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 since 2019.
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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 pedagogy.
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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.
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Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf https://www.gov.scot/news/growing-the-economy-and-tackling-poverty/ 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 and will not be universal yet.
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The MP for Wantage and Didcot, David Johnston OBE has been appointed as the new parliamentary under-secretary of state for education to replace Claire Coutinho as part of the Prime Minister’s mini reshuffle today. He is the eighth minister with responsibility for childcare in the last five years.
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According to an investigation by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland, only two local authorities have reported they will be increasing their early learning and childcare entitlement funding at the same rate as providers’ rising costs.
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The TUC have published a report on the childcare sector national recruitment crisis and are calling for a comprehensive strategy for the care workforce in England.
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A government consultation on mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse is due to close next week. The consultation, which could make it a criminal offence for early year workers failing to report cases, follows recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
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The Education Committee published its long-awaited report following its inquiry into childcare, recommending more financial support for nurseries and measures to improve recruitment and retention.
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The Department for Education (DfE) has announced a consultation into how the funded entitlements will be calculated for the expanded childcare offer from April 2024.
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