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Improve support for children in the Foundation Years by retaining a universal offer while also ensuring that services and opportunities reach those in greatest need

5.1 Retain a national network of Sure Start Children’s Centres with a core universal offer, while also ensuring that they deliver proven early intervention programmes to support families in the greatest need

Title Start date achieved End date achieved Status Notes
5.1.i Implement Sure Start reform programme through streamlined and revised statutory guidance, and reformed inspection framework, based on new core purpose of children’s centres

Scheduled start date: Started, Scheduled end date: Mar 2013 

  Mar 2013  Complete   
5.1.ii Complete trials of payment by results approaches for children’s centres

Scheduled start date: Started, Scheduled end date: Mar 2014 

    In progress   
5.1.iii Procure an Early Intervention Foundation to promote better use of evidence based programmes and approaches

Scheduled start date: Started, Scheduled end date: Sep 2012 

  Feb 2013  Complete 

The contract for the Early Intervention Foundation was awarded on 5 February to the Early Intervention Foundation Consortium with 4Children, as the lead organisation, Achievement for All 3As and the Local Government Association. The new organisation will be chaired by Graham Allen MP.

 

5.2 Ensure access to sufficient and high quality Foundation Years provision

Title Start date achieved End date achieved Status Notes
5.2.i Deliver free early education places to around 130,000 two year olds between September 2013 and April 2014

Scheduled start date: Sep 2013, Scheduled end date: Apr 2014 

    Yet to start   
5.2.ii Increase the number of free early education places for two year olds to around 260,000between September 2014 and April 2015

Scheduled start date: Sep 2014, Scheduled end date: Apr 2015 

    Yet to start   
5.2.iii Implement a new Foundation Stage framework that is less bureaucratic and more focused on improving young children’s learning and development

Scheduled start date: Started, Scheduled end date: Sep 2012 

  Sept 2012  Complete   
5.2.iv Introduce new guidance on free early education entitlement, including on flexibility for parents and on quality of provision

Scheduled start date: Started, Scheduled end date: Sep 2012 

  Sept 2012  Complete