Policy context

Key policy reports relevant to the development and use of the PREview Planning Resources. These are displayed in date order with the most recently published appearing first.

• Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage: Setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five
  
  The revised framework, effective from September 2012, takes forward the Government’s reforms to the 2008 framework as recommended in the 2011 Tickell Review. The reforms will: reduce paperwork and bureaucracy; strengthen partnerships between parents and professionals; focus on the three prime areas of learning most essential for children’s readiness for future learning and healthy development; detail the four specific areas of learning which build on the prime areas; introduce a progress check at aged two to provide for early intervention as necessary; and simplify assessment at age five – usually at the end of the reception year.
  
  Publisher: Department for Education (DfE)
  Published Date: 27/03/2012
  
  
  
• Supporting families in the foundation years
  
  Sets out the government's vision for the services that should be on offer for parents, children and families in the foundation years. Explains the importance of intervening early and the role of different services working together to ensure that children, their mothers and fathers receive early help were needed. It outlines the role of commissioners, leaders and practitioners across the range of services for families in these years.
  
  Publisher: Department for Education (DfE)
  Published Date: 18/07/2011
  
  
  
• Families in the foundation years
  
  This article summarises the Department of Education’s plans to support parents from pregnancy until their child reaches the age of five. It sets out the government's strategy to provide a family-friendly environment for all children to grow up in, where families are welcomed and supported, children are safe, and childhood is celebrated and enjoyed. Links to related department initiatives and resources. Includes an evidence pack providing references and research links informing the Families in the Foundation Years work.
  
  Publisher: Department for Education (DfE)
  Published Date: 18/07/2011
  
  
  
• The Tickell Review of the Early Years Foundation Stage
  
  In 2008 the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) was introduced with the intention of providing a framework to deliver consistent and high quality environments for all children in pre-school settings, recognising the importance of this period in a child’s life. A review was promised at the time of the introduction of the EYFS. Recommendations from the review are designed to build on and improve the current statutory framework and aim to create a revised EYFS which is more flexible and more accessible, and which provides a strong foundation for all children and families.
  
  Publisher: Crown copyright
  Published Date: 18/03/2011
  
  
  
• Fair society, healthy lives: the Marmot review
  
  In November 2008, Professor Sir Michael Marmot was asked by the Secretary of State for Health to chair an independent review to propose the most effective evidence-based strategies for reducing health inequalities in England from 2010. The strategy includes policies and interventions that address the social determinants of health inequalities. This website includes links to the final report, supporting data and information as well as updates on developments based on the approach advocated by the review.
  
  Publisher: The Marmot Review
  Published Date: 11/02/2011
  
  
  
• Health visitor implementation plan 2011-15: a call to action, February 2011
  
  Sets out a programme for renewing the Health Visiting Service, stressing the importance of pregnancy and the early years in laying the foundations for future health, learning and well-being, and the role of health visitors, their teams and partners in supporting families to do well.
  
  The NHS Employers organisation has produced an at-a-glance summary of the health visitor implementation plan.
  
  The report, One year on - a call for action: health visitor implementation progress report is available.
  
  Quarerly progress reports are also produced - April 2012 progress report.
  
  Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
  Published Date: 08/02/2011
  
  
  
• No health without mental health: a cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages
  
  This strategy sets out six shared objectives to improve the mental health and well-being of the nation, and to improve outcomes for people with mental health problems through high quality services. It supports the Government's aim of achieving parity of esteem between physical and mental health. The interconnections between mental health, housing, employment, and the criminal justice system are stressed.
  
  Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
  Published Date: 02/02/2011
  
  
  
• Sure Start Children's Centres: Government Response to the Fifth Report from the Children, Schools and Families Committee, Session 2009-10
  
  In its response to the report the government reasserted claims that the early intervention grant would support the existing network of children’s centres, but that local authorities, along with the voluntary sector must also "think innovatively". The Governments's responses to each of the Committee's recommendations are set out.
  
  Publisher: UK Parliament
  Published Date: 28/01/2011
  
  
  
• Early intervention: the next steps. An independent report to her Majesty’s Government
  
  This is the first report from the independent review into early intervention, which was led by Graham Allen, MP.
  
  Publisher: Cabinet Office
  Published Date: 19/01/2011
  
  
  
• The Family-Nurse Partnership Programme in England: Wave 1 implementation in toddlerhood and a comparison between waves 1 and 2a of implementation in pregnancy and infancy
  
  This is the third year evaluation report by Birkbeck College, University of London. It examines the implementation of the final toddlerhood phase of the family nurse partnership programme in the first ten sites in England.
  
  Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
  Published Date: 05/01/2011
  
  
  
• The foundation years: preventing poor children becoming poor adults: the report of the independent review on poverty and life chances
  
  This report - produced by Frank Field, chair of the independent Review on Poverty and Life Chances, based in the Cabinet Office – aims to: generate a broader debate about the nature and extent of poverty in the UK; examine the case for reforms to poverty measures, in particular for the inclusion of non-financial elements; explore how a child's home environment affects their chances of being ready to take full advantage of their schooling; recommend potential action by government and other institutions to reduce poverty and enhance life chances for the least advantaged, consistent with the Government's fiscal strategy.
  
  Publisher: Cabinet Office
  Published Date: 03/12/2010
  
  
  
• Healthy lives, healthy people: our strategy for public health in England
  
  This White Paper sets out the Government’s long-term vision for the future of public health in England. The aim is to create a ‘wellness’ service (Public Health England) and to strengthen both national and local leadership. Includes a link to the summary of evidence and consultations. This document includes information about the Health Premium.
  
  Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
  Published Date: 01/12/2010
  
  
  
• Midwifery 2020: delivering expectations
  
  This is the final report from the Midwifery 2020 programme. It underpins how midwives can lead and deliver care in a changing health care environment, reflecting policy and service direction. It also identifies the changes required to the way that midwives work, their role, responsibilities, education and/or professional development to meet the vision.
  
  Publisher: Depatment of Health
  Published Date: 09/09/2010
  
  
  
• Healthy Child Programme from 5 to 19 years old
  
  This document sets out the recommended framework of universal and progressive services for children and young people to promote optimal health and well-being. It outlines suggested roles and responsibilities for commissioners, health, education, local authority and other partners to encourage the development of high-quality services. You might also be interested in the following document Getting it right for children, young people and families. Maximising the contribution of the school nursing team: vision and call to action.
  
  Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
  Published Date: 29/10/2009
  
  
  
• Healthy Child Programme: The two-year review
  
  The two-year review aims to optimise child development and emotional well-being and to reduce inequalities. It provides practitioners, particularly health visitors, with information and tools to use with parents.
  
  Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
  Published Date: 29/10/2009
  
  
  
• Healthy Child Programme: Pregnancy and the first five years of life
  
  The Healthy Child Programme for the early life stages focuses on a universal preventative service, providing families with a programme of screening, immunisation, health and development reviews, supplemented by advice on health, well-being and parenting. This document gives guidance on pregnancy and the first five years.
  
  Publisher: Department of Health (DH)
  Published Date: 29/10/2009
  
  
  
• Nurse-Family Partnership Programme - second year pilot sites implementation in England: the infancy period
  
  This is the second year report of a four year evaluation study that is assessing the feasibility of delivering the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) Programme in England. The report focuses on the infancy phase of the programme addressing how it can be delivered with consistency, fidelity to the US programme model attained, its acceptability to clients, their engagement and retention as well as FNP in the wider children’s service context and its costs. The evaluation involved case studies, structured face to face and telephone interviews with a sample of families receiving the programme (and some who had left the programme). Interviews were held with professionals delivering the programme, local commissioners of services for young children, Children’s Centre managers and FNP project leads.
  
  Publisher: Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)
  Published Date: 23/09/2009
  
  
  

top