To elect a Chair for the ensuing year.

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the ensuing year.

To receive apologies for absence.

To receive details of any Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Partnership.

To receive notice of any item it is proposed to raise under any other business and consider whether any item so identified may be so raised or should be deferred.

To answer any written questions received from members of the public.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 10th March, 2005.

To receive any important news from Members of the Partnership.

To receive a verbal presentation from Sue Fiennes, Director of Children’s Services, on issues relating to the Children’s Services Directorate.

To receive a verbal presentation from Julia Stephens.

To consider the attached report from Sue Peasgood, the Early Years Inspector, regarding proposals made by the Inclusion Sub-Group on supporting effective inclusion of children with special needs in out-of-school settings.

To consider the attached report from George Salmon, Head of Policy and Resources, on the conclusions of the national research project and the implications for early years provision in Herefordshire.

To consider a report from Carla Preston, Business and Finance Support Officer, on dealing with future grant awards.

To consider the attached report about two early years settings that have applied to be included in the Herefordshire Directory of Providers and to receive Nursery Education Fund from the autumn term 2005.

To receive and consider endorsing a report from George Salmon, Head of Policy and Resources, about the Joint Area Review.

To receive a verbal presentation from Ros Hatherill, Early Years and Childcare Manager, regarding Children’s Centre Funding.

To receive an information report from Bryan Twitty, CIS Manager, about progress against the targets in the two-year plan for both disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged wards. 

To receive a report from Bryan Twitty, CIS Manager, on the role out of the extended Bookstart scheme involving Libraries, NHS and other Partners.

To receive a verbal presentation from Ros Hatherill, Early Years and Childcare Manager, regarding the Budget for 2005/06.

To note that the next meeting of the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership is scheduled for Thursday 13th October 2005 at 7:00 p.m. Future meetings are as follows:

• Thursday 1st December 2005

To consider any other items of business agreed at the start of the meeting.