NYMAZ Early Years Network Consultation

April 2016

NYMAZ Early Years Network Consultation Comparison of 2014 vs 2016 results

NYMAZ consulted its Early Years (EY) network in 2014 and 2016. This document compares the two consultations, outlaying similarities and differences in responses. The consultations had 40 respondents in 2014 and 34 in 2016. All members of the NYMAZ Early Years network were invited to participate in the consultation. The network had grown significantly in the intervening period, so the 2016 consultation data represents a lower representative sample of the NYMAZ EY network. All questions from the 2014 consultation were repeated in 2016. Responses were given anonymously so it is not possible to know what percentage of respondents had participated in both consultations.

The map below shows the spread of respondents to the consultation, 2014 respondents marked in red, 2016 in blue. There is relatively even spread across North Yorkshire, and whilst there were respondents from West and South Yorkshire, there were no respondents from East Yorkshire. There are more markers for 2016 (blue) outside of North Yorkshire than there are for 2014 (red). This illustrates that awareness for the work of NYMAZ is increasing outside of the county. All districts were represented in both consultations, with high response from Harrogate and Scarborough districts in 2014.

The occupational roles of all respondents were as might be expected – a high proportion of child minders, teachers and pre-school music leaders. One notable difference was that the 2014 consultation had responses from 11 child minders, whereas the 2016 consultation had only 1. This difference is one of chance, rather than a conclusive trend in the EY music workforce. Both consultations had responses from 8 managers, showing an interest in early years music and the work of NYMAZ by the management of schools and pre-schools. There was one respondent in 2014 and 2016 who said they were not currently working in any EY setting. There were 3 peripatetic/freelance workers in 2016. Respondents’ setting type broadly correlated with their current role. Those working in childminding went from 8 to 0, and those in a nursery or school setting stayed fairly constant. 3 of those working freelance are doing so for arts organisations. Setting type 2014 2016 Child minder 8 0 Primary School 8 10 Pre-school 4 2 Nursery 10 8 Arts Organisation 0 2 Home-based 2 0 Play group 2 6 SEN-D School 0 2 Library 0 1

Respondents were asked if they use any specific musical pedagogy in their work. This question had a low response rate of 12.5% in 2014 and 26% in 2016, but of the responses given, they were either that no pedagogy was used, or that Kodály was used.

Respondents were asked what EY qualifications and/or experience they had, indicating as many responses as relevant. The 2016 consultation had six respondents who had no training or qualifications in EY. Figures for having QT status or a PGCE or a Level 3 Childcare qualification fell significantly from 2014 to 2016.

There was a broad range of musical training amongst the respondents, detailed in the below graph. Notably there were a significant number of respondents (7 of 33 in 2014, 9 of 37 in 2016) who had no musical qualifications or experience. These respondents may have trained as EY practitioners who were then moving in to EY music leading, and hence have no experience in music. Also of note, 2014’s consultation had 27 of 37 respondents (73%) who had played recorder or sang at school. This figure dropped to 17 of 33 in 2016 (52%).

Respondents were asked to prioritise three main aims for their EY sessions. Comparing the two sets of results, the respondents prioritised the aims in the same way. These three aims were: - offering early education and development through music and singing - giving enjoyment and a fun time for children and parents - learning about music, exploring musical concepts and sounds The results were the same for the two different sets of respondents – keeping an emphasis on general development through music and singing was seen by both sets of respondents to be the most important of the three aims. Both sets of respondents also said that learning about music and exploring musical concepts was the least important. This showed continuity of approach by those delivering EY music sessions across the county.

A number of challenges persisted amongst the sets of respondents to the consultations. In both 2014 and 2016, 5 people said that they found staff support and knowledge of music to be an obstacle for them when delivering music, saying that staff were uncomfortable singing along with the children, and/or that staff and management did not allow sufficient time to achieve meaningful work. One respondent said in 2016 that they ‘stopped working in ‘Early Years’ when it was considered to be bad practice to expect the children to gather together in one place for a ‘music session’’. The 2016 consultation had 3 citations of travel and distance as an obstacle, compared with 0 in 2014. Given NYMAZ’s work to support EY music practitioners, it was encouraging to see that whilst 7 people cited a lack of offered training or CPD in 2014, this number had reduced to 4 in 2016 (although this could be due to the different pool of respondents). Unfortunately there was an increase in comments of parents not identifying value in music education, the figure rising from 3 in 2014 to 6 in 2016. Further to this, the 2016 consultation had more comments about a lack of commitment to EY music sessions by parents, which could have been linked to the issue of travel and distance.

In both consultations, respondents were evenly divided for having an awareness of any other EY music in their area or district. There was however a significant difference in the number of people who were unaware of any ‘cold spots’ for EY music in North Yorkshire, as is shown in the table below.

Do you know of any other EY music in your local area or district? 2014 2016 Yes 18 18 No 20 16

Are you aware of any 'cold spots' for EY music in North Yorkshire? 2014 2016 Yes 6 3 No 27 29

The 2016 consultation had an additional question, asking respondents if they were aware of any sector developments in recent years that have affected their EY work. Several people said that the support and training offered by NYMAZ has been ‘wonderful’, and ‘a great help’. Feeding back about the NYMAZ CPD provision, 8 respondents commented that the output is ‘great, useful [and] high quality’. One respondent said that music hubs no longer cover EY music, which is now under review in some locations. Another mentioned the work of HYCOS (National Youth Choir of Scotland) and the British Kodaly Academy in training, resource materials and an accredited course on EY music has been ‘ground-breaking’.