NDNA is calling for urgent action after Hampshire County Council failed to deliver its commitment to early years funding on summer term figures, leaving settings thousands of pounds out of pocket, with some facing shortfalls of up to 50%. Hampshire providers were repeatedly assured that the government’s expansion grant would be calculated based on the… Continue reading Council u-turn hits Hampshire nurseries
Tag: early education
Early intervention programme Maths Champions expands to 1,810 new settings
Maths Champions, a professional development programme delivered by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), is scaling up to transform early years maths across England. The aim of this innovative early intervention programme is to improve children’s maths outcomes by improving the knowledge, skills and confidence of the practitioners working with them. Following a successful rollout to… Continue reading Early intervention programme Maths Champions expands to 1,810 new settings
Olivia Bailey and Josh MacAlister appointed as new education ministers
Olivia Bailey, Minister for Early Education
NICs debated in Parliament: “different treatment” for maintained nurseries highlighted
The Department for Education has published how it will deliver £25 million of additional funding to help schools with early years provision and publicly maintained settings. The funding for 2025/26 is to support those settings with NICs costs relating to both teachers and support staff costs associated with the increase to NICs. The NICs grant will provide additional funding in respect… Continue reading NICs debated in Parliament: “different treatment” for maintained nurseries highlighted
1 in 10 parents believe nurseries are properly funded
A survey by a cross-party group of Parliamentarians finds serious doubts about the Government’s financial support for early years providers. Just one in ten parents believe that current levels of early years funding are enough to enable nurseries, pre-schools and childminders in England to remain financially sustainable, a new survey conducted by the All-Party Parliamentary… Continue reading 1 in 10 parents believe nurseries are properly funded
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
NDNA research used in Parliament
A debate was held by MPs in Parliament yesterday on early education funding. The debate was called by Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, who recognised the crucial role of early education during the pandemic and to child development. She said: “The Government say that they understand parents’ concerns about the cost of childcare.… Continue reading NDNA research used in Parliament
High employment rates will put stress on early years recruitment
The Office for National Statistics released its latest figures for the UK labour market this week. Employment is estimated at 75.4% – 1.1 percentage points lower than pre-pandemic levels, but 0.4 percentage points higher than last quarter. Unemployment figures came in at 4.3, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points and is only marginally higher then… Continue reading High employment rates will put stress on early years recruitment
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
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
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
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
Early education leads to better outcomes at school
According to the Study of Early Education and Development (SEED) Impact Study on Early Education Use and Child Outcomes up to age seven years, attending early education of any type was associated with better academic results in school. The study produced by academics at the University of Oxford reported that: • All types of early education led… Continue reading Early education leads to better outcomes at school
NDNA sends joint letter to Chancellor ahead of Budget
NDNA has joined other organisations, parent bodies and unions, including Pacey, UNISON, Pregnant then Screwed and others in writing a joint letter to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of today’s Budget announcement. The letter, which was featured in an article in The Mirror, calls on the Chancellor to guarantee funding for measures to tackle child poverty… Continue reading NDNA sends joint letter to Chancellor ahead of Budget
Ministers confirm year on year funding increases at Spending Review
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has delivered the Autumn Budget and Spending Review today (27 October). Children’s Minister Will Quince has since confirmed that funding will increase by an additional £160m in 2022-23, £180m in 2023-24 and £170m in 2024-25 for childcare providers. The key announcements from the Chancellor’s speech for early years… Continue reading Ministers confirm year on year funding increases at Spending Review
Budget: No mention of funding to support early years delivery
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to make announcements to support children and families in the upcoming Budget and Spending Review on Wednesday. Announcements will include a £500 million investment package to transform support for families. This will address the recommendations of the Leadsom Review into Early Years Healthy Development. The £500m package includes:… Continue reading Budget: No mention of funding to support early years delivery
Yet more councils report early years underspends – final figures show £62m
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has updated its report into underspend funding for three and four-year old childcare places by local education authorities (LEAs) in England as all but five councils have now replied. The total of unspent money has increased from £55.5 million to £62 million for 2019/20, with a higher proportion of LEAs… Continue reading Yet more councils report early years underspends – final figures show £62m
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
UNCRC Incorporation delayed by Supreme Court judgement
Today the UK Supreme Court ruled that four aspects of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill will need to be re-considered by the Scottish Parliament. NDNA Scotland has joined with many voices across Scotland calling for this Bill to be given priority by the Scottish Government so children’s rights will be given the protection of the… Continue reading UNCRC Incorporation delayed by Supreme Court judgement
ELC offer saving families money – Scottish Government report
The Scottish Government has published its Early Learning and Childcare expansion delivery progress ELC) report revealing that the families of more than 79,000 children are saving almost £5,000 per child annually due to the ELC offer. But NDNA Scotland says that the scheme is still underfunded and many providers are not being paid a… Continue reading ELC offer saving families money – Scottish Government report