The key announcements from NDNA Conference 2026
Several high profile sector figures spoke at NDNA’s conference in Liverpool on Friday 5 June, with some using it as a platform to make important new announcements.
Among the presenters were Olivia Bailey, Minister for Early Education and Equality and Sir Martyn Oliver, HMCI at Ofsted.
Education veteran Ger Graus opened delegates’ eyes to how children can only aspire to what they know exists.
He was followed by well-respected neuroscience and TV presenter Dr Sam Wass who gave the latest research insights into how babies’ brains work and how to create the best learning environments for them.
Minister Bailey
The Minister tried to reassure the delegates that PVI nurseries were a key part of the early education and childcare policy and not overlooked in favour of school-based nurseries. In response to questions from providers about the extent government controls what they can do she did clarify that: “I absolutely recognise you are private businesses and should be able to make your own decisions on how you run those.
“I see you as equal in giving best possible start.”
Her announcements included:
- that the funding consultation will launch in the summer as part of a comprehensive review into the whole early education and childcare system
- from September, Ofsted will now be routinely inspecting nurseries on safer sleep practices as part of their inspections. She also announced that Ofsted will be the designated body for whistleblowing for those in early years.
- the DfE will soon be setting out a wider package of measures to ensure highest standards of safeguarding.
- by 2028 there will be 1,000 Best Start Hubs and she wants these to include PVI nurseries. She also spoke about the new bonuses for recruitment and retention which she has since announced more detail on https://ndna.org.uk/ndna-welcomes-dfe-action-to-boost-graduate-early-years-teachers-in-disadvantaged-communities/
When asked about the Government language in recent releases stoking misunderstanding around charges that nurseries make to parents, she replied: “Firstly I don’t think it’s wrong you charge and you need to make ends meet. The press reports last week were about the very small number of people who are charging more than they should and making charges to access the hours.”
Ofsted – Sir Martyn Oliver
Sir Martyn Oliver spoke at length about a crackdown on notifications and nurseries who gave no notifications at all which he made it clear was “illegal”.
Following on from recent abhorrent high-profile cases of safeguarding failure which have led to harm and in some cases death of children in nurseries, he told the conference that there must be scrutiny across all settings.
He wants consistency across all inspections and understands that consequences of getting it wrong can be devastating for settings.
So far under the new grading system, Ofsted has given 234 ‘urgent improvement’ grades. This has often been for issues around safer eating, concerns around hygiene, safeguarding policies either not being in place or not being followed, and staff not understanding what children already know and what they should be taught next.
These settings that need urgent improvement will typically be inspected again within 6 months to make sure that they are “acting swiftly to improve”.
He stressed that PVI nurseries CAN achieve the highest grade of exceptional in the same way schools can, then he gave examples of nurseries which had achieved this level.
Jayne Coward who answered some of the questions urged providers to ring the helpline during inspections if there was something they weren’t happy about.
Read his full speech here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/martyn-olivers-speech-at-the-national-day-nurseries-association
Delegates also listened to a panel of safeguarding experts from across the early years sector discuss the issues facing providers regarding safeguarding issues including that of men in childcare.
Member Farah Farooq shared her research and experience of working with Gen Z staff which was insightful. Then, former CEO Purnima Tanuku CBE gave a her final speech to members reflecting on her time in early years, which was met with a standing ovation.Member Farah Farooq shared her research and experience of working with Gen Z staff which was insightful. Then, former CEO Purnima Tanuku CBE gave a her final speech to members reflecting on her time in early years, which was met with a standing ovation.
NDNA’s conference, which was chaired by Politics Home journalist Matilda Martin, was rounded off by inspirational outdoor adventurer Christian Lewis who told his true story in honest detail of how he hit rock bottom, then decided to walk the entire UK coastline including islands with no money and barely any resources. He found happiness, purpose and love.
- Conference
- Department for Education
- DfE
- early education
- early years
- England
- NDNA
- nurseries
- Ofsted
- safeguarding
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