Early Years

As part of the articles I intend to write on inter-generational care of children and young people, I wish to raise the topic of accountability. I have read with interest about the Respect Agenda promoted by the Home Office to challenge and overcome anti-social behaviour and promote positive and law abiding actions and attitudes. So … Read more

This month my article is different. The Webmag is going to be announcing the first of what we hope will be a series of seminars where professionals from all aspects of caring for and supporting children and young people can meet to discuss and debate what concerns, frightens or amazes them about children or their … Read more

Our world is changing so much; it is faster, smaller – in terms of communication and transport, more diverse, yet everywhere is beginning to appear the same. People wear the same kinds of clothes; they more or less speak the same language-‘americano-australiano-englishee’. They listen to similar music and dance in the same style. They get … Read more

The last in a series of five essays which have taken an in-depth look at the Green Paper: Every Child Matters: Change for Children 2003. This is an interesting concept – a desired outcome for very young children is to achieve economic wellbeing. It is obvious to me, that as children get older and reach … Read more

Every child responds more favourably when they feel they belong. For everyone who makes a statement that they don’t need to be part of a group or a community, my challenge would be to say, “Of course you do; you just don’t know how to do that and still be you. You become a non-conformist … Read more

How do we encourage very young children to enjoy and, as a consequence of that enjoyment, achieve? This is at the very heart of early years care and education. The influence of adults on a child during these critical years might be a key factor in whether the young person and subsequent adult makes the … Read more

To feel safe and secure is the right of every child and young person in the world. In this country, in this century, what does that mean for a young child? Official Standards “Inspectors found that 97% of the 25,000 childcare providers inspected between April 2005 and March 2006 were satisfactory or better in keeping … Read more

This article first appeared in Nursery Management Today but has been reviewed and updated by the author. This last year it has been acknowledged that a number of day nursery workers, particularly in the private sector, are paid at lower than national minimum wages. Starting salaries for unqualified teachers are £17,000 or £20,000; for inner … Read more

This article is part of a series considering the five main areas of concern in Every Child Matters, or ECM as it is now termed, and Valerie is starting with children’s health. This makes an interesting beginning. If we consider aspects of children’s health, especially for those who are under school age, who are the … Read more

The first in a series of essays taking an in-depth look at the Green Paper: Every Child Matters: Change for Children 2003 Outcomes for Children and Young People This document is, I believe, the second most potentially influential piece of legislation in the last twenty years. The first significant document was the Children Act 1989*. … Read more

I am writing this with one ear open for the phone to ring. I am expecting a call from the local hospital from either my adult daughter or the staff to let me know whether she is going to need an operation for suspected appendicitis. I took her there last night and we waited for … Read more