Nursery: Where the Best Start Happens – NDNA’s new campaign championing PVI nurseries
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has launched its latest campaign, “Nursery: Where the Best Start Happens”, to champion the vital role that private, voluntary and independent (PVI) nurseries play in giving children aged 0-5 the best possible start in life.
PVI nurseries are more than the backbone of early years provision in the UK, delivering around 80% of funded childcare places for under threes. They provide high quality, flexible, year-round care that meets the needs of working families in every community.
Through play-based learning, PVI nurseries help nurture children’s communication, physical development, emotional wellbeing and early literacy and numeracy skills. Many nurseries also offer enriching activities such as forest school, music and language learning, alongside inclusive support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Beyond education, PVI nurseries have built trusted relationships with families and offer wraparound support that goes beyond childcare and helps children thrive as individuals. Strong links with local primary schools ensure a smooth transition into reception, with over 90% successfully into primary education.
The campaign also touches on the growing pressures facing the sector, including funding, workforce and having the resources to support children with additional needs.
Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of NDNA, said:
“Ofsted data shows the importance of the PVI sector in delivering early education and childcare places. They reported that 98% of PVI nurseries are good or outstanding.
“The DfE’s Best Start in Life strategy is good, but we need to recognise the amazing work that is already happening in the sector.
“This campaign is about proactively defending and promoting our sector. It is also about equity.
“PVI nurseries receive significantly less funding than maintained nursery schools. They face rising costs and workforce shortages and are increasingly challenged by damaging messaging around ‘free hours” and new restrictions on parental charges.
“These pressures risk destabilising provision and limiting families’ access to high quality early education.”
NDNA’s campaign calls for fair and sustainable funding and investment in the early years workforce, as well as recognition of PVI nurseries and their essential role in delivering the Best Start in Life.
NDNA are urging nurseries, parents and supporters to back our campaign by sharing their stories, engaging with local MPs and media to help to help put a positive spotlight on the incredible work happening in nurseries every day.
Together, we can ensure every child gets the best start in life – in nursery.
You can help support our campaign and find NDNA letter templates for reaching out to your local community here.
- Celebrating Our Sector
- child development
- childcare
- development and learning
- early education
- Early Learning and Childcare
- early years
- Financial Sustainability
- First Five Years Count
- funding
- NDNA
- nurseries
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