Ď㽶ĘÓƵapp

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has launched an Early Years Council, Nursery World reports.

 

The sector council is expected to lobby on key issues in the early years sector in order to raise its profile, and it will be accountable to the executive of NAHT.

 

NAHT decided to represent the early years on its national executive in December last year, and the council now has three national executive members and five members appointed from NAHT’s wider membership; these include leaders from nurseries, children’s centres, SEND associations and those working in partnership with PVI settings.

 

“In the coming weeks, we will be inviting EY practitioners, representatives and champions of settings other than schools and academic voices – experts in child development and learning styles – to join us,” Judy Shaw, council chair and head teacher of Tuel Lane Infant School in Halifax, told reporters.

 

She hopes the council will become a strong, positive, influential voice for those working in the early years sector, calling it “the Cinderella of our education system”.

 

“The voices representing our primary and secondary education speak far louder than ours; their developments and concerns constantly making news headlines,” Judy said.

 

“Does early years have the same attention and status? I’m not convinced it does. The creation of this new sector council aims to change that.”

 

The sector council also has representation from Wales and Northern Ireland, and their first meeting was held in June this year where members discussed creating policies in key areas such as the 30-hours scheme, funding and the quality of early year’s qualifications.