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EARLY EDUCATION LAUNCHES NUMBER 1O WEBSITE
PETITION CALLING FOR GOVERNMENT TO RETHINK THE IMPLEMENTATION EARLY YEARS
SINGLE FUNDING FORMULA AS PROPOSED CHANGES THREATEN TO HIT DISADVANTAGED
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THE HARDEST
Early Education has today launched a petition on
the Number 10 e-petitions website urging the government to rethink the
implementation of the Early Years Single Funding Formula and calling for
local authorities to be both supported and rigorously monitored to ensure
that the aims of the EYSFF is genuinely achieved across all sectors.
The petition can be signed by UK citizens and residents by visiting
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/EarlyYearsSFF
The petition reads as follows:
We the undersigned urge the government to rethink the implementation of
the Early Years Single Funding Formula across the maintained, private,
voluntary, independent and home based early education and childcare settings
in England so that the viability of existing high quality provision is not
lost.
Local authorities must be supported and rigorously monitored to ensure that
the aims of the EYSFF, to improve and maintain quality of all provision and
fairness and transparency of funding, is genuinely achieved across all
sectors.
Megan Pacey, Chief Executive of Early Education said
“As the implementation of the Early Years Single Funding Formula enters its
final phase of consultation, there is increasing evidence that many of the
formulas being proposed by local authorities will have significant adverse
consequences on the services that schools and settings whose high quality
early education and care currently support the most disadvantaged children
and families.
“More and more nursery schools and settings are reporting to us that the
single funding formula that is being proposed by their local authority are
going to adversely affect those children who have been identified as being
vulnerable and at risk, with special education needs and the parents who
benefit from the support that this existing high quality provision provides.
“The aims of the EYSFF to improve and maintain quality of all provision and
fairness and transparency of funding are wholly desirable but the manner in
which the Early Years Single Funding Formula is currently being delivered in
most local authorities continues to threaten the provision of those who
deliver for the most disadvantaged children and their parents.
“Local authorities must be both supported and rigorously monitored to ensure
that the aims of the EYSFF is genuinely achieved across all sectors”
##ENDS##
For further information please contact:
Megan Pacey Telephone: 0207 539 540 / 07545 488 004
Chief Executive Email:
megan@early-education.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The “Early Years Single Funding Formula” petition can be accessed on the
Number 10 Downing Street website on
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/EarlyYearsSFF
2. Implementing the Single Funding Formula How is it affecting you? A
progress report of how the implementation of the Single Funding Formula is
impacting on Maintained Nursery Provision and Children’s Centre in England,
September 2009 is available at
www.early-education.org.uk
3. The Government announced in June 2007 that local authorities will be
required to design and implement a single local funding formula for funding
the Free Entitlement to early years provision for 3 and 4 year olds across
all sectors. The aim is to improve fairness and transparency in the way that
funding is allocated to providers who deliver the Free Entitlement, and
thereby support its extension to 15 hours, to be delivered more flexibly
from September 2010. Budgetary implications for the Single Funding Formula
are scheduled to take place from April 2010. For more detail visit
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/earlyyears/localauthorities/lapractice/entitlement/sffundingresources/sffresources/
4. The British Association for Early Childhood Education (Early Education)
is the leading national voluntary organisation for early years practitioners
and parents, promoting the right of all children to early education of the
highest quality. Founded in 1923, it has members in England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales and provides support, information and advice,
training and consultancy to everyone concerned with the education and care
of young children from birth to eight. For more information on the work of
Early Education visit
www.early-education.org.uk
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