New incoming Chief Executive for NDNA
Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Purnima Tanuku CBE is due to move into a new role with the organisation as its Executive Chair.
This position will exist to lead the strategic work of the organisation, particularly managing key external relationships with Ministers, senior officials and the policy work across the UK.
NDNA’s Board of Trustees has appointed Tim McLachlan to work alongside Purnima and he will take over as Chief Executive from 31 March 2025. Tim joins from successfully leading the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, which saw the implementation of Natasha’s Law on food allergies in 2021.
NDNA sees this as a crucial time for the sector as early education and care providers in England prepare for the final stage of the Government’s expanded childcare offer from September 2025. Devolved governments are also progressing their own plans of expanding childcare, via Flying Start in Wales and trialling 0-14 childcare in six early adopter communities in Scotland.
Purnima Tanuku CBE, NDNA’s Chief Executive said:
“This is an absolutely crucial time for the early years sector across the UK. We have seen unprecedented demand in delivering growing funded childcare commitments, while ensuring settings can remain sustainable and deliver the high-quality early education we all want to see.
“At NDNA we proactively offer evidence-based solutions to some of the policy challenges of the sector. We are strengthening the organisation’s senior management team in order to enhance our support through the expansion of our Maths Champions programme and establishing and developing the Institute of Early Years Education.
“I am delighted to be welcoming Tim to NDNA as he has the drive and commitment to take the organisation forward as we continue to grow our support to the sector and I am really pleased to be working with him as he takes on this role.”
Tim McLachlan, NDNA’s incoming Chief Executive said:
“I am thrilled to be joining NDNA at this critical time for children, families and the providers who are delivering early education and care places to them. There is a lot of focus on early years right now and I want to make sure NDNA stays at the forefront of that national debate.
“I want to see a world where all children can have better life chances through accessing high-quality early education and care. To achieve that we need strong and sustainable providers of all shapes and sizes, who are thriving, not just surviving.”
NDNA’s Chair of Trustees, Sarah Steel said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming Tim to NDNA at this important time for our sector and us as a charity. He has an impressive record of leading innovative institutions and charities that have made hugely important contributions.
“Giving children the best start in life has always been our ambition, reflected in the work our members do. We will continue to provide a strong voice for early years providers while following through on our ambitions to support the professionals working in our sector.
“I am delighted that Purnima will continue to support Tim and the work of NDNA as our Executive Chair, to carry on advocating for our amazing sector and the people working in it.”
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