detailed questions about child care and other referral services, consumer education, parent workshops, and child care subsidy management. Questions answered are subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 6 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence.

For a full copy of the report, please visit http://www.naccrra.org. To be connected to your local CCR&R, visit http://www.childcareaware.org or call toll-free 1 (800) 424-2246. Through the Child Care Aware® network, parents need only provide their zip code to be connected to their local CCR&R.
 
 

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