A report proposed 10 'benchmarks' as a first step towards establishing a set of minimum standards by which progress in early childhood education and care might be monitored and compared across the countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. England met just 5 of the 10 benchmarks and was ranked joint 11th out of 25 countries.
Source: Peter Adamson, The Child Care Transition: A league table of early childhood education and care in economically advanced countries, Innocenti Report Card 8, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (+39 055 20 330)
Links: Report | Unicef press release | ECP press release | Community Care report | BBC report | Womensgrid report
Date: 2008-Dec
Researchers examined a pilot programme in Scotland that provided early positive pre-school experiences for vulnerable children. Parents in the programme showed improved parenting capacity compared with parents in the comparison group. Children in the pilot showed improved developmental outcomes: but comparison group children not in the pilot also showed improved outcomes.
Source: Lisa Woolfson and Julia King, Evaluation of the Extended Pre-school Provision for Vulnerable Two Year Olds Pilot Programme: Final Report, Scottish Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Dec
A study examined the factors associated with achievement at age 5 for children in the Millennium Cohort Study. The most robust predictors of child cognitive achievement and behavioural development were the characteristics of the child – with girls, older children, and heavier birth-weight children performing better than other children and having fewer behavioural problems (with the exception of age). Other factors included: family income and reading to the child every day (both related positively to cognition and negatively to problem behaviour); and ethnicity (particularly Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups) and living in social housing (both related negatively to the cognitive outcomes, and positively to the problem behavioural outcomes).
Source: Andy Cullis and Kirstine Hansen, Child Development in the First Three Sweeps of the Millennium Cohort Study, Research Report RW077, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Dec
A report said that interventions focused on children in their early years had the potential to improve outcomes that were fundamental to their future life-chances, and to narrow the gap between disadvantaged and other children. Improvements in cognitive development, social/behavioural development, and health outcomes could be achieved in the short term, and there was some evidence that these outcomes could be sustained into later life.
Source: Iain Springate, Mary Atkinson, Suzanne Straw, Emily Lamont and Hilary Grayson, Narrowing the Gap in Outcomes: Early Years (0-5), National Foundation for Educational Research (01753 747281)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-Dec
A paper examined issues relating to the workforce in early childhood education and care. It said that pay and conditions in the sector were 'extremely low' in comparison with similar positions in other parts of the children's sector; and called on the government to establish a high-level social partnership group with a clear remit to address the detrimental impact this was having.
Source: Raising the Bar: What next for the early childhood education and care workforce?, Daycare Trust (020 7840 3350)
Links: Paper
Date: 2008-Nov
The Prime Minister announced plans to enshrine in law the government's pledge to end child poverty by 2020; and to introduce free nursery education for children aged 2 in up to 60 areas.
Source: Speech by Gordon Brown MP (Prime Minister), 22 September 2008
Links: Text of speech | 4Children press release | Save the Children press release | UNICEF press release | ECP press release | Childrens Society press release | Barnardos press release | Community Care report | Personnel Today report | FT report
Date: 2008-Sep
The inspectorate for education and children's services said that more early years and childcare settings were meeting requirements set by the government than three years previously. Although fewer than 80 per cent of registered settings met national standards in 2005, in 2008 almost all did (97 per cent) and two-thirds (60 per cent) were good or outstanding.
Source: Early Years: Leading to Excellence – A review of childcare and early education 2005-08 with a focus on organisation, leadership and management, Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (07002 637833)
Links: Report | OFSTED press release | NCH press release | Liberal Democrats press release | BBC report | Telegraph report | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Aug
An article said that differences by parents' income group in cognitive and behavioural development emerged by a child's third birthday. An important part of these differences could be accounted for by 'what parents do' in terms of educational activities and parenting style.
Source: John Ermisch, 'Origins of social immobility and inequality: parenting and early child development', National Institute Economic Review Volume 205 Number 1, National Institute for Economic and Social Research (020 7654 1901)
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Jul
Researchers examined the network of 'family intervention projects' launched in 2006 to reduce anti-social behaviour by the most 'challenging' families, prevent cycles of homelessness, and achieve the five 'Every Child Matters' outcomes for children and young people. The early outcomes displayed considerable improvements in all key areas: anti-social behaviour and criminal activities had declined considerably at the point families exited from a project, as had the risk of families being evicted. The outcomes for children and young people were also reported to have improved.
Source: Clarissa White, Martha Warrener, Alice Reeves and Ivana La Valle, Family Intervention Projects: An evaluation of their design, set-up and early outcomes, Research Report RW047, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Brief | DCSF press release | Oxford University press release
Date: 2008-Jul
A think-tank report identified the key problems standing in the way of shifting the early years sector workforce towards higher level skills, greater quality, and higher wages; and made suggestions for overcoming these.
Source: Graeme Cooke and Kayte Lawton, For Love or Money: Pay, progression and professionalisation in the 'early years' workforce, Institute for Public Policy Research (020 7470 6100)
Date: 2008-Apr
