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1a
Opportunities to deliver services
Equitable
opportunities for quality childcare settings in Wales for funding
to deliver Flying Start, Foundation Phase and the new childcare
offer to young children in Wales. This would also support parental
choice, giving more options to parents, which should be a high
priority. This would ensure that settings that have demonstrated a
high level of quality (see paragraph 1b below) are able to develop
their services through accessing funding to deliver Welsh
Government programmes. This will be a key area for consideration as
the new childcare offer is developed and takes shape. PACEY Cymru
believe the committee has a key role to play in ensuring a balanced
approach to this that meets the needs of children and families, the
childcare sector and the Welsh Government.
1b
Funding
Consistent
funding formula or national guidance produced to ensure that all
settings delivering Flying Start, Foundation Phase and the new
Childcare offer across Wales receive funding to ensure they can
deliver a quality service to children and families, are sustainable
and that a more consistent approach is evident across Wales. At
present the funding inconsistencies cause confusion and issues for
both setting and families accessing services.
1c
Quality
To define
and confirm policy around what is considered to be
‘quality’ childcare and early years provision. This
could be achieved, through consultation with the sector to have
clarity on this nationally and enable quality settings to access to
funded programmes and to ensure development and improvement of all
services across Wales. The introduction of quality
judgements/gradings by CSSIW will support this work.
PACEY Cymru
strongly believe that an all Wales Quality Scheme for childcare,
play and early years providers, accessible and available to all
CYPE 09 PACEY Cymru
settings,
should be reconsidered following work on this over the previous
decade by Welsh Government. This would support a consistent
approach to quality across Wales.
PACEY Cymru
also strongly believe that this should include a ‘quality
mark’ or key strand around children’s rights. Schools
across Wales have access to the Unicef ‘Rights Respecting
School’ Award but this is not available to childcare settings
even though this area of development is a key priority for the
regulators (CSSIW and Estyn).
1d
Procurement in Wales
Consideration needs to be given to reviewing procurement
guidance and good practice across Wales. Current processes create
barriers for small settings when they are weighted in favour of
best economic outcome for the buyer rather than quality of
provision for the child.
Consideration and guidance also needs to be given to ensure
procurement processes are proportionate to the value of the
contract being awarded to ensure they are not onerous and deter
quality organisations, services or settings from
applying.
1e
ALN
Review of
resources and models to support children with additional learning
needs. PACEY Cymru welcomed the recognition of the importance of
early identification of ALN within the draft ALN bill in December
2015, and the recognition that childcare providers along with many
other professionals have a role to play in identifying children and
young people who may have ALN. PACEY Cymru supported the proposed
amendment, which addressed a request for clarity of
responsibilities and reporting to support identification of ALN for
the early years. PACEY Cymru know that the key to supporting this
will be in the information provided to professionals working in the
Non-Maintained Sector regarding local reporting processes, and
access to advice and support regarding their duty to refer children
they believe may have ALN. Further to the proposed amendments,
PACEY Cymru believe it would be beneficial for professionals
working with children outside of funded provision to be made aware
of, and have access to local processes which could support the
transition into funded provision. This could include the transition
from childcare into school and would support the individual needs
of children with ALN and their families.
1f
Review of National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare in
Wales (NMS)
PACEY Cymru
believe this is now a key time to review the above NMS given the
confirmed developments already in place or due to come into force
around, for example, the new inspection framework, the introduction
of quality judgements/gradings and the childcare offer. We need to
ensure, as a sector, that the NMS are fit for purpose and can be
used appropriately. This potentially could lead to identified
changes that the sector believe are needed to the associated
regulations and so become a much larger piece of
work which
would need to be carried out through an inclusive approach with key
stakeholders, CSSIW and other Welsh Government
departments.
1g
Childcare on Domestic Premises
In Wales
childminding settings are not restricted in size, as long as they
meet the requirements of the associated regulations and NMS and
local planning departments. There are settings in Wales where a
larger numbers of childminders work together from one premises or a
childminder employs a large number of assistants from the premises.
The number of these settings appears to be growing as business
opportunities become more attractive and PACEY Cymru believe
consideration needs to be given around their category of
registration and new definitions and legislation changes that may
be required. CSSIW are aware of some growing concerns around this
where the settings are moving away from what is considered to be a
childminding setting but as they are on domestic premises are
unable to register as full day care. In England the move towards a
category of registration for childcare on domestic premises has
been introduced and PACEY Cymru believe that a similar approach
needs to be considered in Wales. Ensuring the safety of children
needs to be the key driver when looking at this issue.
1h
Welsh Language
Children
need to be able to access a service in their preferred language, be
that English, Welsh or Bilingual – according to parental
choice for the younger children. This needs to be considered for
all children including those with ALN, where the family language
may have a significant impact on the child’s development and
general well-being and is in line with Welsh Government objectives.
The provision of Welsh language services could be scrutinised by
the committee.
1i
Children’s mental health
Children’s mental health services are hugely important,
and there is an increased focus on mental health and well-being
strategically across Wales within the Social Services and Wellbeing
Act and the Well-Being of Future Generations Act. PACEY Cymru
believe that this area of priority should be considered by the
committee on how this is being translated into practice and the
impact this is having on children and young people in Wales. The
recent research around ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) has
shown how adverse experiences are impacting on children reaching
their potential and should be considered alongside this.
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