Latest news
Meeting with Department for Education about the revision to the Early Learning Goals in the EYFS
The notes available here describe some of the main discussion points between colleagues from TACTYC and the DfE at a meeting held on 13th July 2018 in response to the current draft ELGs being piloted over the next academic year.
INVITATION TO TENDER FOR TACTYC RESEARCH PROJECT (2018)
Evidencing the effects of maintained nursery schools’ roles in Early Years sector improvements.
Budget £12,000 inclusive of VAT. Deadline for applications 19 September 2018
Please read the specification document for details of how to apply which can be found here.
40th ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE/AGM 2018 …. WE HAVE STARTED BOOKING NOW! Download the form HERE and HERE (it’s in two parts as there’s so much we have to tell you!)
MAKE A DATE FOR A FANTASTIC CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE!
If you would like to present a Research briefing, Discussion forum or Poster, please download the appropriate forms by clicking on the title. (If you present, you may, of course, get funding from your institution!)
STOP PRESS!
Please read this recently published article ‘The views of teachers, parents and children on the Phonics Screening Check: the continuing domination of politics over evidence’ by Margaret M Clark OBE
Also see Education Journal (10 July 2018) ‘Evidence based policy?’
BERA has just released its Report on Baseline Assessment, which is very well formulated – read it here.
Early Education has made a strong comment on the revised EYFS and ELGs – read it here.
CONSULTATIONS
TACTYC has made a submission to the Education Committee Life Chances inquiry – find it here.
TWO NEW REFLECTIONS PAPERS …
The latest two Reflections papers are related and recount how one school trust has successfully established a child-led, play-based curriculm in Reception classes, continuing these principles into Year 1 to ensure a seamless transition for children. Read more about these initiatives here.
BOLD BEGINNINGS – TACTYC’s RESPONSE
TACTYC Exec and members are outraged at the recent OfSTED Report ‘Bold Beginnings’. Read our response here. And do let us have your views on the issues raised in the Report.
Early Education has joined the debate and published a short article – What’s wrong with Bold Beginnings? A summary for school leaders .
Nancy Stewart (our Vice Chair) and others met with OfSTED inspectors, the agreed outcome document being found here.
Di Chilvers from Watch Me Grow has written a challenging piece responding to ‘Bold Beginnings’ which she has allowed us to use in our Reflections pages.
Professor Colin Richards (a previous President of TACTYC and ex-HMI) has also followed up his previous open letter with this one, well worth a read.
TACTYC BOOK SERIES: Research informed professional development for the early years
You can now access all information about our exciting series here. We now have four books published, the latest being Places for Two-Year-Olds in the Early Years edited by Jan Georgeson and Verity Campbell-Barr. Two more will follow this year. Further information and opportunity to order your copy here.
STUDENT REFLECTIONS AWARD 2018
This year we are repeating our popular Student Reflections Award – download a flyer here.
NEW MEMBER PROFILE
Read here all about Viki Veale – a very enthusiastic member of TACTYC, who responded to our appeal at the Conference for more Member Profiles. Do remember to send yours to Janet
OCCASIONAL PAPER 10 now online
Julian Grenier has written an excellent new paper which you’ll find here entitled: ‘Collaborative quality improvement’ – a way forward for England’s maintained nursery schools? in which explores one possible future for nursery schools: as the leaders of quality improvement for the whole of the early years sector in England.
BOOK REVIEWS
A new review here of the first book in a series specifically devoted to under 3s. Edited by E. Jayne White and Carmen Dalli, this explores pedagogy and policy across many different contexts.
EARLY YEARS JOURNAL
We have a new call for papers: Early Childhood Policies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (Special Issue).
HAVE YOU SEEN …?
Arts Council England is refreshing its 10 year strategy, and wants to find out what is important for arts, museums and libraries in the future. Please sign up here if you are interested: https://aceconversation2018.ning.com and if you have any questions please email artscouncil@britainthinks.com
Education Committee: Impact on children of early years education examined. On 12 June 2018, the Commons Education Committee questioned practitioners, researchers and voluntary organisations on the impact on children of early years education and social policy.
Outdoor Classroom Day campaign. This is a global campaign to celebrate and inspire outdoor learning and play. The next Outdoor Classroom Days are on Thursday 1 November 2018 and Thursday 23 May 2019. On the day, thousands of schools around the world take lessons outdoors and prioritise playtime. Find further information and sign up on the website.
Public spending on children in England: 2000 to 2020: research report. This Children’s Commissioner’s report provides new estimates of total spending by the government on children in England, including benefits, education spending, services for vulnerable children and healthcare. In the most recent year of data (2017–18), total spending was over £120 billion or over £10,000 per child under 18.
Minds matter: the impact of working in the early years sector on practitioners’ mental health and wellbeing: report
This report from the Pre-school Learning Alliance details findings from a survey of the early years sector. Key findings include: 57% of early years practitioners say they have suffered from anxiety as a result of their work; 26% have experienced depression; 45% say that work-related stress or mental health difficulties have impacted on their performance at work; 23% have taken time off as a result of work-related stress or mental health issues.
Read more
Association for Professional Development in Early Years 
