Despite extra funding and guidance on paying a sustainable rate for funded early learning and childcare (ELC) being available from the Scottish Government from April, two councils have still not set out what partner providers will be paid in 2024/25. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland has followed up an earlier investigation in May which… Continue reading Two councils in Scotland still to decide on childcare funding rates
Author: Anne-Marie Argile
First membership body supporting early education and care professionals
The Institute of Early Years Education has been launched today (Wednesday 7th August). It is the first UK-wide professional membership body for all individuals working, or aspiring to work, in the early education and care sector. Powered by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), the Institute supports the personal and professional development of early education… Continue reading First membership body supporting early education and care professionals
Wellbeing support announced for early years workforce
The new Institute of Early Years Education has joined forces with Spectrum.Life, a whole-of-health digital partner, to offer a healthy lifestyles package to anyone working in the early education and care sector who takes up membership. The healthy lifestyles member benefit is intended to give professionals working in the early education and care sector support… Continue reading Wellbeing support announced for early years workforce
Joint Survey of Care Inspectorate Inspection Experiences
In November 2023 NDNA, along with Early Years Scotland (EYS), Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) and Scottish Childminders Association (SCMA) conducted a joint survey which asked providers to share their experiences of Care Inspectorate Inspections. This was in response to a wide range of concerns raised with all organisations about difficult experiences. NDNA took on… Continue reading Joint Survey of Care Inspectorate Inspection Experiences
New wide-ranging childcare report published for Wales
The Welsh Senedd has published a comprehensive report: Their Future: Our Priority? as a follow up inquiry into childcare provision in Wales. The report is a result of extensive interviews and evidence sessions and is a follow up to the Equality and Social Justice Committee’s January 2022 report: Minding the future – the childcare barrier… Continue reading New wide-ranging childcare report published for Wales
More families struggling to find and pay for places
The Department for Education (DfE) has published its latest statistics Childcare and early years survey of parents 2023 showing that more families say there are not enough places locally In total, 37% of families with children aged up to four years old said not enough places were available, up from 28% in 2021 and the… Continue reading More families struggling to find and pay for places
New research shows early maths intervention gives children sustained progress
New analysis reveals that children who have participated in an early years maths programme gain from sustained progress in both maths and language development by the end of reception class. This progress is likely to be more marked for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has released its findings today which suggest… Continue reading New research shows early maths intervention gives children sustained progress
Stephen Morgan MP officially Early Education minister
The Department for Education (DfE) has officially confirmed Stephen Morgan MP as the Minister for Early Education this week (23 July). In its pre-election manifesto, NDNA called on the new Government to change the language around early years and childcare to include the word education to reflect the importance of this stage of a child’s… Continue reading Stephen Morgan MP officially Early Education minister
NAO finds that disadvantaged gap has widened
The National Audit Office (NAO) has published a best value report on educational outcomes for disadvantaged children and found that despite around £9.2bn investment the attainment gap has widened. It recommends in its Improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children report that the Department for Education (DfE) invest more in early years. Among its findings were:… Continue reading NAO finds that disadvantaged gap has widened
Early years minister replaced in Wales following cabinet resignations
Following the resignation of several cabinet secretaries, First Minister Vaughan Gething who will remain in post until a successor can be found, has announced a mini reshuffle. The resignations pushed the First Minister to announced that he would be standing down from the role just four months after being voted in. A leadership contest will… Continue reading Early years minister replaced in Wales following cabinet resignations
UK General Election 2024 Results
Labour has won the UK general election 2024 with a substantial majority to form the next government. With 412 seats and a 174 majority Sir Keir Starmer will become the next Prime Minister. In his victory speech he said “change begins now.” In response to the UK general election 2024 results Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive… Continue reading UK General Election 2024 Results
Welsh parties focus on supporting children and families
With less than two weeks to go to the upcoming general election, NDNA Cymru takes a look at the Welsh manifestos to see what focus is being given to early education and care. NDNA has looked at policies from (in alphabetical order) Plaid Cymru, Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Labour and Welsh Liberal Democrats. Here’s a round-up… Continue reading Welsh parties focus on supporting children and families
NDNA launches early education and care manifesto
National Day Nursery Association (NDNA) launched its early education and care sector manifesto Make the First Five Years Count today putting children at the centre of its priorities. In this manifesto, NDNA sets out its child-centric approach so the next Government understands how essential this sector is for children’s development and for the economy in… Continue reading NDNA launches early education and care manifesto
Labour responds to NDNA’s concerns about nurseries in schools plan
Labour’s Shadow Education Minister Bridget Phillipson has responded to NDNA’s concerns about Labour’s plans for early education and care in schools. In an interview on The Battle for Number 10: A Sky News Leaders’ Special, Labour Leader Keir Starmer said: “We want to create 100,000 new places for childcare, this is 3,000 nurseries around schools… Continue reading Labour responds to NDNA’s concerns about nurseries in schools plan
The week of the Manifestos
This week we’ve seen the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Labour party unveil their 2024 election manifestos including their key pledges to the early years and childcare. Here’s a summary. Liberal Democrats key manifesto points published 10 June Protect and support the rights and wellbeing of every child by: Give parents genuine flexibility and choice in… Continue reading The week of the Manifestos
NDNA’s 25th Anniversary Conference Celebrates Winners of Prestigious Awards
National Day Nursery Association (NDNA) celebrated 25years since becoming a charity at its annual conference and awards evening. The NDNA conference 2024: ‘Growing together, championing change for children’s futures’ brought members and sector experts together to inspire and generate new ideas for the future of the early years sector and celebrate the achievements of leaders… Continue reading NDNA’s 25th Anniversary Conference Celebrates Winners of Prestigious Awards
Council underspends in early years at highest level at £70m
An investigation into ’free’ childcare funding for two to four-year-olds across England has uncovered record levels of underspends, according to National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). NDNA discovered that at least £70m of early years entitlement funding was underspent in council budgets and not spent on places during the financial year 2022-23. Only a very small… Continue reading Council underspends in early years at highest level at £70m
Dr Sara Bonetti introduces the new Institute of Early Years Education
Speaking at the annual National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) conference, Dr Sara Bonetti announced exciting further details about the new Institute of Early Years Education, which will support the early years workforce across the UK. Sara gave a presentation about the Institute at the conference today in Coventry, attended by hundreds of nursery owners, managers… Continue reading Dr Sara Bonetti introduces the new Institute of Early Years Education
The Royal Foundation publishes its early childhood Taskforce report
A recent report by The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood has identified a £45.5 billion opportunityfor business to drive, and benefit from,prioritising early childhood in the workplace, community and wider society. Set up in March 2023 by the Princess of Wales, the Taskforce involves major firms Aviva, The Co-operative Group, Deloitte, Iceland Foods,… Continue reading The Royal Foundation publishes its early childhood Taskforce report
Nurseries in 12 Scottish council areas don’t know their funding rate
Nurseries across Scotland were promised an uplift in Early Learning and Childcare funding from the beginning of April and yet those in 38% of council areas still don’t know what they will receive. According to analysis by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland which looked into data they had requested via the Freedom of Information… Continue reading Nurseries in 12 Scottish council areas don’t know their funding rate