Introduction
Early Years sector-led quality improvement programme - April 2011 - March 2013
C4EO is a partner with NCB in a programme funded by the DfE* to provide a programme of peer
to peer support, using an evidence-based approach to improve the quality
of early years settings. Working mainly with local authorities, the programme is
based on C4EO's previous model of tailored peer to peer support. Together under
this funded programme NCB and C4EO have expanded their existing number of early
years sector specialists. Now included are specialists drawn from NCB's networks
who can offer training and support in areas such as listening to young children,
parental partnership and engagement, and supporting the home learning environment.
These new sector specialists have joined the existing pool to offer support to the
early years sector and work with local authorities, settings, organisations or particular
groups within the children's workforce. Sector specialists are able to offer up
to five days on assignments that can include the previous menu of support, helping
local authorities and others to:
- identify and work towards direct outcomes for children and families
- improve leadership and performance
- embed peer-to-peer support and challenge
- understand the requirements of a revised EYFS
Within assignments they are now also able to offer:
- support to examine strategies for working effectively within changing structures
- direct training to practitioners or managers including PEAL (Parents, Early Years
and Learning) training
- support for mentors and assessors
- practice development for practitioners and managers in listening to young children
* This work is supported by the DfE's Improving Outcomes for Children, Young People
and Families fund.
More information
on peer to peer support.
Theme Advisory Groups (TAGs)
The work on this theme was shaped and guided by a Theme Advisory Group.
Click here for more information about theme advisory groups and the membership
for this theme.
Request for Practice Examples: Children's Centres and Early Years Settings
With the reorganisations of children's services as a whole that are underway in
many local areas, the piloting of payment by results approaches in children's centres,
along with other aspects of early years services, we are keen to capture the good
work that is already in place and to share this with others.
We are particularly keen to receive examples of practice on:
- Organisational structures within whole early years services
- Leadership and management practice that lead to improved outcomes for children and
families
More details on the request for practice examples: children's centres and early
years settings.
Latest News
C4EO has developed an accountability and performance framework for Children's Centre
Managers and Local Authority senior managers. This framework addresses whether
the services provided are actually improving the lives of those children and families
who are using the centres, and secondly it helps assess whether the services being
delivered are value for money.
C4EO sector specialists will be offering the framework to local authorities as a
potential tool for relevant Early Years assignments. We would welcome any
feedback from those who use the framework including how useful you find it and how
you may have adapted it locally.
Please contact Helen Goody with your
feedback or for more information.
A Performance and Accountability Framework
for a Children's Centre or group of Children's Centres (158Kb PDF file, 18 pages)
More information
For more information about this theme contact C4EO on 020 7843 6358 or email us
at contactus@C4EO.org.uk
You can also sign up for regular email updates.
The National College hosts a range of Together for Children's support products,
toolkits and case studies. Visit the Together
for Children section on the National College website.
Publications
C4EO is publishing and will regularly update a range of resources on Early Years.
For a more detailed description of each type of resource, see
Our services .
Expansion of the entitlement to free education for disadvantaged two-year-olds
This paper provides a brief overview of the policy context that underpins the trials,
a description of the elements that the trials have been testing out with some case
studies, the key findings and learning points from the trials that can be shared,
and finally, signposting to the tools and materials that the local areas have produced
and can be shared.
Expansion
of the entitlement to free education for disadvantaged two-year-olds (484Kb PDF
file, 31 pages).
Directors' summaries
The Early Years Directors' summary is a concise and accessible overview of C4EO’s
current work in this theme for directors of children’s services.
The following resources are now available on Early Years:
Narrowing the gap in outcomes for young children through effective practices in
the early years.
Improving children's attainment through a better quality of family-based support
for early learning.
Improving development outcomes for children through effective practice in integrating
early years' services.
Events
Please check again later for more events...
About local practice examples
As with all C4EO themes, C4EO recognises that not all useful knowledge about ‘what
works’ and why, is to be found in research reports and papers. We are therefore
keen to hear about practice that is leading to significantly improved outcomes for
children, young people and their families.
We will incorporate validated local practice examples into our full reviews on what
works, which will be shared with other decision-makers in the children’s services
field. We will also include them as a special body of evidence on this website.
To be validated, practice examples need to be supported by some evidence which shows
the outcomes and changes that have been achieved.
Submit local practice examples
If you would like to submit an example of effective local practice, please:
- Signup to the C4EO website if you haven't already.
- Login and complete the local practice online
submission form
Alternatively you can:
- Download a copy of the local practice submission form (77Kb Word
file, 6 pages)
- Send your completed form to C4EOTeam@NFER.ac.uk
Further information
If you have any queries regarding validated local practice, please do not hesitate
to contact Monica Hetherington at NFER via
C4EOTeam@nfer.ac.uk.
Interactive data
Explore, customise and print C4EO maps and reports with:
Maps
Data views – View interactive maps and graphs that
allow you to select the data you are interested in.
Advanced data views – Select the data and
comparators you are interested in before viewing in the format of your choice (e.g.
charts, interactive maps, XML etc).
Area profiles
Area profiles – View a predefined report on your Government
Office Region, Local Authority and Statistical Neighbours
(PDF 102Kb, 9 pages)
Advanced area profiles – Select the data and
comparators to create your own customised profile.
We currently have data at National, Regional and Local Authority level. We are loading
information at Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) as it becomes available. At the moment
IDACI 2007, NI 152, NI 116 and other indices of deprivation are available at LSOA
level (accessible by double-clicking the chosen local authority in the Child Poverty
maps).
We are keen to maintain the usefulness of the data views and reports. If you have
any thoughts on how to make the reports more useful, or would like to tell us what
you plan on using the data for, please complete the 'feedback
form'.
More information on how to use the interactive data and what the indicators mean
can be found in the help section.
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