TEY 13.2

News Nursery Now News and views from the early years TWEET TALK In brief... Following the launch of the Busy Bees Toilet Training initiative, which was introduced across more than 400 settings throughout the UK and Ireland in late 2023, the childcare provider has reduced the number of nappies it uses by nearly 26%. Mental healthy charity Anna Freud and award-winning children’s author Laura Henry- Allain MBE have published a free digital book to help educators, parents and carers have important discussions about mental health with young children. Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad explores the emotions of three-year-old Jackson while championing diversity. Download the story at bit.ly/3Xo4ray And finally… Laurent Schwarz, a two-year-old from Bavaria whose abstract acrylic paintings have sold for as much as £5,000, has signed brand deals with a paint manufacturer and wallpaper company to develop ranges inspired by his artwork (on show at laurents.art ). Ofsted overhaul Big changes are coming to Ofsted inspections, though early years settings will have to wait slightly longer for them than schools. Following its Big Listen consultation, which received 700 responses from registered childcare settings, the inspectorate revealed in early September that single-word judgements will be ditched in favour of new report cards designed to provide a “more nuanced” picture of a provider’s strengths. A new early years inspection framework is also on the way, which Ofsted states will be more flexible to apply to different types of settings. Visit bit. ly/3zcKM5o Early impact 62% ADULTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES WHO BELIEVE EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTIONS HAVE A GREATER LONG- TERM SOCIETAL IMPACT THAN INCREASED FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. READ MORE AT BIT.LY/4D2W7RC @_CREC A new primary science curriculum, proposed by leading science organisations, outlines “essential experiences” all children should have by age 11, emphasising hands-on learning – read more: buff. ly/3MecyS8 #EarlyYears #EarlyEducation @earlyed_uk We welcome the news that @educationgovuk has extended funding for Stronger Practice Hubs until at least March 2025. Also the launch next month of resources for early educators supporting children with SEND including a new online training module, which we helped to develop. “Reformof Ofsted inspections is overdue; we want to see a focus on children’s experiences and support to settings’ efforts to improve quality.” PURNIMA TANUKU OBE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NDNA 6 Teachearlyyears.com