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

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

LGA calls for significant funding rates increase

In its Spending Review submission, the Local Government Association (LGA) calls for a “significant increase in funding rates for early entitlements in all settings to enable the early years sector to reduce the disadvantage gap and allow all children the opportunity of the best possible start.”  The submission ahead of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), due… Continue reading LGA calls for significant funding rates increase

Minister denies early years sector is in crisis

Children and Families Minister Vicky Ford told a packed parliamentary debate that there were no issues with funding, sufficiency, childcare costs, closures or practitioners living in poverty. The debate was sparked by a petition signed by well over 100,000 people calling for an independent review into early years funding in England. Vicky Ford announced that… Continue reading Minister denies early years sector is in crisis

Government is underfunding us – 95% of nurseries say

A comprehensive survey probing private, voluntary and independent nurseries’ financial sustainability has uncovered a dire picture with 85% of childcare businesses in England making a loss or only breaking even. Ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review, National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) reveals the shocking landscape in which nurseries and childcare settings are operating, with 95%… Continue reading Government is underfunding us – 95% of nurseries say