Down at Leveller Towers we're intruiged by the Ed Balls's plan to extend Nursery Education Funding for 2 year olds. Funding was pilotted in a number of authorities recently, and presumably it's been evaluated asa success. The Children's Plan, published in December, announced that this pilot would now be extended to 20,000 two year olds. Good news - we think.
Presumably, just as when funding for three and four year olds was introduced, this is just the start of more mainstream funding. Thing is 20,000 whilst sounding like a big number just isn't. I haven't woked it out scientifcally, but there must be about 500,000 two year olds in England alone. This raise the spectre that this initiative is going to be targetted on particular wards, or even particular children - a postcode lottery that is so unpopular with providers and parents alike.
Anyhow if, as seems likely, it is to be targetted I just hope it's at disadvantaged children that are not already in daycare and at children who are alredy identified as falling behind their peers due to lack of socialisation and too much daytime telly. Perhaps this initiative may just help to revive the playgroup - all but extinct in many Children's Centre areas, being unable to compete with proliferating, purpose-built daycare settings.