The Scottish Government has published its research mapping for early learning and childcare (ELC) places for one and two-year-olds which shows how vital the private and voluntary sector is for our youngest children. The mapping showed that the private, voluntary and independent sector (PVI) delivered 61% of one-year-old places and 67% of two-year-old places in… Continue reading Report into expansion shows importance of PVI sector in Scotland
Author: Anne-Marie Argile
Childcare Expansion:DfE will give temporary reconfirmation codes to parents who need them
Following discussions with the DfE regarding parents who won’t receive their reconfirmation codes until March, there will be a temporary fix to the problem. Some parents who reconfirmed their Tax-Free Childcare account in November or December will not receive their code for their two-year-old place until too late to reserve a place. The DfE will… Continue reading Childcare Expansion:DfE will give temporary reconfirmation codes to parents who need them
Government will fund 26 weeks for under twos costing around £120 million
The DfE confirmed to NDNA in a meeting yesterday that they would be adding an additional £120 million approximately to the overall funding allocation for the under twos entitlement from September 2024. This additional money was because some local authorities would be funding 26 weeks for the autumn 2024 and spring 2025 terms, rather than… Continue reading Government will fund 26 weeks for under twos costing around £120 million
Important Ofsted Updates
Changes to the Early years inspection handbook Ofsted have issued an update to the Early years inspection handbook to reflect the changes to the way the organisation works. Additional clarity has been added to the way that inspectors will conduct themselves during inspections and in the pre-inspection call, where deferrals and pressures on settings can… Continue reading Important Ofsted Updates
Survey to analyse impacts of rising costs and funding challenges for early years sector
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is running a survey throughout January 2024 to analyse the cost and staffing pressures that nurseries from England, Scotland and Wales are under. All three countries are in the process of preparing for or undergoing an expansion to their two-year-old childcare entitlement. Following years of soaring costs and significant increases… Continue reading Survey to analyse impacts of rising costs and funding challenges for early years sector
Gweinidog yn croesawu achrediad Millie Marc i Gymru
Ymwelodd Julie Morgan AS, y Dirprwy Weinidog dros Wasanaethau Cymdeithasol â’r feithrinfa gyntaf yng Nghymru i ennill achrediad Millie Marc , gyda’r gobaith y bydd mwy o leoliadau yng Nghymru yn ystyried gweithio tuag at yr achrediad gwerthfawr hwn. Millie Marc yw’r safon aur mewn cymorth cyntaf pediatrig ar gyfer darparwyr gofal plant. Mae Cymdeithas… Continue reading Gweinidog yn croesawu achrediad Millie Marc i Gymru
Minister welcomes Millie’s Mark accreditation to Wales
Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Social Services visited the first nursery in Wales to be awarded Millie’s Mark accreditation, with the hope more settings in Wales will consider working towards this valuable accreditation. Millie’s Mark is the gold standard in paediatric first aid for childcare providers. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) have worked with… Continue reading Minister welcomes Millie’s Mark accreditation to Wales
Challenges with delivering 1140 hours: Scottish Government’s sustainable rates review
The Scottish Government has published it’s Early learning and childcare: sustainable rates review today (Wednesday 20 December 2023) in which it acknowledges the challenges facing private and voluntary ELC providers. This report is a joint Scottish Government and COSLA evidence-based review of the approach to setting sustainable rates for childcare providers in the private, third… Continue reading Challenges with delivering 1140 hours: Scottish Government’s sustainable rates review
Provider survey 2023 results – more staff leaving and more apprentices in settings
The DfE has published its annual early years provider survey which shows a fall in the numbers of providers and also in qualified staff. Overall statistics are showing a 4% increase in early years professionals across all types of providers but this could be partly accounted for by an increase in apprentices. While more apprentices… Continue reading Provider survey 2023 results – more staff leaving and more apprentices in settings
Childcare Works project brings new talent into the early years sector
Childcare Works is an NDNA Cymru led project and funded by external sources to support and create job opportunities in the early years sector. Since 2019 the Childcare Works project has supported and mentored 189 individuals, 106 of which have experienced positive employment outcomes. The project is currently being funded by The Moondance Foundation and… Continue reading Childcare Works project brings new talent into the early years sector
Most Scottish childcare providers getting raw deal from councils
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
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
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.