With childcare providers’ costs due to rise dramatically from April, the Government has today unveiled hourly funding rates which for nurseries in some local authorities will only rise by 1%. Following intense lobbying by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and the early years sector in the wake of the Autumn Statement, the Government has agreed… Continue reading New childcare funding rates fall short of rocketing nursery costs
Author: Isaac Priestley
Think tank calls for universal funded childcare until the end of primary school
A new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank and Save the Children has called for universal childcare up to the end of primary school. The report states that free universal childcare until the end of primary school would create an extra £13 billion for the economy, allow parents to either work… Continue reading Think tank calls for universal funded childcare until the end of primary school
Onward First Steps: Fixing childcare: the five years are where we should be investing in their futures.
Economic think tank Onward have published their new report on childcare, First Steps: Fixing our broken childcare system, alongside Siobhan Baillie, MP for Stroud. The report highlights the expensive, inflexible and often complex nature of the current system, which is contributing towards parental economic inactivity. The research was compiled from a poll of 1,037 parents… Continue reading Onward First Steps: Fixing childcare: the five years are where we should be investing in their futures.
Fewer providers, places & good and outstanding judgements
Education Watchdog Ofsted have published their newest batch of data on the Early Years sector for the last academic year September 2021 to 31 August 2022. Their newest data has found that since August 2021: 5,400 providers have left the sector, representing an 8% drop in the total sector There are 302 fewer nurseries and… Continue reading Fewer providers, places & good and outstanding judgements
Childcare Works bring vital new staff into the sector
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru’s Childcare Works programme continues to bring vital new recruits into the into the Childcare, Early Years and Play sector. The project, funded by the European Social Fund through Welsh Government and managed by Wales Council for Voluntary Action, is aimed at recruiting individuals, over the age of 25, not… Continue reading Childcare Works bring vital new staff into the sector
Autumn Statement: no additional support for nursery sector
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt gave his Autumn Statement in Parliament today announcing no sector-specific support for nursery businesses. From April 2023, the National Living Wage is set to rise again by 9.7%, with minimum wage for 21 and 22 year olds increasing by 10.9%. The education budget will increase by £2.3bn but there was no mention… Continue reading Autumn Statement: no additional support for nursery sector
Nurseries could pay staff more if they didn’t have to pay business rates
Nurseries in England would be able to pay staff more and reduce fee increases to parents if they did not have to pay unfair business rates, says National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). NDNA, the voice of the sector, represents private and voluntary nurseries across England, Scotland and Wales. Childcare businesses in Scotland and Wales no… Continue reading Nurseries could pay staff more if they didn’t have to pay business rates
MPs agree that childcare ratios should not be reduced
Dozens of MPs who spoke at a parliamentary debate about Government proposals to reduce ratios for two-year-olds agreed that it would benefit neither children or parents. The debate was called in Westminster Hall following a petition by the parents of nine-month-old Oliver Steeper who died following a choking incident in a nursery last year. The… Continue reading MPs agree that childcare ratios should not be reduced
Education Children and Young People Committee calls for mapping exercise
The Education, Children and Young People Committee has written to the Cabinet Secretary, Shirley Anne Somerville to request a mapping exercise to establish the impact of movement of staff from PVI to Local Authority settings on the success of the delivery of the 1140 hours policy. This decision follows on from NDNA’s Director of Policy… Continue reading Education Children and Young People Committee calls for mapping exercise
Labour plans for expansion of state nurseries, but system must support all children
Labour has revealed plans for an expansion of new state sponsored maintained nursery schools as part of their reform plans of the early years sector ahead of the next general election. Currently maintained nurseries represent a small part of the sector, with fewer than 400 settings across the country, compared with private and voluntary nurseries… Continue reading Labour plans for expansion of state nurseries, but system must support all children
“The sector now needs stability”: New Ministers at Department for Education
The Department for Education has announced the roles of the new ministers at the Department for Education. Chichester MP Gillian Keegan was appointed by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak towards the end of October as the Secretary of State for Education. Under secretary of state Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey will be the Children,… Continue reading “The sector now needs stability”: New Ministers at Department for Education
Open letter to Ministers – investing in a specialist workforce
NDNA has joined more than 100 other charities, colleges and professional organisations in a letter calling for more support for children and young people, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). CEO Purnima Tanuku OBE signed the letter to Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan and Secretary of State for Education Steve… Continue reading Open letter to Ministers – investing in a specialist workforce
NDNA launches quick business rates poll for nurseries
NDNA has launched a snapshot survey for all private and voluntary nurseries in England who are eligible to pay business rates Access the survey here We campaign for better access to high-quality early education and care for children and this includes lobbying the Government for nurseries in England to be made exempt from paying business… Continue reading NDNA launches quick business rates poll for nurseries
Local Authority admit that ELC funding model isn’t fair on PVI providers
The Education, Children and Young People Committee met this week to discuss the funding for Early Learning and Childcare as part of their pre-budget scrutiny into the Early Learning and Childcare 1140 hours policy. The most recent session, held on 25 October, took evidence from representatives from three local authorities on funding for early learning… Continue reading Local Authority admit that ELC funding model isn’t fair on PVI providers
New Minister for Schools and Childhood must give early years and schools equal priority
Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood, has been appointed Minister for Schools and Childhood at the Department for Education with the early years brief. She will be responsible for a child’s learning from early years all the way through their school years. Kelly who was elected in 2015 has previously been Minister for Small… Continue reading New Minister for Schools and Childhood must give early years and schools equal priority
Chancellor fails to address sector crisis in latest budget
The Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, delivered a ‘mini’ budget, announcement this morning, called his Growth Plan, to the House of Commons that had a number of policies that will affect childcare providers. Earlier this week the Department for Business, Energy and Infrastructure announced the new Energy Bill Relief Scheme designed to help businesses with the cost… Continue reading Chancellor fails to address sector crisis in latest budget
Childcare businesses must be classed as vulnerable
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy headed by the new Secretary of State Jacob Rees-Mogg have announced a package of support for businesses, households and the public sector to alleviate the pressure of energy bills. The package has revealed a new Government Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers which will provide a… Continue reading Childcare businesses must be classed as vulnerable
NDNA’s response to ratios consultation
The previous Children and Families Minister Will Quince announced plans to look at ratios earlier this year. He visited other countries including Scotland to see how childcare and early education is delivered there. On the back of these visits the Department for Education launched a consultation on childcare regulation with a key proposal that, for… Continue reading NDNA’s response to ratios consultation
Queen’s Funeral and Bank Holiday 19 September – Q&A for nurseries
The Government announced the date of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will be Monday 19 September and will be a Bank Holiday. Today the Department for Education has issued guidance for educational settings regarding the closure. Scottish Government issued this guidance. Welsh Government has said opening is down to the discretion of individual settings. It’s vital your… Continue reading Queen’s Funeral and Bank Holiday 19 September – Q&A for nurseries
PM announces support for businesses with energy bills
Prime Minister Liz Truss announced that she will put support in place from October to assist all businesses with their energy costs for six months. This will be “equivalent” to the support for householders, which will mean that a “typical household” will pay no more than £2,500 in energy bills for the next two years.… Continue reading PM announces support for businesses with energy bills