How NDNA gives nursery owners a stronger voice – sharing member concerns about the expansion of nurseries in schools
At their conference in September, Labour announced its plan for 3,000 nurseries in schools to support the childcare expansion would begin from September 2025, with an initial 300 schools being involved. Understandably, many of our members raised concerns about this initiative and looked for support from NDNA to make sure that their concerns were heard.
In this article, please read on for how NDNA gave our members a stronger voice on this issue. We will keep working hard to make sure that the Government listens to your concerns when rolling out this initiative.
Giving nursery owners a stronger voice
Listening to your concerns
NDNA knew that members were concerned about the expansion of nurseries in schools, so the first step was to meet with nursery owners and hear exactly what the concerns were in your own words. In September we arranged a consultation event in Stockport. Those attending represented over 200 childcare settings.
We also met with our Network Chairs, who volunteer to lead 22 NDNA Networks across England, representing over 2,000 nurseries. We noted all the points raised and we will use them when speaking with MPs and the DfE at all future meetings. For example, one of the concerns among others was that schools will poach PVI staff and pay them salaries that government funding won’t allow us to offer.
We arranged for the DfE to hear your concerns directly
NDNA regularly arranges events where members get the chance to put questions to key decision makers within the DfE, Ofsted and other bodies. Members put their questions to representatives of the DfE directly at our NDNATalk event on 2 October. (Watch the recording here). NDNA members put their questions and observations in the Q & A section to them and the message was clear: The PVI sector is very worried about the expansion in schools and how this will affect its long term sustainability.
We gave your message in person to those in power
Because of our large member base and more than 25 years of representing nursery owners to key decision makers across the sector and all three nations, NDNA regular meets with ministers and childcare sector bodies to inform them of the views of our members.
NDNA Chief Executive Officer Purnima Tanuku OBE discussed your views at Labour Party Conference and then met with Stephen Morgan, Minister for Early Education to personally inform him of members’ concerns. On 15 October, we attended the inaugural meeting to reconstitute the All Party Parliamentary Group for Early Education and Childcare. Through this group, which includes MPs and representatives of the House of Lords and sponsors from across the EY sector, we will be raising and discussing the challenges and issues facing the sector, but also coming up with constructive solutions to put to Government.
What was the overall message? Don’t build nurseries in schools where there is already an existing nursery nearby and put the PVI sector on a level playing field for staff salaries, funding and business rates.
You said it, we told them, they heard it, but did they listen? NDNA will keep telling them until they do.
Make sure you have a stronger voice on this issue by becoming a member of NDNA.
More success in giving members a stronger voice
You can read below about our recent successful campaign on the replacement of “free childcare” to “funded”.
DfE: it’s official childcare places will be called “funded” not “free”
Senior civil servants who attended an NDNA Talk event announced that the Government would be calling 15 and 30 hour childcare places “funded” and not “free”.
Mike Davies, Deputy Director Early Years Markets, Strategy and Workforce and Suzanne Taylor, Stakeholder Lead School-based Nursery Division from the Department for Education gave updates on their latest projects and how they had responded to feedback from the sector over the past few weeks.
Mr Davies said: “We have heard your concerns about the word free with regards to the entitlements and have now shifted to ‘government-funded’ in our communications with parents.”
NDNA’s CEO Purnima Tanuku OBE said: “After many years of campaigning on this issue of wording, it’s a huge relief that the Government is listening to the sector. We hope they continue to work with us on other challenges PVI providers are facing such as the workforce, capital funding and scrapping business rates.
“Calling the funded hours free has led to unrealistic expectations and difficult conversations with parents when nurseries are asking them to pay for meals and other items not included in the funding. This move to calling the hours government-funded should make this situation more straightforward for nurseries and other providers.” Read more here.
Make sure you have a stronger voice on this issue by becoming a member of NDNA.
Similar Articles
The Worker Protection Act for nurseries
The importance of a solid foundation in physical development in early years
