ESRC IAA Re-imagining the Early Years in Wales: Early childhood education and care policy symposium

Description of impact

Early childhood education and care policy has developed in a piecemeal manner in Wales with the limits on devolved powers complicating the picture. It is increasingly recognised that the complexity of both funding and supply makes it difficult to achieve policy aims. These include providing the best quality care and learning experiences for young children; economic opportunities for their parents; contributing to poverty reduction; and promoting social pedagogy.
There is a recognition both within Government and across the sector, that the current situation is unsustainable and particularly with the opportunity that new funding brings, a new vision for early childhood education and care (ECEC) is needed.
We propose therefore, to bring together stakeholders through a one-day Early Childhood Education and Care Symposium to be held in 2018 where full and frank discussions can take place.
The aim of the Symposium would be to provide a platform for catalysing an integrated approach to ECEC policy and would be organised with the following key objectives in mind:
1. Bring together the policy actors, delivery agents and representatives of the beneficiaries of ECEC in Wales (c. 30 specially invited participants).
2. Present research evidence and debate the current ECEC policy environment in Wales.
3. Provide a neutral environment in which open discussion can take place.
4. Gain agreement upon a broad set of shared values for ECEC in Wales that can be expressed in a Symposium communique.
5. Identify strategies and responsibilities for dissemination of the communique (nb. representatives may need to consult within their organisations before signing up).
6. With partners, plan a programme of activity across the Welsh political landscape to shape future ECEC policy priorities (see https://campaignforsocialscience.org.uk/pathwaystoimpact/#).
Impact would be measured by:
• Cross-sector agreement of a core set of values that can be used to underpin an evidence-based integrated approach to ECEC in Wales.
• A post event short questionnaire circulated to further identify ‘what worked’, key themes from participants perspectives, suggested follow up strategies (impact ‘snowballing’).
• An executive report of the Symposium circulated electronically to provide a record, and summary of the key discussions and conclusions.
• Further dissemination through eliciting media interest, writing blogs and articles for stakeholder publications, and a co-produced academic journal article.
• Policy change at national and local level within the current programme of government (Taking Wales Forward 2016-2021) towards an integrated approach to ECEC in Wales measured against outcomes set out within the Symposium Communique.
• Securing commitment to an integrated approach to ECEC within future political party manifestos.

Description of the underpinning research

As part of his PhD research examining childcare in Wales, David Dallimore (Bangor University, 2016) undertook a policy review using frame analysis techniques. The analysis highlighted considerable inconsistencies in childcare and early education policies in Wales. He has since published findings in both academic (Dallimore & Cunnington Wynn, 2017 Wales Journal of Education) and non-academic (Dallimore & Graham, 2017 Institute of Welsh Affairs) publications. The research has found considerable traction with interest from the media, Welsh Government, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales and widely across the childcare and early years sector. The research finds that despite being presented as ‘child centred’, early childhood policy (such as the 30 hours childcare offer currently being piloted by Welsh Government) is increasingly delivered as social investment with the economic considerations of parents prioritised over the quality of provision and children’s well-being. At the heart of this matter is a historic system of split education and care that is inconsistent with internationally recognised good practice, and creates barriers to change. This had previously been highlighted by Graham & Dallimore in the 2014 Independent review of childcare and early education registration, regulation and inspection. Policy actors within Welsh Government have started to recognise the problem and indicated that there is a willingness to listen and move forward on this issue, but by their own admission, they need drivers to be applied from outside. However, the split between care and early education; a lack of cohesion amongst organisations representing interest groups; and the reliance of these groups on Welsh Government funding has resulted in limited opportunity to critique policy within a safe, independent arena. With major new funding committed by Welsh Government there is currently an opening to engage with politicians, the early years sector, children and families to examine the research evidence base, and through engagement and discussion, develop a new vision for early childhood in Wales.

Beneficiaries and reach of impact

Direct beneficiaries of the Symposium would be representative groups from across the sector including childcare provider organisations; educators; children’s groups; parent and family organisations; local authorities; academics; regulators; and Welsh Government. Indirect beneficiaries of successful outcomes would be young children and their families in Wales, and the organisations that provide ECEC services to them.

General Notes

External partnerships
This project would be a joint enterprise with charity Save the Children who have a long-term campaign to reduce inequality in the early years in Wales. Their forthcoming report ‘Little Pieces; Big Picture: Harnessing early education and care to make sure no child is left behind’ already draws heavily on the Bangor University research cited above.
The involvement of the Save the Children Wales as a respected campaigning voice for children and families (the end-users in this case) is important for this proposal in establishing a neutral environment that it is hoped will encourage full and frank participation by representatives from within the ECEC sector in Wales.
The project will be co-produced with Save the Children Wales who will fully contribute to the planning and delivery of the Symposium and follow-up activities. This will include a co-produced academic paper examining ECEC policy in Wales.
The project will build on existing informal knowledge exchange between Bangor University and Save the Children Wales around ECEC, but it is hoped that links with other research being carried out around children and families across the University would benefit from this partnership.

Impact status	Ongoing
Impact date	1 May 2018 → 30 Nov 2018