A new cross-departmental Sure Start Unit was launched (based in both the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions), together with a new programme. The government said that the new unit would 'transform childcare, early years education and family and health support services', with a budget of over 1.5 billion by 2005-06. All children aged three will get a free nursery education place in their area by April 2004, six months earlier than originally planned.
Source: Press release 11.12.02, Department for Education and Skills (0870 000 2288)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The examinations and curriculum watchdog said that its proposed 'early learning goals' had been endorsed by a significant majority responding to a consultation exercise, and should be adopted as the statutory learning goals for the foundation stage.
Source: SMSR Ltd., Report to QCA on The Consultation on Extending the National Curriculum for England to include the Foundation Stage, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (020 7509 5555) | Press release 4.12.02, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Links: Consultation report (pdf) | Press release | Curriculum guidance (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
In January 2002, 96 per cent of children aged 3 and 4 attended private or voluntary providers or maintained or independent schools - unchanged compared to the previous year.
Source: Provision for Children under Five Years of Age in England January 2002, Statistical Bulletin 08-02, Department for Education and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
A paper argued that there is no educational rationale for starting schooling before the age of six, and that starting too early can 'increase anxiety and have a negative impact on children s self-esteem and motivation to learn'.
Source: Caroline Sharp, School Starting Age: European Policy and Recent Research, National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Links: Paper (Word file)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119, paragraph 3.2
Date: 2002-Nov
A new book provided accounts of twelve research studies in early childhood settings and a discussion of key issues in early childhood education research.
Source: Cathy Nutbrown (ed.), Research Studies in Early Childhood Education, Trentham Books (01782 745567)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Oct
The Prime Minister announced that responsibility for early years education, childcare and Sure Start will be brought within a single inter-departmental unit based in the Department for Education and Skills, reporting to a cross-departmental ministerial group.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Answers 16.7.02, columns 181W-182W, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 3.2
Date: 2002-Jul
Two reports looked at the experience of local areas in designing and setting up Sure Start programmes.
Source: Mog Ball, Getting Sure Start Started: National evaluation of Sure Start, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | Jane Tunstill, Debra Allnock, Pamela Meadows and Alice McLeod, Early Experiences of Implementing Sure Start, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Getting Started (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Early Experiences (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul
Researchers evaluated the Early Excellence Centre pilot programme, aimed at supporting families and reducing social exclusion through improved local early years provision.
Source: Tony Bertram, Christine Pascal, Sophia Bokhari, Mike Gasper and Sally Holtermann, Early Excellence Centre Pilot Programme: Second Evaluation Report 2000-01, Research Report 361, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/4, Digest 120, paragraph 3.2
Date: 2002-Jul
Under the 2002 Spending Review, there is a new integrated budget for childcare and early years learning, worth 1.5 billion by 2005-06. Spending on childcare will double in real terms, with an extra 250,000 childcare places.
Source: Opportunity and Security for All: Investing in an Enterprising, Fairer Britain: New Public Spending Plans 2003-2006, White Paper Cm 5570, HM Treasury, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: White Paper | Press release | Hansard
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 3.2
Date: 2002-Jul
Researchers examined the use of early years services by parents of children in England aged three and four.
Source: Rory Fitzgerald et al., Fifth Survey of Parents of Three and Four Year Old Children and Their Use of Early Years Services (Summer 2000 to Spring 2001), Research Report 351, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Brief (pdf) | Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119 (paragraph 3.2)
Date: 2002-Jun
Two teams of researchers examined the most effective forms of pedagogy in early years education.
Source: Iram Siraj-Blatchford et al., Researching Effective Pedagogy in the Early Years, Research Report 356, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260) | Janet Moyles, Sian Adams and Alison Musgrove, SPEEL: Study of Pedagogical Effectiveness in Early Learning, Research Report 363, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Brief 356 (pdf) | Brief 363 (Word file)
Date: 2002-Jun
Researchers found significant benefits from the 'Sure Start' programme (for vulnerable and deprived families with young children) in Scotland.
Source: S. Cunningham-Burley et al., Sure Start Scotland Mapping Exercise, Scottish Executive (web only)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119 (paragraph 3.2)
Date: 2002-May
A repeat study found low-income families' use of early years education and other formal childcare increased between 1999 and 2001.
Source: S. Woodland et al., Repeat Study of Parents' Demand for Childcare, Research Report 348, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-May
