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DfE shares more details of early years recovery scheme

On
Oct 20, 2022

By Rachel Lawlerchildren playing with natural resources

The Department for Education has shared further details about its scheme aiming to “drive quality and training opportunities” in the early years, using funding previously pledged as part of the Covid-19 recovery package for the sector.

The funding, which was originally announced in 2021, aims to improve teaching of early speech, language and numeracy skills in the sector while also offering leadership training and opportunities for graduates in the sector.

Details of funded schemes
Over the next three years, the DfE plans to offer:

  • early maths, language and social development training for 10,000 early years professionals
  • an ‘expert and mentors’ programme to provide bespoke leadership training to 7,500 early years settings and childminders
  • graduate-level training that will lead to early years teacher status
  • support for almost 6,000 early years educators to achieve the new National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership
  • training for up to 5,000 SENCOs
  • a network of 18 Stronger Practice Hubs
  • a universal online child development training offer
  • the continuation of the Nuffield Early Language Intervention Programme

Learning at home
Working with the Department of Health and Social Care, the DfE also plans to encourage parents to help develop children’s language and literacy skills through its Better Health – Start for Life campaign.

Some of the funding included in the DfE’s announcement will also be used to launch new Family Hubs, which are expected to open “in the first half of 2023”.

Vital early years
Kelly Tolhurst, minister for schools and childhood, said: “The early years of a child’s life are vital not only in establishing important developmental skills but also in building a lifelong love of learning that will help them succeed in adult life. I’m really proud of the quality and dedication of our early years workforce. This package of support is a huge investment in their skills and professional development, because raising the status of this important sector is key to its growth.”