Millions of pounds of Government money intended to support early years providers to create more places to meet demand for the childcare expansion has still not reached providers. Research and analysis carried out by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests discovered that large amounts of two funds to support… Continue reading More than £65 million for childcare expansion not reaching providers
Tag: early years
More to do to make childcare funding fairer in Scotland
Two investigations by early years charity National Day Nurseries Association have shown that nurseries and childminders still get a raw deal when delivering funded childcare in Scotland. Over 80% of councils in Scotland are paying partner providers, including private and voluntary nurseries, a smaller proportion of their Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) budgets compared with… Continue reading More to do to make childcare funding fairer in Scotland
EPI report: Absence rates are increasing among youngest children
The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has analysed the latest DfE statistics on pupil absence – overall absence in schools is reducing but they are some concerns. One of their recommendations is for the Government to focus on and invest in early years to improve children’s outcomes. EPI’s analysis of the absence figures show: They are… Continue reading EPI report: Absence rates are increasing among youngest children
Parent template letter for Universal Credit
We have been approached by a number of nurseries where parents have had their Universal Credit Childcare payments reduced as a result of the updated charging guidance from DfE. These settings report that parents are being told meals and consumables are optional charges and as a result, will no longer be accepted as part of… Continue reading Parent template letter for Universal Credit
Increases to national minimum wages cannot be unfunded in early years
The Low Pay Commission has announced that it is revising up its estimated increase in the National Living Wage (NLW) for 2026/27 from £12.65 to £12.71 per hour. This estimation is based on “stronger than forecast” wage growth, which impacts on how the National Living Wage is calculated. The Commission has now received its remit… Continue reading Increases to national minimum wages cannot be unfunded in early years
Government statistics on funded early education and childcare show ‘concerning’ trend
The Department for Education has published official statistics on ‘Funded early education and childcare’. These are the annual statistics on children under five registered for government funded entitlements in England. This is the first time this publication of statistics include registrations for the new entitlements for children of eligible working parents aged nine months to two… Continue reading Government statistics on funded early education and childcare show ‘concerning’ trend
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
NDNA appoints two new Directors
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
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
NDNA agrees that it’s time to make staff wellbeing a policy
The Anna Freud Centre has today published its findings from a survey about staff wellbeing alongside NDNA’s sample well-being policy. Early years staff working in nurseries or preschools would like their settings to be more open about staff mental health, and to ensure staff wellbeing policies are in place and upheld. While many find their… Continue reading NDNA agrees that it’s time to make staff wellbeing a policy
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
Early years guidance: No more bubbles from 19 July
Following statements in Parliament, yesterday by the Health Minister and Education Minister, early years settings will no longer be responsible for contact tracing or keeping children in small groups or bubbles from 19 July. Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson revealed some new key messages in Parliament yesterday that further restrictions would be lifted… Continue reading Early years guidance: No more bubbles from 19 July
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
MPs – Early years catch-up premium needed struggling sector
The APPG for Childcare and Early Education, of which the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is a sponsor, calls for the Government to provide almost £3,000 per child to tackle underfunding. A cross-party group of parliamentarians has today called on the Government to use the Spending Review to address funding shortages in the early years… Continue reading MPs – Early years catch-up premium needed struggling sector
NDNA, Walker Books and Maisy are all going to nursery – are you?
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has teamed up with Walker Books as they celebrate 30 years of “Maisy” stories using the picture book Maisy Goes to Nursery by Lucy Cousins. They are hoping nurseries and other early years settings will take part in a dedicated storytelling day and are offering a whole host of resources… Continue reading NDNA, Walker Books and Maisy are all going to nursery – are you?
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
Birth to 5 Matters guidance is launched
Following six months of consultation and input from across the early years sector, the Early Years Coalition tonight launches Birth to 5 Matters. The materials include a core document available as a free download, with printed copies available to purchase, and an interactive online version that includes all the text from the core document, plus… Continue reading Birth to 5 Matters guidance is launched
Early years coaching programme supports dozens of London practitioners
A coaching programme funded by the Mayor of London’s office successfully helped dozens of early years practitioners to improve the quality of their provision and also to lead them through the challenges of the pandemic. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) ran the Early Years Leaders Programme across London to develop aspiring early years leaders and… Continue reading Early years coaching programme supports dozens of London practitioners
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