Sarah Steel, who ran Old Station Nurseries and was NDNA’s Chair of Trustees until earlier this year, has been given an OBE for services to early education in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Sarah has been a long-time NDNA member and trustee alongside her career which started in a single site family-run nursery. She founded… Continue reading Sarah Steel former NDNA Chair of Trustees honoured with OBE
Author: Anne-Marie Argile
NDNA Celebrates Talent and Professionalism at Prestigious Awards Ceremony
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) took to the stage to celebrate the talent, dedication and professionalism in the early years sector at its annual conference and awards ceremony. The NDNA conference 2025: ‘Every child’s story starts with early years’ brought members and sector experts together to share and inspire innovation for the future of the… Continue reading NDNA Celebrates Talent and Professionalism at Prestigious Awards Ceremony
Ofsted inspections will be confirmed in September
Ofsted has announced today (Wednesday 11 June) that it will delay publication of the inspection consultation response – expected during the summer term – until September. According to HMCI Sir Martyn Oliver, this delay is to “allow more time to analyse responses and carry out further testing of proposals to refine and improve the final… Continue reading Ofsted inspections will be confirmed in September
Chancellor’s spending review plans for the future, but sector needs investment now
Today, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Spending Review, setting out budgets for all government departments over the next few years. She begun by stating: “We are renewing Britain – but I know that too many people in too many parts of our country are yet to feel it.” It was anticipated that the Chancellor would… Continue reading Chancellor’s spending review plans for the future, but sector needs investment now
Early years workforce crisis demands urgent action before further childcare expansion
On the day of their national conference in Liverpool, where hundreds of early years providers will gather, research published by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has revealed the scale of the workforce crisis in early education and childcare. The results showed that there needs to be an urgent focus on bringing more talent into the… Continue reading Early years workforce crisis demands urgent action before further childcare expansion
Childcare expansion complicated by uncertainty over charging guidance and inconsistency across local authorities
Research by early years charity National Day Nurseries Association has found that local authorities are taking a mixed approach to implementing the Government’s guidance on delivering funded childcare hours. This is putting additional pressure and stress on early years providers. A short poll of nurseries covering over a quarter of all local authorities in England… Continue reading Childcare expansion complicated by uncertainty over charging guidance and inconsistency across local authorities
Nurseries encouraged to sign up for fully funded Maths Champions programmes
A programme which supports early years practitioners with their confidence and ability to teach maths to children in early years settings is currently recruiting settings to take part. Thanks to the Department for Education’s Accelerator funding, nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools will be able to participate in the Maths Champions Programme in June 2025. Maths… Continue reading Nurseries encouraged to sign up for fully funded Maths Champions programmes
Early years professional institute now free to support the sector
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) which powers the Institute of Early Years Education will make access to the platform, resources and CPD tracker free to the early years workforce. The main aim of the Institute is to raise the status of the workforce and professionalise the sector. The Institute was launched last August by NDNA… Continue reading Early years professional institute now free to support the sector
Consultation on amending the indoor space requirements in the EYFS
In a bid to meet demand for the funded childcare offer from September 2025 for children aged from 9 months old the DfE has launched a consultation on indoor space requirements.The current indoor space requirements in the EYFS framework is seen as a barrier for providers to expand their provision. The DfE is seeking opinion… Continue reading Consultation on amending the indoor space requirements in the EYFS
Giving Ofsted consultation sector’s views
NDNA has given your views on a sector-wide basis in a submission to Ofsted’s consultation on the new report card inspection system. Our submission drew on direct feedback from members, responses in our Ofsted webinar, which included a presentation from senior figures at Ofsted, views of our advisory board and early years experts. The consultation… Continue reading Giving Ofsted consultation sector’s views
As nurseries face NIC hikes, research shows more than £65m of early years funding goes unspent
A new investigation into ’free’ childcare funding for two to five-year-olds across England has uncovered continuing levels of underspends, according to National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). NDNA discovered that 75% of the 132 local authorities who responded to its Freedom of Information (FOI) request had underspends. This meant that a total of more than £65… Continue reading As nurseries face NIC hikes, research shows more than £65m of early years funding goes unspent
NDNA comments on BBC programme How Safe Are Our Nurseries?
NDNA’s Executive Chair Purnima Tanuku CBE said: “The case around the tragic death of Genevieve Meehan at nursery was a truly shocking incident. These cases are extremely rare but for those affected, one case is too many. Her parents, who have been through the worst imaginable experience for any family, are showing great courage in… Continue reading NDNA comments on BBC programme How Safe Are Our Nurseries?
Government approves grants for 300 school-based nurseries
The DfE has announced that it has approved grants for the first 300 new or extended nurseries in schools today. This is part of their plan to boost early education and care places in areas of high demand and low supply. But NDNA has been warning since the plan was first suggested in Labour’s manifesto… Continue reading Government approves grants for 300 school-based nurseries
Take nurseries out of unfunded NIC increases – sign the petition
With National Insurance Contribution (NIC) changes about to hit underfunded nurseries and increase the cost of childcare, NDNA is fully supporting a new petition to exempt childcare settings. This was launched by NDNA’s Nottinghamshire network chair Karen Richards in December but has taken months to go through the Petitions Committee’s clearance process. According to NDNA’s… Continue reading Take nurseries out of unfunded NIC increases – sign the petition
NDNA Scotland celebrates 20th anniversary with Children’s Rights Award
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland celebrated 20 years of supporting nurseries across Scotland in a special event with members and the Minister. Around 60 nursery managers, owners and practitioners attended the NDNATalk event in Edinburgh yesterday to announce the winner of the first ever NDNA Children’s Rights Award which celebrates exemplary rights-based practice in… Continue reading NDNA Scotland celebrates 20th anniversary with Children’s Rights Award
NICs debated in Parliament: “different treatment” for maintained nurseries highlighted
The Department for Education has published how it will deliver £25 million of additional funding to help schools with early years provision and publicly maintained settings. The funding for 2025/26 is to support those settings with NICs costs relating to both teachers and support staff costs associated with the increase to NICs. The NICs grant will provide additional funding in respect… Continue reading NICs debated in Parliament: “different treatment” for maintained nurseries highlighted
Coram report: cost of childcare increasing in Wales and Scotland but halved in England
Coram’s annual childcare report 2025 shows just how much the funded entitlement can support parents with the average childcare bill halving for parents in England. https://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/childcare-survey-2025 However, those who are not eligible have seen their bills rising by £100 a week or more. In Scotland and Wales where expansion of places for two year olds… Continue reading Coram report: cost of childcare increasing in Wales and Scotland but halved in England
IPPR report on collective bargaining highlights childcare
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) have published a report on areas where sector specific collective bargaining could help improve pay and conditions for workers. Childcare has been highlighted as a next step after adult social care. The report highlights the fact that the government is facing challenges in delivering its missions in crucial… Continue reading IPPR report on collective bargaining highlights childcare
Private day nurseries eligible for claiming Employment Allowance at increased rate
Following lobbying from NDNA, the Government has issued further specific guidance around eligibility of private and voluntary run nurseries across the UK for the National Insurance Contributions (NIC) Employment Allowance. Although the NIC will increase for employers from April 2025, the Employment Allowance (EA) will also increase from £5,000 per employer to £10,500. This could… Continue reading Private day nurseries eligible for claiming Employment Allowance at increased rate
Call on government to support new definition of ‘school readiness’
A Coalition of education and childcare organisations including NDNA has launched a new standard of skills for children starting school. This new ‘Starting Reception’ definition on school readiness has been created following the latest Kindred Squared annual report which highlighted an information gap between teachers and parents. The latest survey reported that teachers and parents… Continue reading Call on government to support new definition of ‘school readiness’