John Swinney MSP returns as Scotland’s First Minister following the elections earlier in May – and has now appointed his Cabinet team. He named Màiri McAllan, MSP for Clydesdale, as the new Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic. She has previously served as a minister for housing, wellbeing, net zero and the environment. Siobhaian… Continue reading New education/childcare minister in Scotland
Tag: Scotland
Meeting with stakeholders in West Lothian
The Scottish Greens attended NDNA’s member nursery, First Adventures, as part of their election campaign. NDNA Scotland took part in a meeting with the co-leaders to raise awareness of the challenging situation in West Lothian where the council has decided to no longer fund ELC places for children who live across the boundary, and lobby them for change. Hannah Murison, NDNA Scotland’s… Continue reading Meeting with stakeholders in West Lothian
NDNA takes part in ELC hustings
Colleagues from NDNA Scotland took part in Scotland’s early learning and childcare hustings ahead of the election next month. All the major parties from Holyrood were represented for a debate which covered expanding the current offer to families, addressing cross-border issues between councils and improving provision for additional support needs (ASN) in the early years. NDNA presented our policy position on simplifying… Continue reading NDNA takes part in ELC hustings
Charity launches manifesto for the best start for Scotland’s children
The National Day Nurseries Association is calling on the next Scottish Government to give children the best start with the right policies in early learning and childcare (ELC). The proposals include a radical change in the delivery of ELC by ensuring funding follows the child through an online account that parents can use to pay registered childcare providers. This approach to… Continue reading Charity launches manifesto for the best start for Scotland’s children
Coram childcare survey: costs fall sharply for families in England as funding expands
Coram’s annual childcare survey shows the expanded funded hours in England are changing what parents pay. But challenges remain on affordability, sufficiency and support for children with SEND needs across the UK. Childcare costs for many working families in England have dropped following the full roll out of the 30-hour funded entitlement for children from… Continue reading Coram childcare survey: costs fall sharply for families in England as funding expands
National nursery organisation slams council vote to remove parental choice from funded childcare offer
Despite a hard-fought campaign by early years and parenting organisations, West Lothian Council voted not to fund early learning and childcare (ELC) places for families who live outside West Lothian in private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) nurseries. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland along with parent campaigners Pregnant then Screwed have raised this issue with… Continue reading National nursery organisation slams council vote to remove parental choice from funded childcare offer
Scottish MSPs raise concerns over 1140 hours and PVI sustainability
Last week’s Education and Skills Portfolio Questions in the Scottish Parliament brought forward the ongoing challenges faced by PVI nurseries, particularly around the sustainability of delivering the expanded 1,140 hours of funded ELC. The government reiterated its commitment to the expansion and noted that research published in 2024 showed high uptake and signs of improvements… Continue reading Scottish MSPs raise concerns over 1140 hours and PVI sustainability
Nine in ten UK nurseries are struggling with NMW increases ahead of the Budget
Early years settings across the UK are facing unprecedented financial pressures. Almost 90% reported that National Minimum Wage (NMW) increases are placing them under significant strain, according to a new sector-wide survey by NDNA. Our pre-budget survey covered 545 settings across England, Scotland and Wales, highlighting the battling cost pressures on nurseries already operating on… Continue reading Nine in ten UK nurseries are struggling with NMW increases ahead of the Budget
Real Living Wage to rise by almost 7% from April
The Real Living Wage (RLW) is set to rise from April 2026 by almost 7%, increasing to £13.45 per hour (an 85p rise) across the UK and £14.80 (a 95p rise) in London. The RLW is voluntary with many large and small companies, including a number of nurseries across the UK, choosing to sign up… Continue reading Real Living Wage to rise by almost 7% from April
Big increase in percentage of children attending private nurseries in Scotland
New research published yesterday (7 October) showed that more families in Scotland were choosing to send their children to private and voluntary nurseries. The Scottish Household Survey 2024 Childcare report revealed that 32% of households with children aged up to five used private nurseries compared with just 24% in private nurseries in 2018. Numbers of… Continue reading Big increase in percentage of children attending private nurseries in Scotland
Scotland’s Childcare Guarantee calls for expanded funded hours
Image credit: Chris Watt Photography
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
How many nursery staff and children are absent – January quick poll
NDNA put together a very short survey for all nurseries across England, Scotland and Wales to find out the proportion of members of staff and children who are currently absent from their early years setting. The survey simply asks what percentage of usual numbers of staff and children are absent during this week (week commencing 17 January). Please… Continue reading How many nursery staff and children are absent – January quick poll
Reach for the stars – we launch NDNA Nursery Awards 2022!
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is excited to launch its 2022 Nursery Awards after a break of two years due to the pandemic – with some new and updated categories. NDNA’s Nursery Awards are the only ones to feature awards where parents have the opportunity to vote and show their appreciation for their child’s nursery… Continue reading Reach for the stars – we launch NDNA Nursery Awards 2022!
Many Scottish nurseries suffering real terms cut in ELC funding rates despite increased costs
Almost one in five Scottish local authorities will not be increasing their hourly early learning and childcare funding rates for three to five-year-old’s once the 1140 hours policy is mandatory from August. NDNA Scotland put out an FOI to all Scottish local authorities asking what they will be paying childcare providers for the 1140 hour… Continue reading Many Scottish nurseries suffering real terms cut in ELC funding rates despite increased costs
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
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
NDNA Scotland publishes early learning and childcare election manifesto
This election represents a chance for the next Scottish Government to get it right for early learning and childcare (ELC) as National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland has published key issues for children, families and nurseries ahead of the May elections. NDNA Scotland’s manifesto, Getting ELC Right for Scotland’s Children, focuses on improving the funding… Continue reading NDNA Scotland publishes early learning and childcare election manifesto
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