National News
Room for improvement
The number of day care settings which provide good or outstanding care has dropped by four percent since 2005-6, according to figures published today.
A report by Ofsted, ‘Early Years: Getting on well: enjoying, achieving and contributing’ illustrated that 54% day care settings operated at good levels; 39% inspected as satisfactory; 3% judged outstanding and 3% of settings were inadequate.
Compared to figures for 2005-6, this represents a four point fall in the numbers of settings judged as good or outstanding. This is mainly due to a significant number of newly registered or less experienced childminders who were included in the study.
Christine Gilbert, Chief Inspector for Ofsted, said “Research shows that there is a direct connection between high quality early years provision and better intellectual and social and behavioural development.” She also added that there had been many improvements but more monitoring would be given to inadequate settings. See www.ofsted.gov.uk/gettingonwell
Girly pink and cool boy blue
The colour preferences of girly pink and cool boy blue are all down to hunting and gathering berries, agree scientists.
The accolade awaiting prehistoric women who brought home red berries was enough to make females adore the colour pink, and the many hues of red, according to research published in Current Biology. It showed that men consistently preferred the colour blue, while women opted for pink.
Scientists have found that even when colours were blended, ie red-green and blue-yellow, women overwhelming chose the red/green colour blend, while men chose the blue/yellow blend.
Anya Herbert, professor of visual neuroscience at Newcastle University said “This shifts their colour preference slightly away from blue towards red, which tends to make pinks – sometimes lilac- women’s real favourites.” She also claimed that individual researchers were able to correctly identify the gender of participants in the study by their selection of colour choice.
The findings apply cross culturally as scientists discovered the male preference for blue, and the female preference for pink among Chinese participants in the study.
PLA Training and Quality Assurance judged as outstanding
The Pre-school Learning Alliance has been awarded an outstanding grade for training offered to early years practitioners following a recent Ofsted inspection.
Michael Freeston, the Alliance’s director of training and quality assurance said “This is wonderful news. Four years ago the Adult Learning Inspectorate judged the Alliance to be one of the best training providers in England. This new report can only strengthen this position.”
Other areas judged as good were high success rates; good teaching and learning; well designed and flexible training; effective support for learners; good strategic leadership; effective partnership working and good operational management.
Could this achievement be particularly significant in light of demand for training in the early years foundation stage? “We are well placed to support the early years workforce as the next stage of the ten year plan is implemented and settings prepare for the early years foundation stage,” said Mr Freeston.
Surge in baby swimmers
There has been an unprecedented 84% increase in the number of babies taking part in swimming lessons, according to the Swimming Teachers Association.
More parents see the value of allowing their children to experience and develop confidence in the water.
Babies love it, and it encourages bonding between parent and child.
If you know of a baby who has difficulty sleeping at night, encourage the parents to take her swimming – research has shown that it has a very positive effect not only on sleeping patterns, but also on eating. So any reluctant eaters would soon have increased appetites after a bout in the local pool.
Swimming lessons should be with a STA approved teacher, and an affiliated STA approved swimming teaching programme.
Call 01922 645 097
www.starfishswimming.org
"Children are our most valuable natural resource."
