National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has appointed a Director of Policy and Communications and a new Director of Business Development as part of plans to enhance the support and representation the sector needs at this critical time. As providers in the early years sector face challenges in delivering government funded childcare places and the uncertainties… Continue reading NDNA appoints two new Directors
Tag: Covid-19 pandemic
Early years not recognised as key sector under self-isolation exemption
Updated Test and Trace guidance for the Workplace has been published identifying 16 key sectors that will be exempt from self-isolating should they come into contact with a positive case of Covid-19. The early education and childcare sector were not recognised, despite its vital role or the extreme pressures providers are under, and was not… Continue reading Early years not recognised as key sector under self-isolation exemption
Plans to reduce self-isolation in critical roles
The Government has announced plans for critical workers not to need to self-isolate. We have seen reports about employers needing to seek permission from their relevant government departments who will make a decision on a case by case basis for each individual. NDNA has raised this as a matter of urgency with the DfE to… Continue reading Plans to reduce self-isolation in critical roles
Social Mobility Commission: children must be at centre of pandemic recovery
The Social Mobility Commission (SMC) has published its latest State of the Nation report 2021, unveiling details of the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic across all four UK nations. The report looks at seven pillars of recovery including early years. It recommends higher pay and a better career structure for a workforce crucial to… Continue reading Social Mobility Commission: children must be at centre of pandemic recovery
NDNA launches nursery sustainability study
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has released three surveys – one each for nursery providers in England, Scotland and Wales – ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review in England and budget planning in Wales and Scotland. With the Coronavirus pandemic still affecting nursery costs and the numbers of children in settings, the surveys aim to… Continue reading NDNA launches nursery sustainability study
Covid isolation led to closures in up to 4 in 10 early years settings
Covid isolation drove up to four in every ten early years settings to close across England, Wales and Scotland during the spring, a new report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) and the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) reveals. The survey, which is the final report from a year-long research project investigating the impact of… Continue reading Covid isolation led to closures in up to 4 in 10 early years settings
APPG Launches Childcare & Early Education Week
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Childcare and Early Education has launched the inaugural Childcare & Early Education Week, which will take place between Monday 25 and Friday 29 January 2021. This year’s theme – ‘Celebrating Our Sector’ – aims to thank childcare and early education practitioners for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they… Continue reading APPG Launches Childcare & Early Education Week
Early years organisations launch joint campaign
Leading early years organisations the Early Years Alliance, the PACEY and NDNA have today issued a joint call for the government to take urgent steps to protect the safety and financial sustainability of those working in nurseries and other childcare settings in England, in light of the government decision to ask early years settings to… Continue reading Early years organisations launch joint campaign
Fewer children in nursery so Government must reverse funding decision
A snap poll by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) shows that the average nursery has a third fewer children than normal and figures published by the Department for Education suggest this could be closer to half across all early years settings. The situation is now critical as 58% of nurseries are not confident they will… Continue reading Fewer children in nursery so Government must reverse funding decision
Final piece of research in year-long Covid study launched
Early years membership organisation National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and the Education Policy Institute (EPI) have launched the fourth and final survey in their year-long research project looking at the effects of the pandemic on the early years workforce. As the numbers of positive cases subside during the spring months, this survey looks at how… Continue reading Final piece of research in year-long Covid study launched
Joint statement about vaccinations
Leading early years organisations National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) and Early Years Alliance have joined forces to put out a statement calling for certainty regarding vaccinations for early years workers: “We are aware that a number of early years providers and their staff have been able to… Continue reading Joint statement about vaccinations
Latest research: Early years sector is heavily reliant on the furlough scheme
Nurseries, pre-schools, and other early years settings have been heavily reliant on the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention scheme during the height of the winter lockdown, a new report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) and National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) finds. The report, which looks at how early years settings in England, Scotland and Wales… Continue reading Latest research: Early years sector is heavily reliant on the furlough scheme
Majority of nurseries in Wales fearing for their future
A snap poll by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru shows that the average day nursery has only two thirds of the number of children attending compared with last year prompting real concerns about their financial sustainability. One in five families were keeping their children at home either over fears about the virus or because… Continue reading Majority of nurseries in Wales fearing for their future
Millions in early years funding not reaching providers to support families
Three quarters of local education authorities (LEAs) in England have reported underspending their Government funding for childcare places, another investigation by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) reveals. Despite raising this issue a year ago with the Treasury and the Department for Education, with promises from the Government to look into the issue, millions of pounds… Continue reading Millions in early years funding not reaching providers to support families
Blossom Educational offer financial incentives to England nurseries
The leading all-in-one Nursery Management Software company, Blossom Educational, is collaborating with the National Day Nurseries Association, NDNA, to provide further support to the nursery sector during what will no doubt be a challenging 2021; with below average occupancy rates and increasing operating costs. Founded by nursery practitioners, managers and education consultants, Blossom remains a… Continue reading Blossom Educational offer financial incentives to England nurseries
Unprecedented coalition urges Govt rethink of recovery plans for children
NDNA is part of a cross-sector group of educationalists, charities, business leaders, unions and young people who have urged the Government to reconsider its pandemic recovery measures for children and young people, asking them to urgently boost investment. In two separate letters to the Prime Minister, coordinated by Fair Education Alliance and the National Children’s… Continue reading Unprecedented coalition urges Govt rethink of recovery plans for children
Research project to see how positive cases are impacting on early years staff
Leading UK early years organisation National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and the Education Policy Institute (EPI) are launching the third survey in their year-long research project looking at the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the early years workforce. With the Covid-19 cases at their peak in January 2021, this survey will look at how… Continue reading Research project to see how positive cases are impacting on early years staff
Financial Sustainability Health Check reveals evidence on sector’s sustainability
The Scottish Government has published the findings of its Financial Sustainability Health Check of the Childcare Sector in Scotland. The purpose of the research was to collect evidence on the sustainability of the childcare sector, in particular in light of the impacts of COVID-19. Some of the findings included that providers have faced increased costs… Continue reading Financial Sustainability Health Check reveals evidence on sector’s sustainability
Closures of nurseries increase as impact of pandemic takes hold
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has published its report Nurseries and the impact of closures in the first year of the pandemic which revealed that the number of nursery closures in England has increased by 35% during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic compared to the same period the previous year. Throughout the pandemic, nurseries… Continue reading Closures of nurseries increase as impact of pandemic takes hold
Early years recruitment costs must be reflected in funding rates
Higher employment figures and higher wages will exacerbate the early years sector’s already challenging recruitment and retention issues, says NDNA. A report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released today (12 October) gives a picture of numbers of employees returning to pre-pandemic levels with unemployment down and vacancies soaring. • Number of payroll employees… Continue reading Early years recruitment costs must be reflected in funding rates