Early education and care providers are not seeing the full benefit of Government funding rate increases for two-year-old places in 88% of council areas, according to an investigation by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). In an analysis of 119 local authority base rates for the two, three and four-year-old funded places, NDNA found that in… Continue reading Too many councils passing on insufficient funding rates to childcare providers
Author: Anne-Marie Argile
Celebrity Speakers announced for 25th Anniversary Nursery Conference
Celebrity guest speakers Ashley John-Baptiste and Elliot Rae will be attending National Day Nurseries Association’s (NDNA)’s conference in June as NDNA celebrates 25 years since becoming a charity. The NDNA conference 2024: ‘Growing together, championing change for children’s futures’ is sponsored by Hope, Citation and Nursery World. It will bring together experts and educators with… Continue reading Celebrity Speakers announced for 25th Anniversary Nursery Conference
Early years entitlement rollout to face future challenges
According to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report the early years entitlement faces future challenges as the rollout continues under an ambitious timetable. The Government’s expansion of the early years entitlement, aimed at increasing the labour market by helping mothers return to work is on track for the first phase of the rollout in… Continue reading Early years entitlement rollout to face future challenges
DfE pulse survey of childcare and early years providers published
The Department for Education (DfE) have today published their latest findings from a Pulse survey of childcare and early years providers which was carried out in November 2023. This latest piece of research, the seventh in a series of surveys conducted since the summer of 2020 asked a sample of GBPs (group based providers),… Continue reading DfE pulse survey of childcare and early years providers published
Childcare expansion: DfE claim 79% of codes validated
The Government has published new statistics on the two-year-old childcare expansion which was launched earlier this month. These include: The DfE added that its recruitment campaign which was launched in February had resulted in interest from 73,000 people. It is also piloting a new scheme to increase capacity by matching up PVI providers with space… Continue reading Childcare expansion: DfE claim 79% of codes validated
Ofsted Complaints Handling – you can now pause or defer an inspection
Ofsted has updated its policies on complaints handling including pausing an inspection in exceptional circumstances. The regulator hopes that its new policy will make its handling complaints process fairer, thorough and efficient. The changes have been brought in following last year’s consultation and now include allowing providers to challenge factual inaccuracies and seek a review… Continue reading Ofsted Complaints Handling – you can now pause or defer an inspection
Childcare expansion begins from 1 April for parents of two-year-olds
The first phase of the government’s planned childcare expansion started 1 April which is set to benefit over 150,000 children. From this week, parents of two-year-olds in England can access 15 hours a week of government-funded childcare. The full roll out of funded childcare will be in place by September 2025. The Government has launched… Continue reading Childcare expansion begins from 1 April for parents of two-year-olds
New Welsh Minister announced for Mental Health and Early Years
First Minister Vaughan Gething has today announced his new Welsh Government Cabinet which includes the appointment of a Minister for Mental Health and Early Years. Jayne Bryant MS, is announced as the Minister for Mental Health & Early Years and is part of the ministerial team ‘for a Wales full of optimism, ambition and unity.’… Continue reading New Welsh Minister announced for Mental Health and Early Years
Healthy Body, Happy Me week is back – Off we grow
Healthy Body, Happy Me campaign launches next week (25-29 March) with the theme ‘Off We Grow’ The annual campaign, run by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), encourages life-long health and happiness in young children by supporting early years practitioners through a week-long programme of free resources and activities. The campaign theme for this year encapsulates… Continue reading Healthy Body, Happy Me week is back – Off we grow
Seven out of ten nurseries in Scotland say they are under funded
The vast majority of private and voluntary nurseries in Scotland say that the local authority funding rate doesn’t cover their costs for delivering early learning and childcare (ELC) places, according National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland. NDNA’s nursery sustainability survey released today found that funding for three and four-year-olds did not cover the costs for… Continue reading Seven out of ten nurseries in Scotland say they are under funded
Early years settings under pressure to deliver the places parents need
The Coram Family and Childcare’s latest annual survey, published today reveals that the availability of childcare places is decreasing across Britain and that parents are facing above-inflation childcare costs. The report also highlights that there is insufficient childcare for children with disabilities and a particular lack of childcare places for families in rural areas. This… Continue reading Early years settings under pressure to deliver the places parents need
Wales Childcare Crisis: Nine in ten nurseries expect to make a loss or break even
NDNA Cymru’s recent survey reveals that rising costs are continuing to put significant pressure on the sustainability of the early years sector in Wales. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru surveyed respondents across 102 private, voluntary and independent nurseries and discovered that 91% expect to make a loss or just break-even. Government funding for the… Continue reading Wales Childcare Crisis: Nine in ten nurseries expect to make a loss or break even
Childcare applications to open 12 May for parents of nine month olds
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced today that parents of nine month olds who will be eligible for a childcare place from September can start the process of applying from 12 May. From the beginning of September 2024, 15 hours a week of government-funded childcare will be offered to working parents of children from… Continue reading Childcare applications to open 12 May for parents of nine month olds
Sir Martyn Oliver: My priorities for the early years sector
By Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted HMCI I’ve now been in the post of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector for nearly two months. It has been an incredibly busy but rewarding start to this new role. As you may know, I come from a schools background, having been a teacher, headteacher, and most recently the Chief Executive… Continue reading Sir Martyn Oliver: My priorities for the early years sector
Budget 2024 – future funding increases to be linked to rising costs
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his Budget today (6 March) that he will be boosting the funding for the early years entitlement in line with inflation and staffing costs from April 2025. He confirmed that for the next two years, the hourly rate paid to providers will increase in line with the metric used at… Continue reading Budget 2024 – future funding increases to be linked to rising costs
PANCo Training Qualification Supports Prevention of Obesity in Early Years
Launching this week, NDNA’s PANCo training, qualification and specialist role promotes positive nutrition and physical activity to support the prevention of obesity within early years settings. A PANCo (Physical Activity and Nutrition Co-ordinator), is a named and qualified member of staff who leads on the health and well-being within an early years setting, champions best… Continue reading PANCo Training Qualification Supports Prevention of Obesity in Early Years
Childcare expansion: Urgent Budget boost needed to deliver on Government’s plans
Government funding for the existing childcare offer is not keeping pace with rising costs, with wage bills up by 14.4% from April compared with a 4.6% rise in funding rates. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) surveyed respondents across 448 private, voluntary and independent nurseries in England and discovered that the funding rate rise in April… Continue reading Childcare expansion: Urgent Budget boost needed to deliver on Government’s plans
Nursery Trainee Employment Programme Launches in Scotland
Childcare Works, a programme enabling people to become Trainee Support Workers (TSWs) by offering bespoke introductory childcare training has launched in Scotland. Addressing the Scottish Government’s ambition of ‘No One Left Behind’, the Childcare Works project is funded by East Ayrshire Local Employability Partnership. The programme will commence 11 March and complete 28 June 2024… Continue reading Nursery Trainee Employment Programme Launches in Scotland
Childcare sector requests urgent Scottish Government/Care Inspectorate meeting re inspections
Representative bodies from across Scotland have come together to survey the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector on their views of the work of the regulator Care Inspectorate. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), Early Years Scotland (EYS), Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) and Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) have received a number of contacts from members… Continue reading Childcare sector requests urgent Scottish Government/Care Inspectorate meeting re inspections
DfE launches recruitment campaign and incentive payments for early years
A major new national recruitment campaign has been launched by the Department for Education today (Friday 2nd February) alongside a trial of £1,000 cash sign-on bonuses. The Government released their latest data that showed that 102,480 children have been registered on the system, “reflecting the strength of demand across the country before the first phase of… Continue reading DfE launches recruitment campaign and incentive payments for early years