Here are some hints and tips on keeping accounting records and choosing a nursery management system. Accounting records for your nursery The accounting records you need when running a childcare business are: The profit and loss account (also known as the income and expenditure statement) is a statement which shows whether your business has made… Continue reading Financial management systems for nurseries and early years settings
Regions: All
Underfunded childcare
For nursery settings in all UK nations, the rise in national insurance contributions (NICs) and staffing costs will drastically impact their setting, putting them under huge financial pressure. Why not contact your MP and parents? Use our MP and parent letter templates to voice your concerns and fight for better outcomes for nurseries, families and… Continue reading Underfunded childcare
The story of Maths Champions: Boosting children’s early maths outcomes
Stella Ziolkowski, Director of Quality and Training, NDNA, explores how the Maths Champions programme boosts children’s early maths outcomes in nurseries. I found mathematics very daunting at school and looking back, I am sure I suffered from maths anxiety. It didn’t come naturally to me, and I felt stupid that I couldn’t grasp some of… Continue reading The story of Maths Champions: Boosting children’s early maths outcomes
Marketing your nursery: defining your nursery’s unique selling point (USP)
Discover how you can define your nursery’s unique selling point (USP) – how your nursery is different to others. When you have your USP, you can use this to market your nursery to parents who will be most keen on what you have to offer. See more top tips for marketing your nursery here. 1.… Continue reading Marketing your nursery: defining your nursery’s unique selling point (USP)
Christmas EYFS activities: Christmas ideas for nurseries
Preparing nursery businesses for winter
Motorists get their cars ready for the gruelling winter months, householders make sure their garden and home are braced for any storms or floods – and nursery business owners should do the same. Obviously incidents can happen at any time but they are more likely to occur with bad and unpredictable weather and the shorter… Continue reading Preparing nursery businesses for winter
The Worker Protection Act for nurseries
We speak to Gill McAteer from Citation to understand more about how early years settings will be impacted by The Worker Protection Act. What does it mean for your early years setting? The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 came into force on 26 October 2024 – and now, all employers are… Continue reading The Worker Protection Act for nurseries
The importance of a solid foundation in physical development in early years
A solid foundation in physical development in early years, combined with a healthy, balanced diet, is crucial for children’s overall growth and development. Maintaining a healthy diet plays a significant role in a child’s well-being. A limited diet can lead to low energy levels, poor sleep, and dental health problems. Like adults, children are encouraged… Continue reading The importance of a solid foundation in physical development in early years
Budget 2024: higher employment costs but no additional support for nurseries
Today the Chancellor delivered the first budget by a Labour government in 14 years announcing that it will raise taxes by £40bn. Rachel Reeves, the UK’s first female chancellor said: “We must restore economic credibility and protect working people”. Living up to Labour’s manifesto promises there were no increases to income tax, National Insurance (NI)… Continue reading Budget 2024: higher employment costs but no additional support for nurseries
Minimum wages to rise at above inflation rates
National mandatory minimum wages are set to rise next year by between 6.7% and 18%. The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission recommendations that the National Living Wage rises from £11.44 to £12.21 from April 2025. This 6.7% rise will benefit anyone aged 21 and over. The Labour Government’s intention is to give one… Continue reading Minimum wages to rise at above inflation rates
How NDNA gives nursery owners a stronger voice – sharing member concerns about the expansion of nurseries in schools
At their conference in September, Labour announced its plan for 3,000 nurseries in schools to support the childcare expansion would begin from September 2025, with an initial 300 schools being involved. Understandably, many of our members raised concerns about this initiative and looked for support from NDNA to make sure that their concerns were heard. … Continue reading How NDNA gives nursery owners a stronger voice – sharing member concerns about the expansion of nurseries in schools
SEN system financially ‘unsustainable’ – NAO report
A National Audit Office report looking into the money spent to support children with special educational needs has concluded that children’s outcomes have not improved. The report reported that 101 local authorities in England had overspent on their high needs block and 50% of children were waiting more than 20 weeks for an education health… Continue reading SEN system financially ‘unsustainable’ – NAO report
“Real” Living Wage rises by 5%
The Living Wage Foundation which sets the voluntary Living Wage has revealed the new wage rates – which nurseries in Scotland delivering funded early learning and childcare must pay. Living Wage – also known as the Real Living Wage – which is linked to the cost of living rises from £12 per hour to £12.60,… Continue reading “Real” Living Wage rises by 5%
CPOMS: The Market Leading Safeguarding Platform
NDNA members who are new customers to CPOMS StudentSafe can save 5% off the software for the initial contract period to streamline your nursery’s child protection policies, enhance safeguarding concern monitoring and incident reporting processes. Key Benefits of CPOMS StudentSafe for Nurseries
Promoting language, communication and emotion regulation in children: neuroscience-based tips
In Professor Sam Wass’ research, he takes live ‘dual-brain’ recordings from young children and adults while they engage in interactions that involve language, communication and emotion regulation. His research, consistent with findings from other researchers around the world, has suggested that letting young children lead an interaction is crucial. For example, children’s brains encode information… Continue reading Promoting language, communication and emotion regulation in children: neuroscience-based tips
The NDNA nursery awards are back for 2025!
NDNA is pleased to announce the launch of the NDNA Awards 2025, sponsored by Hope, which are now open for entries to nurseries and NDNA networks across the UK. The prestigious awards spotlight and celebrate leading talent in the early years sector and the winners of nine of the awards will be announced and… Continue reading The NDNA nursery awards are back for 2025!
How NDNA gives nursery owners a stronger voice and holds governments to account
Nursery owners and managers are always impacted by changes and initiatives made by governments, local authorities, government departments and others. You may wonder who can speak up for your concerns and represent your views and arguments. You may wonder how you, as a nursery owner, can reach those in power and try to influence decisions… Continue reading How NDNA gives nursery owners a stronger voice and holds governments to account
Large parts of UK classed as “childcare deserts”
A new report looking at childcare availability and accessibility in nine European countries and Australia showed England as being the second worst, next to France. Scotland was in the top three after two Nordic countries and Wales was mid-table. According to the report by Victoria University in Melbourne, 45% of England is a “childcare desert”,… Continue reading Large parts of UK classed as “childcare deserts”
Marketing your nursery – top tips
Find out why you should be marketing your nursery and the first steps you need to take in your marketing strategy – researching and planning. Why you should invest in marketing your nursery Marketing your nursery effectively will help nursery owners or managers to attract parents and increase nursery occupancy. A nursery with a strong… Continue reading Marketing your nursery – top tips
Support launched to help parents make the first five years count
Support and advice for parents of children under five will be the focus of a new campaign launched by early education and care charity National Day Nurseries Association. With government support on childcare for children under three expanding in England, Scotland and Wales, NDNA has launched its parent campaign video. As part of the charity’s… Continue reading Support launched to help parents make the first five years count