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
Regions: England
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
Ofsted inspection framework 2025
More than £65 million for childcare expansion not reaching providers
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
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
How to complain about school-based nursery plans and decisions
NDNA have been supporting members with specific issues or concerns about school-based nursery (SBN) decisions. The Department for Education has now confirmed the two routes for making complaints about SBN decisions in your area. The two main points to consider are: Providers should therefore follow the complaint routes below – depending on the nature of the… Continue reading How to complain about school-based nursery plans and decisions
Parent survey shows benefits and challenges of funded childcare policy
The Department for Education has published the findings from its latest survey of parents. The survey showed that more children aged 0-4 were using formal childcare (64%) compared to the year before (63%). It also showed that 96% of parents were satisfied with the funded two-year old places and more parents rated the quality of… Continue reading Parent survey shows benefits and challenges of funded childcare policy
Government publishes its strategy “Giving every child the best start in life”
The new £1.5bn strategy aims to support all children particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with additional needs. It includes more support for families and “more accessible early education and childcare”. Among the initiatives will be a consultation on the funding formula, more powers to local authorities to ensure sufficient childcare places, more frequent Ofsted… Continue reading Government publishes its strategy “Giving every child the best start in life”
Government announces plans for 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs
Parents across the country have been promised more support to make family life easier as the government rolls out ‘Best Start Family Hubs’ across every local authority. Best Start Family Hubs will act as a one stop shop for parents seeking a range of support, including on difficulty breastfeeding, housing issues or children’s early development… Continue reading Government announces plans for 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs
Growth in PVI nurseries but a drop in childminders – latest Ofsted statistics
The latest Ofsted statistics have revealed that 98% of early years and childcare settings have been judged as good or outstanding at their last inspection. But while the PVI sector has grown by 2% in the last year, numbers of childminders have shrunk by 5%. Group-based providers (childcare on non domestic premises) which is mostly… Continue reading Growth in PVI nurseries but a drop in childminders – latest Ofsted statistics
Ofsted inspections will be confirmed in September
Ofsted has announced today (Wednesday 11 June) that it will delay publication of the inspection consultation response – expected during the summer term – until September. According to HMCI Sir Martyn Oliver, this delay is to “allow more time to analyse responses and carry out further testing of proposals to refine and improve the final… Continue reading Ofsted inspections will be confirmed in September
Early years workforce crisis demands urgent action before further childcare expansion
On the day of their national conference in Liverpool, where hundreds of early years providers will gather, research published by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has revealed the scale of the workforce crisis in early education and childcare. The results showed that there needs to be an urgent focus on bringing more talent into the… Continue reading Early years workforce crisis demands urgent action before further childcare expansion
Childcare expansion complicated by uncertainty over charging guidance and inconsistency across local authorities
Research by early years charity National Day Nurseries Association has found that local authorities are taking a mixed approach to implementing the Government’s guidance on delivering funded childcare hours. This is putting additional pressure and stress on early years providers. A short poll of nurseries covering over a quarter of all local authorities in England… Continue reading Childcare expansion complicated by uncertainty over charging guidance and inconsistency across local authorities
Nurseries encouraged to sign up for fully funded Maths Champions programmes
A programme which supports early years practitioners with their confidence and ability to teach maths to children in early years settings is currently recruiting settings to take part. Thanks to the Department for Education’s Accelerator funding, nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools will be able to participate in the Maths Champions Programme in June 2025. Maths… Continue reading Nurseries encouraged to sign up for fully funded Maths Champions programmes
Early years professional institute now free to support the sector
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) which powers the Institute of Early Years Education will make access to the platform, resources and CPD tracker free to the early years workforce. The main aim of the Institute is to raise the status of the workforce and professionalise the sector. The Institute was launched last August by NDNA… Continue reading Early years professional institute now free to support the sector
Consultation on amending the indoor space requirements in the EYFS
In a bid to meet demand for the funded childcare offer from September 2025 for children aged from 9 months old the DfE has launched a consultation on indoor space requirements.The current indoor space requirements in the EYFS framework is seen as a barrier for providers to expand their provision. The DfE is seeking opinion… Continue reading Consultation on amending the indoor space requirements in the EYFS
Giving Ofsted consultation sector’s views
NDNA has given your views on a sector-wide basis in a submission to Ofsted’s consultation on the new report card inspection system. Our submission drew on direct feedback from members, responses in our Ofsted webinar, which included a presentation from senior figures at Ofsted, views of our advisory board and early years experts. The consultation… Continue reading Giving Ofsted consultation sector’s views
As nurseries face NIC hikes, research shows more than £65m of early years funding goes unspent
A new investigation into ’free’ childcare funding for two to five-year-olds across England has uncovered continuing levels of underspends, according to National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). NDNA discovered that 75% of the 132 local authorities who responded to its Freedom of Information (FOI) request had underspends. This meant that a total of more than £65… Continue reading As nurseries face NIC hikes, research shows more than £65m of early years funding goes unspent
EYFS communication and language: 10 top tips
See 10 top tips to help practitioners understand how to support young children’s EYFS communication and language development effectively. Early years practitioners have an amazing opportunity to support children to develop their EYFS communication and language skills. The ability to listen, understand and communicate is vital in order to be included and thrive in society,… Continue reading EYFS communication and language: 10 top tips
Call on government to support new definition of ‘school readiness’
A Coalition of education and childcare organisations including NDNA has launched a new standard of skills for children starting school. This new ‘Starting Reception’ definition on school readiness has been created following the latest Kindred Squared annual report which highlighted an information gap between teachers and parents. The latest survey reported that teachers and parents… Continue reading Call on government to support new definition of ‘school readiness’