Delivering high-quality care and education for babies and toddlers takes skill and expertise, meaning experience and qualifications among early years workers matter when it comes to the youngest children’s development, new research by Ofsted shows
Ofsted’s report, published today, looks at how early years practitioners care for and educate babies and toddlers up until they are 2 years old. The aim of the report is to help early years leaders and staff refine their approach to supporting the youngest children.
Read the full report: Getting it right from the start: how early years practitioners work with babies and toddlers
The report highlights the importance of practitioner experience and qualifications, finding that those with greater experience and a higher level of qualifications had better knowledge of child development.
The research also considered to what extent practitioners use the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework when educating and caring for toddlers and babies. It found that the ‘key person’ role is a strength of many providers, with early years practitioners recognising that this role is vital for babies and toddlers.
Ofsted also found:
The report sets out a series of recommendations for practitioners, managers and policy-makers to achieve the best possible outcomes for babies and toddlers. Foremost is support for practitioners to take part in professional development specific to babies and toddlers to improve their qualifications and experience.
Jayne Coward, Ofsted’s Deputy Director of Early Years Regulatory Policy and Practice, said: