1.1 Explain how the range of early years setting reflects the scope and purpose of the sector.
During the Second World War nurseries were set up for childcare so women could go and join the work force to replace their men who had to serve in the war. They needed women to work on farms, shops, factories etc, but when the men returned home and back to their jobs, women went back to caring for their children and therefore nurseries were closed. At that time the early year’s sector in the UK was complex, as opposed to European counties as they were not developed by government policy. During the second half of the twentieth century the focus was on parents who needed more help and came from deprived areas, from poorer backgrounds and “Family Centres” were established to give the support and advice needed because the only other support was given by the private sector and couldn’t be afforded by them, such as childminders, nannies and nurseries. In 1948 nurseries and childminder acts monitored the private sectors for the early year’s provision, this lead to changes in children’s act in 1989 and the care standards act in 2000.
Parents in the 1960’s wanted more for their children, so they set up and organised playgroups using church halls, and community facilities allowing the children to have fun while learning through play.
Parent’s childcare needs varied. Here are a few examples of what they wanted from childcare:
• Parent’s wanted full and part time child care cover enabling their child to learn and play in a safe environment, providing an opportunity to go back to work or study to gain some qualifications.
• Parents thought it would be nice to stay with their child when attending playgroups. They could watch their child have fun while socializing with other parents.
• Some parents like the idea of a setting where it was specifically aimed at children to play and learn.
• Some parents thought