NURSERIES

Nurseries in United Kingdom

Nurseries in United Kingdom

Introduction

The trend for nurseries in the United Kingdom is tremendously increasing because a majority of the women are working mothers either as a part time or a full time employee. It is very hard for them to give proper time to their children. Many of the women have babies later in life and want to continue with their careers. There is also an increase in the single parent household. As the single parent is out for the work they need someone to take care of their child. It has also been seen that the family life style has changed a lot and people do not have their extended families living close to them that they can turn to them for child support. The government has taken steps to help people afford the child care. They have asked companies to provide £55 per child to their employer's tax free. The government has also provided free child care nurseries for two to four year olds and they are further planning on extending this in the coming years. In the November of 2011, the government of United Kingdom announced that by the year of 2014 around forty percent of two-year olds will get fifteen hours free early education per week. This resulted in huge numbers of day nurseries all over the United Kingdom (www.allianceleicestercommercialbank.co.uk).

Discussion

History

The first infant school was established by Robert Owen in 1816 in Scotland. Robert Owen not only introduced the infant and nursery school movement in the United Kingdom, but also as a paternalist industrialist, acknowledged the requirement to help support families in a way, that they may benefit from their ability to concentrate on the jobs knowing that their children were getting high quality care. Another purpose he had in mind was to protect children from effects of poverty. Owens plan was to promote “Infant School Society” spreading infant schools throughout the United Kingdom (Bertram & Pascal, n .d, pp. 7-8).

This school was outlined in such a way that it provided children with a very friendly, warm and pleasant surrounding where the children could think about practical issues and have the experience of very less punishment. Teachers over there encouraged the kids to assist one another in dancing, singing and playing outside (Weber & Lillian, 1971, p. n. d). After the Foster's Bill (Education Act, 1870) was approved by the government of United Kingdom in 1870, it was made mandatory for the children aging five years to be enrolled in state schools. This declaration for the admission of children in schools by the age of five resulted in the consequences that forms of ECEC provision were created. This made it compulsory for children over the age of five years to be educated, with the lowest cost to parents. Nearly at once children under the age of five years, as young as two years, started to be admitted in state schools, particularly where the services of women were important to the ...