The vast majority of local authorities are paying private providers a smaller proportion of their Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) budgets for the hours of funded ELC they are delivering. Across Scotland, councils source an average of 28.3% of their funded hours from partner providers like private and voluntary nurseries or childminders. By contrast councils… Continue reading Most Scottish childcare providers getting raw deal from councils
Author: Anne-Marie Argile
NDNA Announces Two New National Trustees
NDNA has announced the appointment of Susan Hill as Trustee for NDNA Scotland and Nikola Masters as Trustee for NDNA Cymru. Susan was previously on the Board of Directors of the Scottish Independent Nursery Association until it merged with NDNA in 2005. Since then, she has been actively involved as an NDNA Network Chair, playing… Continue reading NDNA Announces Two New National Trustees
Ofsted Complaints Handling – all proposals accepted
The DfE has responded to the Ofsted complaints handling consultation and agreed to implement all four proposals. These will be introduced in the first few months of 2024 with more details on how they will work in practice to follow. NDNA responded to the consultation following webinars with members, who broadly supported the plans but… Continue reading Ofsted Complaints Handling – all proposals accepted
One in five unqualified: Ofsted publishes annual report
In her seventh and final Annual Report as Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman highlights both the progress of Ofsted as well as acknowledging the current challenges the sector faces. Challenges include a less qualified workforce; difficulties in recruiting and retaining; more children presenting with additional needs and a lack of training to support them as well… Continue reading One in five unqualified: Ofsted publishes annual report
National Living Wage will rise to £11.44 per hour from April 2024
From next April the National Living Wage will rise to £11.44 per hour from £10.42, a rise over more than £1 and the largest ever cash increase to the minimum wage. The current rate of £10.42 applies to workers over 23, but the Chancellor has announced that the rate will also apply to 21 and… Continue reading National Living Wage will rise to £11.44 per hour from April 2024
Government biggest childcare investment promise amounts to just a few pence
The Government’s grand childcare funding announcement has left providers with a very small increase, averaging just 32p per hour for three and four-year-olds. When Education Secretary Gillian Keegan announced the £204m additional funding to increase hourly rates from September, this was heralded as supporting childcare providers to get ready for the big expansion of funded… Continue reading Government biggest childcare investment promise amounts to just a few pence
Workforce crisis puts Government’s plans to expand ‘free childcare’ at risk
A new report published by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition and the University of Leeds warns that the governments planned expansion of funded childcare hours is at risk of not being delivered due to a workforce crisis. The report, ‘Retention and return: delivering the expansion of early years entitlement in England’, reveals that 57… Continue reading Workforce crisis puts Government’s plans to expand ‘free childcare’ at risk
The NDNA nursery awards are back for 2024!
NDNA is pleased to announce the launch of the 2024 NDNA Awards which are now open for entries to nurseries and NDNA networks across the UK. Next year, 2024 will mark NDNA’s 25th anniversary as a charity and so to celebrate we are launching two new award categories to enter. The ‘Learning Through Play’ award… Continue reading The NDNA nursery awards are back for 2024!
Government responds to EYFS consultation and announces capital funding for expansion
The Government has today given its response to the measures proposed in the EYFS consultation, most of which will go ahead but some will be scrapped or delayed. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan also announced three areas of investment: NDNA has asked for childcare providers to have the parent updates so they know what parents are… Continue reading Government responds to EYFS consultation and announces capital funding for expansion
Message from DfE: ‘T Levels are not being dropped.’
The DfE have written to educational ambassadors requesting they spread the message that ‘T Levels are not being dropped or de-prioritised’. The DfE are concerned that without the Industry Placement element of the qualification the thousands of T Level students who are currently studying, and those who plan to in the future, will not… Continue reading Message from DfE: ‘T Levels are not being dropped.’
MPs from the Backbench Business Committee held a debate on support for childcare and the early years.
Robin Walker, Conservative MP for Worcester and Chairman of the Education Committee proposed the debate on early education and childcare. Opening the debate on 16th October, he said: “As the parent of a five-year-old and two-year-old… there is probably no single subject more vital to the future success of our children than their earliest experiences… Continue reading MPs from the Backbench Business Committee held a debate on support for childcare and the early years.
Early years Maths Champions programme receives funding for expansion
A professional development programme designed by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) aimed at increasing practitioner skills, knowledge and confidence in delivering early maths has secured national funding. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is providing funding for the Maths Champions programme, secured through the Department for Education’s Accelerator Fund, for national roll-out. This funding will… Continue reading Early years Maths Champions programme receives funding for expansion
NDNA at Party Conferences: Labour Party Conference round up
It could be the last time Keir Starmer addresses his party before the next general election and NDNA were in Liverpool to see Labour ministers take to the stage to announce their vision for early education and childcare. NDNA hosted its own event to present a Blueprint for Early Education and Childcare which included a… Continue reading NDNA at Party Conferences: Labour Party Conference round up
NDNA at Party Conferences: Conservative Party Conference round up
With a general election on the horizon NDNA were at the forefront of the recent Conservative Party conference, speaking to politicians and policy makers about the future of early education and childcare. NDNA’s CEO Purnima Tanuku OBE, spoke at fringe events including a panel discussion hosted by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition’s event. NDNA… Continue reading NDNA at Party Conferences: Conservative Party Conference round up
Thousands more staff needed in early years sector to meet demand
Recent research by the innovation charity Nesta shows that the early years sector needs an additional 27,500 practitioners to deliver the expansion of free childcare hours to under-3s, announced in the Spring Budget 2023. This represents an increase in demand of 8% and further challenges an over-burdened sector that has lost 3% of the workforce… Continue reading Thousands more staff needed in early years sector to meet demand
Nursery closure rates up fifty per cent on previous academic year
Nurseries in England continue to close at an alarming rate, with fifty per cent more closures in the academic year 2022-23, compared with the previous year, according to research by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). The data looked at closures between September 2022 to the start of this academic year and found that 72 more… Continue reading Nursery closure rates up fifty per cent on previous academic year
MP visits nursery awarded 1000th Millie’s Mark accreditation
Mary Robinson MP for Cheadle visited the nursery which was awarded the 1000th Millie’s Mark in July. Millie’s Mark is the gold standard in paediatric first aid for early years settings across England and Scotland. Since it was launched in 2016, more than 1000 nurseries and other early years settings have now achieved the mark… Continue reading MP visits nursery awarded 1000th Millie’s Mark accreditation
Ofsted report focuses on the three prime areas of learning
Continuing its series of research relating to early years education Ofsted has published its report ‘Best Start in life part 2: the prime areas of learning’. The aim of the report is to support practitioners in raising the quality of education within early years and follows on from Part 1 which covered staffing, curriculum and… Continue reading Ofsted report focuses on the three prime areas of learning
Voters say that early education reform key in General Election
A new report from the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) – of which NDNA is a member – launched today has revealed that for 42% of British voters, childcare and early education reform will be key in their decision about who to vote for in the general election. The new report ‘Pulse Check: Public… Continue reading Voters say that early education reform key in General Election
Scotland’s Programme for Government: extending funded ELC offer
Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf announced his plans for extending the funded childcare policy in his first programme for Government speech. He will accelerate the expansion of the two-year-old offer by starting to phase in families with two-year-olds from next year, focusing on tackling child poverty. This will be subject to families meeting specific criteria… Continue reading Scotland’s Programme for Government: extending funded ELC offer