Government updates
The Government has announced that changes to the early years elements of Universal Credit, increasing the amount parents can claim back and moving to upfront payments, will be brought in from 28 June.
A consultation released by Department for Education on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework has also been released which is intended to help manage the expansion of the childcare entitlements at the Spring Budget. The announcement is accompanied by a pledge to undertake a recruitment campaign in the new year and consideration of how to introduce new accelerated apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship routes.
Early years funding: 2023 to 2024
Information for local authorities and settings about early years funding for the 2023 to 2024 financial year.
Change made: Early years entitlements: local authority funding operational guide 2023 to 2024:- Section 7: Disability access fund (DAF): we’ve amended the wording in the second paragraph. – Section 7.4: Distributing DAF to early years providers – we’ve included additional wording in the second paragraph about the funding rate for the disability access fund (DAF). – Section 8.5: Paying EYPP to early years providers – we’ve included additional wording in the second paragraph about the funding rate for the early years pupil premium (EYPP).
Early years qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom
Lists of qualifications that meet DfE’s criteria for counting in the early years foundation stage framework staff:child ratios.
Change made: ‘Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list’ was updated.
An explanation of what happens to those judged inadequate on the Early Years Register and those not meeting registration requirements on the Childcare Register.
Change made: Updated to clarify existing guidance on when we share the early years inadequate inspection judgements with local authorities.