UK CHILDCARE STRATEGY

National Childcare Strategy and Early Childhood Development Curriculum

National Childcare Strategy and Early Childhood Development Curriculum

Introduction

Early Years Foundation Stage

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a part of British Government's Childcare Act 2006 and is included in Section 39. The EYFS includes two main parts:

Welfare Requirements, and

Learning and Development Requirements

Both these two sets of standards are compulsory to follow by the education providers in United Kingdom. The rules are implemented for children less than 5 years old. In United Kingdom, it is compulsory to provide education up till this age. The legislation was implemented in UK from September 2008. The Welfare Requirements are applicable to the entire UK, whereas the Learning and Development conditions are only applicable in England. To work as child care providers in nurseries, kindergartens, pre-school classes and other settings it is must to get registered under the Childcare Act. Otherwise, it is considered as an illegal operation (O'Hara, 2008, pp. 30).

The Learning and Development Requirements are compulsory to be imposed for children who fall in the category below the age of compulsory education and to those who are outside the state system and are not eligible to receive state funding. A controversy against the Learning and Development targets has been raised by professionals, and they regard these requirements not appropriate for the age group they have targeted (Council, 2012, pp. 1). The literacy development of 5 years child should also include the following: -

Use of written language during playing and education

They must be knowledgeable to write small and simple words and also attempt to write some complex words

Understanding on how to use information in answering the questions in non-fiction texts

Start forming simple sentences and use of punctuations

Similar requirements are also listed for numeracy

According to a professional judgment this much early burden of literacy on children under the age of 5 years may often result in inefficiency and non productivity. This early failure can even lead to difficulties in reading an undue stress. It is also analyzed from Scandinavian and other countries schools, when children start schooling at the age of 6 or 7 years they academically more sound and stable (Stage, 2011, pp. 1)

Discussion

The Childcare Strategy

In 1998, National Childcare Strategy was given by Labour Government (DfEE 1998). The aim of this strategy was to improve the quality of childcare, affordability, availability, and also included government strategy to handle child poverty by implementing expanding childcare plans which allows parents to become financially stable, especially the mothers to take employment during their child schooling in early years. Childcare was neglected on many ends as well as it was not given due importance in family policy, particularly when dealing with private family matters. It was the key barrier in low income families keeping them away from employment especially the single parents (Skinner, 2006, pp. 3).

Before 1997, childcare was not part of the education system was taken as private. Access to it was inconsistent. For children under the age of eight, the access was mainly dependent on the ...