Agenda Item No
The Vale of Glamorgan Council
Scrutiny Committee (Lifelong Learning): 29th June 2009
Report of the Director of Learning and Development
Implementation of the Foundation Phase in Vale of Glamorgan
Schools
Purpose of the Report
1. To bring to the
attention of the Scrutiny Committee for Lifelong Learning the
position in respect of the roll-out of the Foundation Phase in
schools in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Recommendations
1. Scrutiny Members
support the implementation of the Foundation Phase initiative.
2. Scrutiny Members
request a further report (April 2010), on the completion of the
second phase of training for the Foundation Phase.
Reasons for the Recommendations
1. Members are
apprised of the National developments in relation to the
implementation of the Foundation Phase.
2. To receive a
further report on the progress of training for practitioners
working in the Foundation Phase.
Background
2. Provision for
Early Years Education in the Vale is organised as follows:-
· 12
playgroups
· 3
nursery schools (Bute Cottage, Cadoxton Nursery, Cogan Nursery)
· 32
Nursery classes in Infant/Primary schools
· Foundation
Phase Pilot settings: Holton Primary
· Early
Start settings: Cadoxton Nursery and Cadoxton Primary.
3. The Foundation
Phase Framework for Children’s Learning for 3 to 7 year olds in
Wales sets out the curriculum and outcomes for 3 to 7 year
olds.
4. The statutory
Areas of Learning in the Foundation Phase are:
· Personal
and Social Development, Well-Being and Cultural Diversity;
· Language,
Literacy and Communication Skills;
· Mathematical
Development;
· Welsh
Language Development;
· Knowledge
and Understanding of the World;
· Physical
Development;
· Creative
Development.
5. The Foundation
Phase became a statutory requirement for all 3 to 4 year olds in
Nursery settings, nursery classes in primary schools and
non-maintained settings (playgroups), in September 2008. The
recommended adult: pupil ratio is 1:8 although this is not a
statutory requirement.
6. The Foundation
Phase will become a statutory requirement for all 4 to 5 year olds
(Reception classes) in September 2009. Again, the recommended
adult to pupil ratio will be 1:8 for 3 to 5 year olds, but this
will not be a statutory requirement. The Foundation Phase
will become a statutory requirement for pupils in Year 1 in 2010
and pupils in Year 2 in 2011. The recommended adult to pupil
ratio will be 1:15 in these classes; again this is a recommendation
and will not be a statutory requirement.
7. Mr Jon N Hawkins,
Head of Early Years Education and Safeguards at the Welsh Assembly
Government in his letter dated 13th March 2008, stated that, ‘We
view the implementation of the Foundation Phase as a 4 year
developmental process. Accordingly the grant should be used
to appoint additional classroom support assistants which, when
added to existing staffing levels, will enable schools to achieve,
or to work towards achieving the Foundation Phase ratios.’
8. Foundation Phase
Grants have been provided by the Welsh Assembly Government to help
schools employ additional adults to enhance the schools’ existing
staffing provision in preparation for the roll out.
9. Grant funding has
also been provided to implement a national training programme for
all practitioners working with 3 to 5 year olds, that is, all
teachers, learning support assistants and playgroup leaders and
assistants.
10. Grant funding has enabled
the Learning and Development Directorate to employ additional
personnel to deliver the training and support to the non-maintained
settings, ie. an associate adviser for the non-maintained settings
(to deliver 10% support time to each playgroup) and an Early
Learning Co-ordinator on a part-time basis.
11. Grant funding has also been
used to establish Early Start and Pilot Settings and also to help
schools modify their buildings to allow access to the outdoors.
Relevant Issues and Option
12. For
each Area of Learning, the educational programme sets out what
children should be taught and the outcomes set out the expected
standards of children’s performance.
13. The
Welsh Assembly Government’s approach to education and lifelong
learning is set in the broader context of our vision for children
and young people overall.
14. We
have seven core aims for children and young people developed from
the United Convention on the Rights of the Child. These
underpin the educational programme within the Foundation Phase.
15. The
Foundation Phase aims to encompass the developmental needs of
children. At the centre of the framework lies the holistic
development of children and their skills across the curriculum,
building on their previous learning experiences, knowledge and
skills.
16. The
Foundation Phase curriculum promotes equality of opportunity and
values, and celebrates diversity. Positive partnerships with
the home are fostered and an appreciation of parents/carers as the
children’s first educators is acknowledged.
17. Children learn through first
hand experiential activities with the serious business of ‘play’
providing the vehicle. Through their play, children practice
and consolidate their learning, play with ideas, experiment, take
risks, solve problems and make decisions individually, in small and
large groups. First hand experiences, allow children to
develop an understanding of themselves and the world in which they
live.
18. The
development of children’s self-image and feelings of self-worth and
self-esteem are at the core of this phase. The Foundation
Phase curriculum is planned as a progressive framework that spans
four years (3 to 7) to meet the diverse needs of all children,
including those who are at an earlier stage of development and
those who are most able.
19. Throughout their formative
years, children’s learning develops more rapidly than at any other
time. However, progress is not even and children go through
periods of rapid development and times when they seem to
regress. A curriculum for young children should be
appropriate to their stage of learning rather than focusing solely
on age-related outcomes to be achieved.
20. The
Foundation Phase also aims to promote discovery and independence
and a greater emphasis on using the outdoor environment as a
resource for learning.
21. Educational provision for
young children should be holistic with the child at the heart of
any planned curriculum. It is about practitioners
understanding, inspiring and challenging children’s potential for
learning.
22. There must be a balance
between structured learning through child-initiated activities and
those directed by practitioners. A well planned curriculum
gives children the opportunities to be creatively involved in their
own learning. Active learning enhances and extends children’s
development.
23. Under the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Welsh Assembly
government’s overarching strategy document Rights to Action, all
children and young people must be provided with an education that
develops their personality and talents to the full. The
Education Act of 2002 further strengthens schools’ duty to
safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young
people.
Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)
24. The
Foundation Phase Grant is 100% funded by the Welsh Assembly
Government. No match funding is required.
|
GRANT SUMMARY:
|
|
|
FY 08/09
|
FY 09/10
|
|
Classroom Support Assistants
|
894,360
|
2,114,175
|
|
Training
|
71,140
|
71,140
|
|
10% for non-maintained
|
59,500
|
59,500
|
|
Training Officer
|
40,000
|
40,000
|
|
Early Start
|
109,616
|
96,671
|
|
Pilot School
|
167,720
|
108,335
|
|
TOTAL
|
1,342,336
|
2,489,821
|
25. Funding to employ additional
staff (Learning Support Assistants LSAs)
· Schools
in the Vale will receive £2,114,175 (FY 09/10) funding from the
Foundation Phase Grant to implement the recommended adult to pupil
ratios, as aforementioned.
· Predictions
indicate that funding will effectively employ 162.6 classroom
assistants, 31.5 of these will be additional appointments from the
start of the 09/10 school year.
· The
average local authority adult to pupil ratio for 3 to 4 year olds
from the start of the 09/10 school year will be 1:8. The
average local authority adult to pupil ratio for 4 to 5 year olds
from the start of the 09/10 school year will be mostly 1:8.
· Out of
the 49 schools in the Vale which have received additional funding,
17 schools predict an adult to pupil ratio of between 1:9 and 1:12
for the start of the school year 09/10 in classes for 4 to 5 year
olds. All Nursery classes (except 2) have already achieved
the 1:8 ratio. The Directorate intends to work closely with
these schools in order to help them achieve the recommended
ratios.
26. A breakdown of Vale
Schools and their Adult/Pupil Ratio is as follows:
|
School
|
Adult/Pupil Ratio for 3-4 year olds
|
Adult/Pupil Ratio for 4-5 year olds
|
|
Sully Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Victoria Primary
|
1:8
|
1:10
|
|
Wick & Marcross Primary
|
n/a
|
1:8
|
|
Y Bont Faen Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Ysgol Pen Y Garth
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Ysgol Iolo Morganwg
|
1:9
|
1:9
|
|
Ysgol Sant Baruc
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Ysgol Gwaun Y Nant
|
1:8
|
1:9
|
|
Ysgol Sant Curig
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Romilly Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
St Andrews Major Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
St Brides Major Primary
|
n/a
|
1:9
|
|
St David's Primary
|
n/a
|
1:6.7
|
|
St Helen's Infants
|
1:8
|
1:9
|
|
St Illtyd Primary
|
1:8
|
1:9
|
|
St Joseph's Primary
|
1:7
|
1:10
|
|
St Nicholas Primary
|
n/a
|
1:8
|
|
Llangan Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Llanilltud Fawr Primary
|
1:8
|
1:10
|
|
Llansannor Primary
|
1:10
|
1:8.5
|
|
Oakfield Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Palmerston Primary
|
1:5
|
1:8.5
|
|
Pendoylan Primary
|
1:8
|
1:13
|
|
Peterston Super Ely Primary
|
1:8
|
1:7.5
|
|
Rhws Primary
|
1:8
|
1:9
|
|
Fairfield Primary
|
n/a
|
1:8
|
|
Gladstone Primary
|
1:6 - 1:8
|
1:10
|
|
Gwenfo Primary
|
n/a
|
1:8
|
|
High Street Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Holton Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Jenner Park Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Llancarfan Primary
|
n/a
|
1:9
|
|
Llandough Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Llanfair Primary
|
1:7
|
1:8
|
|
Albert Primary
|
1:8
|
?
|
|
Barry Island Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8.5
|
|
Cadoxton Primary
|
n/a
|
1:12
|
|
All Saints Primary
|
1:8.6
|
1:7.5
|
|
Colcot Primary
|
1:7
|
1:7.25
|
|
Dinas Powys Infants
|
1:8
|
1:10
|
|
Eagleswell Primary
|
1:8
|
1:8
|
|
Evenlode Primary
|
n/a
|
1:12
|
|
Bute Cottage Nursery
|
1:8
|
n/a
|
|
Cadoxton Nursery
|
1:8
|
n/a
|
|
Cogan Nursery
|
1:8
|
n/a
|
27. Funding to provide
training
· The
Welsh Assembly Government have compiled a national training package
to be delivered locally to all practitioners, ie. teachers, support
assistants and playgroup leaders working with 3 to 5 year
olds. Repeat courses (Catch all sessions), will be delivered
in June and July 2009 for new recruits and staff unable to attend
earlier sessions.
· All
training has been free with supply cover costs paid for by the
Local Authority (LA).
· In
the Vale of Glamorgan the following number of practitioners have
been trained:
|
|
Autumn 2008
|
|
Spring 2009
|
Summer 2009 (predictions June 2009)
|
|
Modules
|
Child Development
|
Experiential Learning
|
Observation, Recording and Reporting
|
Additional Learning Needs
|
|
Teachers
|
E = 29
W = 5
|
E = 17
W = 2
|
E = 30
W = 10
|
Y1 + N+R staff
|
|
LSAs
|
E = 63
W = 15
|
E = 63
W = 8
|
E = 42
W = 2
|
|
|
Playgroups
|
E = 8
|
E = 8
|
E = 11
|
|
|
Total
|
120
|
98
|
95
|
175
|
Total staff trained = 488
28. New Modules planned
for Summer and Autumn Term 2009 = predicted additional 447 staff
trained.
29. Additional training
modules planned for 09/10 include:
· Outdoor
learning
· Leadership
for learning
· Transition
Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)
30. The seven core aims
for children and young people developed from the United Convention
on the Rights of the Child, underpin the educational programme
within the Foundation Phase.
31. Seven Core Aims
being:
· A
flying start in life
· A
comprehensive range of education, training and learning
opportunities
· The
best possible health, free from abuse, victimisation and
exploitation
· Access
to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities
· Children
and young people are treated with respect and have their race and
cultural identity recognised
· A
safe home and community that supports physical and emotional
wellbeing
· Children
and young people not disadvantaged by poverty
Crime and Disorder Implications
32. None.
Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language
issues)
33. The requirement to
develop pupils' bilingual competencies is a core feature of the
Foundation Phase.
Corporate/Service Objectives
34. The development of
the Foundation Phase will assist the Council in meeting actions
outlined in the Corporate Plan and Directorate Service Plans.
Policy Framework and Budget
35. This matter is for
Executive decision by the Cabinet.
Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)
36. No consultation
necessary at this stage.
Relevant Scrutiny Committee
37. Lifelong
Learning.
Background Papers
Welsh Assembly Government Guidance: Framework
for Children's Learning 3 to 7 year olds in Wales.
Contact Officer
Lynette Jones, Head of Achievement
Officers Consulted
Foundation Phase Advisers in the Vale School
Improvement Service (V-SIS)
Responsible Officer:
Bryan Jeffreys, Director of Learning &
Development