The figures released show that when it comes to implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage there has been a year on year improvement in the quality of childcare since 2005, with an increase in outstanding settings from 2% to 9%, and a reduction in the percentage of childcare settings rated ‘satisfactory’.
However, these figures also reveal that the poorest quality childcare is often found in the most deprived areas, and reaffirms the need for local authorities in partnership with childcare providers, to consider innovative ways to improve the quality of learning and care.
Dwynwen Stepien, Director of Early Childhood Unit at NCB said: ‘The Ofsted findings show that good quality early learning and care has the most positive impact when educators, carers and families work together in partnership. We need to strive to ensure that every nursery, pre school and childminder is at the very least ‘good’ if not outstanding. We urge everyone to sign up to our ‘Firm Foundations’ campaign to show their support for the sector, and to join us in calling for greater investment to help reduce inequality and tackle disadvantage.’
The Centre for Excellence and Outcomes (C4EO), based at NCB, is also reviewing the research on effective interventions in the early years and findings show that high quality early years services continue to show a positive effect on children’s outcomes even into secondary school.