Schools should open their doors to two year olds

There is a drive towards reducing the amount of time children spend with their families with calls for extended school days and shorter holidays. The Government is also introducing legislation to make it easier to allow schools to provide nursery provision for two-year-olds. Ministers say this should help mothers get back into part-time work. Others say this is a move towards disrupting family life and more state control of children.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10615824/Schools-encouraged-to-take-2-year-olds-to-tackle-childcare-crisis.html

The Government would like to see primary school sites open for more hours in the day, from 8-6 if possible, and for more weeks in the year, offering a blend of education, childcare and extra-curricular activities."

The DfE suggested that primaries and secondaries follow the lead of schools such as the Harris Academy Chain and Norwich Free School.

Norwich Free School has chidlcare facilities open from 8.15am to 5.45pm, 51 weeks of the year, and offers occasional sleepovers, the DfE said, while every new Harris Academy will open from 8am to 6pm, as well as giving parents the option of holiday childcare.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10182584/Schools-urged-to-hold-sleepovers-to-help-parents-with-childcare.html