The Department for Education Policy summary: Improving the quality and range of education and childcare from birth to 5 years February 2014

Government Context Research shows that providing children with good quality education and care in their earliest years can help them succeed at school and later in life. Affordable and easily accessible childcare is crucial for working families. It can create more opportunities for women who wish, or need, to work and raise children at the same time. The DfE believe they can improve early education by building a stronger and better qualified early years workforce. The DfE will also aim to provide more good quality childcare which is affordable.

Background September 2010: all 3- and 4-year-olds became entitled to 15 hours a week of state-funded early education - 96% now take up some or all of their entitlement. July 2011: the DfE asked Professor Cathy Nutbrown to lead a review of qualifications for the early education workforce. The report and recommendations Foundations for Quality were published 19 June 2012.Foundations for Quality 27 March 2012: DfE publish simpler EYFS framework, starting in September January 2013: the DfE publish More Great Childcare. March 2013: DfE announce tax-free childcare from 2015 which provides 20% of childcare costs up to £1,200 per child p.a.

Background July 2013: DfE publish More Affordable Childcare and updated statutory guidance for LAs on early education and childcare. National College for Teaching and Leadership publish new criteria for qualifications for early years educators and Early years Teachers Standards. 2 August 2013: Ofsted publish response to consultation on improving inspection of early years providers. September 2013: the 20% most disadvantaged 2-year-olds are also entitled to 15 hours a week of early education. September 2014: the number of early learning places for 2- year-olds will be extended further, to around 260,000 children.

Consultations introducing free early learning for the 20% most disadvantaged 2-year olds, Nov 2011 – Feb 2012free early learning for the 20% most disadvantaged 2-year olds extending free early learning to 40% of 2-year-olds, July 2012 – Oct 2012free early learning to 40% of 2-year-olds level of qualifications that would enable the DfE to relax the limits on the number of children each member of staff in a nursery can look after, Jan 2013 – March 2013relax the limits on the number of children each member of staff in a nursery can look after changing the role local authorities play in early education and childcare, March 2013 – May 2013role local authorities play in early education and childcare

Consultations introducing a baseline check for children at the start of their time in reception, July 2013 – Oct 2013check for children at the start of their time in reception simplifying childcare regulations to remove burdens and simplify processes, July 2013 – Sept 2013childcare regulations introducing tax-free childcare for working families and additional assistance with childcare for parents through Universal Credit, Aug 2013 – Sept 2013tax-free childcare for working families and additional assistance with childcare for parents through Universal Credit changing planning rules to allow a much wider range of buildings to be converted to nurseries, Aug 2013 – Oct 2013planning rules to allow a much wider range of buildings to be converted to nurseries

Bills and legislation The Childcare Act 2006, as amended by the ASCL The Childcare Act 2006 Local Authority (Duty to Secure Early Years Provision Free of Charge) Regulations 2012 Local Authority (Duty to Secure Early Years Provision Free of Charge) Regulations 2012 The EYFS (Learning and Development Requirements) (Amendment) Order 2012 The EYFS (Learning and Development Requirements) (Amendment) Order 2012 The EYFS (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012 The EYFS (Exemptions from Learning and Development Requirements) Regulations 2008 as amended by The EYFS (Exemptions from Learning and Development Requirements) (Amendment) 2012, which came into force on October 2012 The EYFS (Exemptions from Learning and Development Requirements) Regulations 2008The EYFS (Exemptions from Learning and Development Requirements) (Amendment) 2012 The Children and Families Bill