Regions: England

Ofsted Complaints Handling – all proposals accepted

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The DfE has responded to the Ofsted complaints handling consultation and agreed to implement all four proposals. These will be introduced in the first few months of 2024 with more details on how they will work in practice to follow. NDNA responded to the consultation following webinars with members, who broadly supported the plans but… Continue reading Ofsted Complaints Handling – all proposals accepted

One in five unqualified: Ofsted publishes annual report

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In her seventh and final Annual Report as Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman highlights both the progress of Ofsted as well as acknowledging the current challenges the sector faces.  Challenges include a less qualified workforce; difficulties in recruiting and retaining; more children presenting with additional needs and a lack of training to support them as well… Continue reading One in five unqualified: Ofsted publishes annual report

National Living Wage will rise to £11.44 per hour from April 2024

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From next April the National Living Wage will rise to £11.44 per hour from £10.42, a rise over more than £1 and the largest ever cash increase to the minimum wage.  The current rate of £10.42 applies to workers over 23, but the Chancellor has announced that the rate will also  apply to 21 and… Continue reading National Living Wage will rise to £11.44 per hour from April 2024

Government biggest childcare investment promise amounts to just a few pence

The Government’s grand childcare funding announcement has left providers with a very small increase, averaging just 32p per hour for three and four-year-olds. When Education Secretary Gillian Keegan announced the £204m additional funding to increase hourly rates from September, this was heralded as supporting childcare providers to get ready for the big expansion of funded… Continue reading Government biggest childcare investment promise amounts to just a few pence

Work for NDNA: Business Support Officer

Main purpose of the job To be responsible for providing administrative and operational assistance to the Business Development department. To serve as a central point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, supporting the overall success of the charity by providing and supporting customer-focused communications – across all platforms – to maximise sales of relevant… Continue reading Work for NDNA: Business Support Officer

Workforce crisis puts Government’s plans to expand ‘free childcare’ at risk

A new report published by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition and the University of Leeds warns that the governments planned expansion of funded childcare hours is at risk of not being delivered due to a workforce crisis.  The report, ‘Retention and return: delivering the expansion of early years entitlement in England’, reveals that 57… Continue reading Workforce crisis puts Government’s plans to expand ‘free childcare’ at risk

Early years maths and language champions programmes receive funding across Greater London  

Two professional development programmes designed by NDNA aimed at increasing practitioner skills, knowledge and confidence in delivering early maths, language and communication have secured funding for 18 London boroughs.    The main beneficiaries will be disadvantaged children aged two to five-years-old across Greater London.   Supported by the Mercers’ Company as trustee of the Charity of Sir… Continue reading Early years maths and language champions programmes receive funding across Greater London  

Message from DfE: ‘T Levels are not being dropped.’

The DfE have written to educational ambassadors requesting they spread the message that ‘T Levels are not being dropped or de-prioritised’.   The DfE are concerned that without the Industry Placement element of the qualification the thousands of T Level students who are currently studying, and those who plan to in the future, will not… Continue reading Message from DfE: ‘T Levels are not being dropped.’

MPs from the Backbench Business Committee held a debate on support for childcare and the early years.

Robin Walker, Conservative MP for Worcester and Chairman of the Education Committee proposed the debate on early education and childcare. Opening the debate on 16th October, he said: “As the parent of a five-year-old and two-year-old… there is probably no single subject more vital to the future success of our children than their earliest experiences… Continue reading MPs from the Backbench Business Committee held a debate on support for childcare and the early years.

NDNA at Party Conferences: Labour Party Conference round up

NDNA “Building the Future: A Blueprint for Early Education and Childcare”

It could be the last time Keir Starmer addresses his party before the next general election and NDNA were in Liverpool to see Labour ministers take to the stage to announce their vision for early education and childcare. NDNA hosted its own event to present a Blueprint for Early Education and Childcare which included a… Continue reading NDNA at Party Conferences: Labour Party Conference round up

NDNA at Party Conferences: Conservative Party Conference round up

England, UK. 2.10.2023. Manchester. Conservative Party Conference, Monday. Licensed to NDNA for editorial and PR use, all other rights reserved. Copyright © 2023 Andrew Wiard W: www.reportphotos.com E: [email protected] Andrew Wiard the author of this work hereby asserts his moral right to be identified as the creator in accordance with the Copyright Designs & Patents Act 1988.

With a general election on the horizon NDNA were at the forefront of the recent Conservative Party conference, speaking to politicians and policy makers about the future of early education and childcare. NDNA’s CEO Purnima Tanuku OBE, spoke at fringe events including a panel discussion hosted by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition’s event. NDNA… Continue reading NDNA at Party Conferences: Conservative Party Conference round up

Thousands more staff needed in early years sector to meet demand

Staffing shortages is shown using a text

Recent research by the innovation charity Nesta shows that the early years sector needs an additional 27,500 practitioners to deliver the expansion of free childcare hours to under-3s, announced in the Spring Budget 2023.  This represents an increase in demand of 8% and further challenges an over-burdened sector that has lost 3% of the workforce… Continue reading Thousands more staff needed in early years sector to meet demand

Work for NDNA: Project Administrator

Main purpose of the job This post organises the logistics and administration of delivering projects and contracts  within the project delivery team.  This includes supporting customers on their journey through the Champions programmes, progress logging, financial administration and post-delivery evaluations. Main duties Collate, update and maintain data and records on systems accurately and in a… Continue reading Work for NDNA: Project Administrator

MP visits nursery awarded 1000th Millie’s Mark accreditation 

Mary Robinson MP for Cheadle visited the nursery which was awarded the 1000th Millie’s Mark in July.  Millie’s Mark is the gold standard in paediatric first aid for early years settings across England and Scotland. Since it was launched in 2016, more than 1000 nurseries and other early years settings have now achieved the mark… Continue reading MP visits nursery awarded 1000th Millie’s Mark accreditation 

Ofsted report focuses on the three prime areas of learning

Continuing its series of research relating to early years education Ofsted has published its report ‘Best Start in life part 2: the prime areas of learning’. The aim of the report is to support practitioners in raising the quality of education within early years and follows on from Part 1 which covered staffing, curriculum and… Continue reading Ofsted report focuses on the three prime areas of learning

Voters say that early education reform key in General Election   

A new report from the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) – of which NDNA is a member – launched today has revealed that for 42% of British voters, childcare and early education reform will be key in their decision about who to vote for in the general election.  The new report ‘Pulse Check: Public… Continue reading Voters say that early education reform key in General Election   

David Johnston appointed as new Children and Families minister

The MP for Wantage and Didcot, David Johnston OBE has been appointed as the new parliamentary under-secretary of state for education to replace Claire Coutinho as part of the Prime Minister’s mini reshuffle today. He is the eighth minister with responsibility for childcare in the last five years. Until this morning, Claire Coutinho MP held… Continue reading David Johnston appointed as new Children and Families minister

Childcare Providers Facing Nationwide Recruitment Crisis

TUC have published a report on the childcare sector national recruitment crisis and are calling for a comprehensive strategy for the care workforce in England. New analysis by the TUC using Coram Family and Childcare data shows that childcare recruitment is in crisis on a national scale with every English region struggling to recruit childcare… Continue reading Childcare Providers Facing Nationwide Recruitment Crisis