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Childcare funding could be cut off for failure to promote British values Childcare experts dismayed by plans to cut funding for childcare that does not promote "fundamental British values"
(about 11 hours later)
Parents will have government funding for childcare cut off if their children's nannies or nurseries fail to "actively promote fundamental British values", including democracy and liberty, under measures announced by the Department for Education. Childcare experts have reacted with dismay to new measures announced by the education secretary to withhold state funding for nurseries that fail to promote "fundamental British values".
Nicky Morgan, the education secretary, said the move was designed to protect young children from extremist views. But the announcement was greeted with dismay by childcare practitioners and experts. Nicky Morgan's first policy announcement since taking over the role of education secretary was that young children should be protected from extremist views. In response, Beatrice Merrick, chief executive of the British Association for Early Childhood Education, said: "This is a surprising issue for the education secretary to pick for her first intervention in early years policy, given that there is no evidence as far as I am aware of extremist values being promoted in nurseries.
"This is a surprising issue for the education secretary to pick for her first intervention in early years policy given that there is no evidence as far as I am aware of extremist values being promoted in nurseries," said Beatrice Merrick, the chief executive of the British Association for Early Childhood Education. "The idea of distinctive British values is quite elusive for any age group and it would be hard to claim that there is a British monopoly on any values.
"The idea of distinctive British values is quite elusive for any age group and it would be hard to claim that there is a British monopoly on any of the values we might be talking about. Using such language is dangerous in implying we are somehow morally superior to other nations and cultures. Surely that isn't the message we want to teach our youngest children?" "Using such language is dangerous in implying we are morally superior to other nations and cultures. Surely that isn't the message we want to teach our youngest children."
Neil Leitch, the chief executive of the Pre‑school Learning Alliance, which represents 14,000 childcare providers in England, said his organisation welcomed the spirit of the government's announcement but questioned the usefulness for young children. Morgan announced details of the policy on Friday, when she outlined measures to remove government funding for nannies and nurseries that fail to actively promote what she described as British values, including democracy and liberty.
"We cannot see how stipulating 'British values' or the state of 'Britishness' adds anything that could ever be meaningful to the experiences of young children,"he said. " Neil Leitch, the chief executive of the Pre‑school Learning Alliance, which represents 14,000 childcare providers in England, said his organisation welcomed the spirit of the announcement but questioned the usefulness for young children.
Practitioners are likely to struggle to think of anything that needs to be taught to young children to achieve British values specifically – their focus will always be on providing a rich and positive experience in all areas. Life values are more important to develop for a two-year-old, not a limited view of culture and life." "We cannot see how stipulating 'British values' or the state of 'Britishness' adds anything that could ever be meaningful to the experiences of young children. Practitioners are likely to struggle to think of anything that needs to be taught to young children to achieve British values specifically – their focus will always be on providing a rich and positive experience in all areas. Life values are more important to develop for a two-year-old, not a limited view of culture and life."
The DfE's statement said early years education providers "will be expected to teach children about fundamental British values in an age-appropriate way. For children in the early years, this will be about learning right from wrong, learning to take turns and share, and challenging negative attitudes and stereotypes." The DfE's statement said early years education providers "will be expected to teach children about fundamental British values in an age-appropriate way. For children in the early years this will be about learning right from wrong, learning to take turns and share, and challenging negative attitudes and stereotypes."
But the new regulations are more specific, saying local authorities will be empowered to cut off state funding – including the 15 hours of childcare funding a week for two- to four-year-olds – to any provider that "does not actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs". The new regulations, say local authorities will be empowered to cut off state funding – including the 15 hours of childcare funding a week for two- to four-year-olds – to any provider that "does not actively promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs".
Morgan said: "There can be no place for extremist views anywhere in the education system. The changes we are making today will ensure that all early years providers and schools are aligned with the need to protect children from views that are considered extreme."Morgan said: "There can be no place for extremist views anywhere in the education system. The changes we are making today will ensure that all early years providers and schools are aligned with the need to protect children from views that are considered extreme."
According to the DfE, Ofsted will be required to inspect early years providers against the new criteria. The regulations will bring early years education into line with similar changes to primary and secondary schools, introduced by Morgan's predecessor Michael Gove after the Trojan Horse affair, in which Islamist infiltration was alleged in a group of schools in Birmingham.According to the DfE, Ofsted will be required to inspect early years providers against the new criteria. The regulations will bring early years education into line with similar changes to primary and secondary schools, introduced by Morgan's predecessor Michael Gove after the Trojan Horse affair, in which Islamist infiltration was alleged in a group of schools in Birmingham.
The rules also include sanctions against the teaching of creationism as scientific fact or promotion of climate change denial by childcare providers, although the Department for Education stressed that religious education was still allowed. The rules also include sanctions against the teaching of creationism as scientific fact or promotion of climate change denial by childcare providers.
The regulations allow local authorities to cut off funds to any provider that "promotes, as evidence-based, views and theories which are contrary to established scientific or historical evidence and explanations", such as creationism. A DfE spokesperson said religious education would still be allowed, so long as it was not presented as scientific fact.The regulations allow local authorities to cut off funds to any provider that "promotes, as evidence-based, views and theories which are contrary to established scientific or historical evidence and explanations", such as creationism. A DfE spokesperson said religious education would still be allowed, so long as it was not presented as scientific fact.
Andrew Copson, the chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "It is vital that every young person receives a broad and balanced education, including teaching evolution as the only evidence-based view of how life came to be."Andrew Copson, the chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "It is vital that every young person receives a broad and balanced education, including teaching evolution as the only evidence-based view of how life came to be."
The government funds 15 hours of childcare a week for all three- and four-year-olds, and for two-year-olds from deprived households. The 15 hours can be used at schools with nursery places, or to pay for places at private nurseries or for Ofsted-registered providers such as nannies or au pairs.The government funds 15 hours of childcare a week for all three- and four-year-olds, and for two-year-olds from deprived households. The 15 hours can be used at schools with nursery places, or to pay for places at private nurseries or for Ofsted-registered providers such as nannies or au pairs.
Morgan said: "One of the most important roles of the education system is that it should prepare young people for life in modern Britain. I am clear that public money should not be used to support any school or early years provider that does not support this aim because it seeks to promote ideas and teachings than run counter to fundamental British values."Morgan said: "One of the most important roles of the education system is that it should prepare young people for life in modern Britain. I am clear that public money should not be used to support any school or early years provider that does not support this aim because it seeks to promote ideas and teachings than run counter to fundamental British values."
Kevin Courtney, the deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said it was disappointing that extremism was the focus of Morgan's first policy announcement.Kevin Courtney, the deputy general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said it was disappointing that extremism was the focus of Morgan's first policy announcement.
"Asking Ofsted to inspect how well nurseries are teaching 'fundamental British values' does not appear to offer anything new for children and will concern all those who seek to promote community engagement," Courtney said."Asking Ofsted to inspect how well nurseries are teaching 'fundamental British values' does not appear to offer anything new for children and will concern all those who seek to promote community engagement," Courtney said.