Education in Herefordshire

The Early Years Strategy Group is made up of different local agencies and organisations, including those in health and education, and makes sure that services for children under five are being implemented in the county. As well as being responsible for delivering national policies locally, it also oversees the Children and Young People's Partnership and the strategic Children's and Young People's Plan.

For more information, please contact Sue Eales, Children Centres Services Manager, who is acting lead for the group until the appointment of a new chair. Email: Sue.Eales@herefordshire.gov.uk

Early years setting graded as 'requiring improvement' or 'inadequate' by Ofsted

If Ofsted judges any Herefordshire Early Years settings (such as a nursery or playgroup) inadequate or in need of improvement, the Early Years Strategy Group helps them get back on track. We do this using a detailed continuous quality improvement process developed by the Herefordshire Learning and Achievement Service. Based on the Early Years Quality Improvement Programme, this offers appropriate support over an agreed timescale. It consists of four main steps:

• Taking immediate action taken to rectify any issues affecting the health, welfare or safety of children. We can provide specific advice and help with this
• Working together to develop a Focused Improvement Plan (FIP) that identifies key issues and details the agreed actions and timescales for securing improvement.
• Ongoing support to implement the FIP, making adjustments as necessary.
• Reviewing monthly the progress being made

See the terms of reference for the Early Years Strategy Group and minutes of its previous meetings.