The Department for Education has published the funding rates for April 2025-26 but these won’t include an uplift to account for the increase in National Insurance Contributions announced in the October Budget. The average funding rate for three and four-year-olds – which has the most impact on nurseries as there are more funded three and… Continue reading England funding rates 2025-26: won’t factor in National Insurance Contributions
Author: Anne-Marie Argile
Scottish Budget – funding to continue childcare support for priority families
Scotland’s Finance Secretary Shona Robison reported on the Budget in Holyrood this week. For early years, the main features of the Budget were: Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland said: “While it’s vital that all children especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds have access to high quality early learning and… Continue reading Scottish Budget – funding to continue childcare support for priority families
EYFS profile results: Children making steady progress
The Department for Education (DfE) has published new data showing that children were improving at the end of reception year, although maths and literacy are still the areas where they need the most help. The EYFS profile results for 2023-24 In individual areas of learning, the most children reached their expected level in physical development… Continue reading EYFS profile results: Children making steady progress
MPs debate the impact of NICs changes on employers
NDNA briefed MPs ahead of the Second Reading of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill 2024-25 which was debated this week. The brief detailed the impact of NICs changes on the Early Education and Childcare Sector, highlighting issues such as an average nursery will face additional staffing costs of around £40,000 per… Continue reading MPs debate the impact of NICs changes on employers
DfE research reveals funding to early years providers is insufficient
The Department for Education (DfE) has published its recent Pulse surveys of childcare and early years providers revealing that almost half of group-based providers do not have sufficient funding to cover their costs. The DfE has been conducting provider pulse surveys since 2020 to gather findings relating to the childcare and early years sector. The… Continue reading DfE research reveals funding to early years providers is insufficient
Maths early intervention programme is awards finalist in two categories
A programme which supports early years practitioners with their confidence and ability to teach maths to children in nursery settings was shortlisted for two awards. Maths Champions is a professional development programme delivered by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) aimed at increasing early years practitioner skills, knowledge, awareness and confidence in supporting early mathematics. The… Continue reading Maths early intervention programme is awards finalist in two categories
Latest Ofsted data shows a fall in the number of childcare providers
Ofsted has released a report detailing the number of childcare providers and their most recent inspection outcomes as at 31 August 2024. The number of childcare providers registered with Ofsted was down by 2% due to a drop in the number of childminders. The number of registered childminders fell by 1,060 and the total number… Continue reading Latest Ofsted data shows a fall in the number of childcare providers
Welsh Government commits to reviewing funding rate annually
Following years of lobbying from NDNA and other early years organisations, the Welsh Government announced yesterday (Wednesday 20 November) that they will review the Childcare Offer for Wales on an annual basis. The Childcare Offer providers up to 30 hours of government-funded early education and childcare per week during 48 weeks of the year for… Continue reading Welsh Government commits to reviewing funding rate annually
NDNA Scotland says Quality Improvement Framework not fit for purpose
Scotland’s new Quality Improvement Framework is being shown to the sector by Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland. During November, nursery owners first had the chance to look at the framework during “familiarisation sessions”. This will replace the existing frameworks from the two inspectorates. The actual new framework won’t be published until early 2025. Jonathan Broadbery,… Continue reading NDNA Scotland says Quality Improvement Framework not fit for purpose
Nursery sector reaction to Minister’s small business rates relief announcement
Making small business rates relief a permanent fixture for registered childcare premises across Wales will make a big difference to their sustainability, says National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru. Minister for Children and Social Care Dawn Bowden made the announcement that they will be making the 100% small business rates relief for registered childcare premises permanent on… Continue reading Nursery sector reaction to Minister’s small business rates relief announcement
Budget 2024: higher employment costs but no additional support for nurseries
Today the Chancellor delivered the first budget by a Labour government in 14 years announcing that it will raise taxes by £40bn. Rachel Reeves, the UK’s first female chancellor said: “We must restore economic credibility and protect working people”. Living up to Labour’s manifesto promises there were no increases to income tax, National Insurance (NI)… Continue reading Budget 2024: higher employment costs but no additional support for nurseries
Minimum wages to rise at above inflation rates
National mandatory minimum wages are set to rise next year by between 6.7% and 18%. The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission recommendations that the National Living Wage rises from £11.44 to £12.21 from April 2025. This 6.7% rise will benefit anyone aged 21 and over. The Labour Government’s intention is to give one… Continue reading Minimum wages to rise at above inflation rates
Early years funding protected from Budget cuts
The Chancellor announced that education spending would be prioritised in this week’s Budget which includes early years funding for the entitlement expansion. Although there are some much-anticipated cuts along with tax increases expected in the Budget on Wednesday 30 October, this means that the £1.8bn already announced for the early years expansion is “protected”. The… Continue reading Early years funding protected from Budget cuts
SEN system financially ‘unsustainable’ – NAO report
A National Audit Office report looking into the money spent to support children with special educational needs has concluded that children’s outcomes have not improved. The report reported that 101 local authorities in England had overspent on their high needs block and 50% of children were waiting more than 20 weeks for an education health… Continue reading SEN system financially ‘unsustainable’ – NAO report
“Real” Living Wage rises by 5%
The Living Wage Foundation which sets the voluntary Living Wage has revealed the new wage rates – which nurseries in Scotland delivering funded early learning and childcare must pay. Living Wage – also known as the Real Living Wage – which is linked to the cost of living rises from £12 per hour to £12.60,… Continue reading “Real” Living Wage rises by 5%
New safeguarding changes to be implemented next year
New safeguarding measures which were the focus of a consultation earlier this year will be implemented from September 2025 to make sure the increase in places doesn’t reduce quality. These updates include safer recruitment practices and safer eating which the Department for Education consulted on between April and June. They received 1470 responses to the… Continue reading New safeguarding changes to be implemented next year
Eight weeks for schools to apply for school-based nursery grant
The Department for Education is open for grant applications of up to £150,000 from state-funded schools to create a new nursery or expand an existing one. And they will be updating guidance on charging parents for meals and consumables. This money is from a £15m pot which the Government believes could support 300 new school-based… Continue reading Eight weeks for schools to apply for school-based nursery grant
DfE: it’s official childcare places will be called “funded” not “free”
Senior civil servants who attended an NDNA Talk event announced that the Government would be calling 15 and 30 hour childcare places “funded” and not “free”. Mike Davies, Deputy Director Early Years Markets, Strategy and Workforce and Suzanne Taylor, Stakeholder Lead School-based Nursery Division from the Department for Education gave updates on their latest projects… Continue reading DfE: it’s official childcare places will be called “funded” not “free”
Music training to support children with SEND
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is delighted to be able to develop SEND Music training to support and improve the delivery of music sessions with nursery-aged children, specifically those with special educational needs and disabilities. NDNA will offer training to support 15 settings across five regions as part of an exciting new funded music training… Continue reading Music training to support children with SEND
Labour Party Conference: breakfast clubs and nurseries in schools
Government ministers announced various policies at the annual conference which will impact on nurseries in England. These include business rates reform, breakfast clubs in all primary schools and new nurseries in schools. Early years was a hot topic, discussed in many of the fringe events. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the review of business rates… Continue reading Labour Party Conference: breakfast clubs and nurseries in schools