January 2021

NEWS: Letter from Minister Vicky Ford MP on testing and vaccination

Today we received a letter from Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families to provide an update on Covid-19 testing and vaccinations for the early years sector.  

28/01/2021

NEWS: Government announces additional funding for early years in England

Yesterday the Government announced additional funding for early years, schools and colleges in England as catch up support, given that the current attendance restrictions for schools and colleges will be in place until at least 8 March. 

28/01/2021

NEWS: PACEY update on schools reopening in England

The Prime Minister made a statement earlier today regarding the latest coronavirus developments in England, including the Government's plans to reopen schools. 

27/01/2021

NEWS: Latest Ofsted data shows increase in settings with Covid-19 cases

Today the Government published its latest data showing the number of registered early years and childcare settings with reported cases of coronavirus in England.

25/01/2021

NEWS: Working mother wins challenge against Universal Credit childcare requirement

Using evidence from PACEY and others, today the High Court ruled that the 'Proof of Payment' requirement for access to childcare under Universal Credit is unfair. 

22/01/2021

NEWS: New report calls for urgent action to protect the early years workforce

A new report has been launched by the Early Years Workforce Commission (of which PACEY is a member) which outlines the key challenges and solutions to ensure a sustainable early years sector.

18/01/2021

NEWS: DfE updates guidance around EYFS disapplications and PFA

The DfE has published its updated Early years foundation stage: coronavirus disapplications guidance in light of current coronavirus developments, including an updated policy around PFA requalification training.

15/01/2021

NEWS: Spring Census 2021 guidance documents issued

The Department for Education has issued guidance documents ahead of the Early Years Census 2021 which takes place in England later this month. 

 

14/01/2021

NEWS: DfE mass testing plan to treat PVI childminders, nurseries & pre-schools differently to schools

The Department for Education has confirmed that primary schools and maintained nurseries in England will begin to receive coronavirus home testing kits from next week, but the PVI sector will have to travel to community testing sites to access tests.  

14/01/2021

NEWS: Ofsted delays early years assurance inspections until after half term

Yesterday Ofsted announced that it will delay its return to inspections for all early years settings in England until after February half term 2021.

13/01/2021