Regions: England

According to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report the early years entitlement faces future challenges as the rollout continues under an ambitious timetable.    The Government’s expansion of the early years entitlement, aimed at increasing the labour market by helping mothers return to work is on track for the first phase of the rollout in… Continue reading Early years entitlement rollout to face future challenges  

The Department for Education (DfE) have today published their latest findings from a Pulse survey of childcare and early years providers which was carried out in November 2023.   This latest piece of research, the seventh in a series of surveys conducted since the summer of 2020 asked a sample of GBPs (group based providers),… Continue reading DfE pulse survey of childcare and early years providers published

The Government has published new statistics on the two-year-old childcare expansion which was launched earlier this month. These include:  The DfE added that its recruitment campaign which was launched in February had resulted in interest from 73,000 people.   It is also piloting a new scheme to increase capacity by matching up PVI providers with space… Continue reading Childcare expansion: DfE claim 79% of codes validated 

Ofsted has updated its policies on complaints handling including pausing an inspection in exceptional circumstances. The regulator hopes that its new policy will make its handling complaints process fairer, thorough and efficient.  The changes have been brought in following last year’s consultation and now include allowing providers to challenge factual inaccuracies and seek a review… Continue reading Ofsted Complaints Handling – you can now pause or defer an inspection 

The first phase of the government’s planned childcare expansion started 1 April which is set to benefit over 150,000 children. From this week, parents of two-year-olds in England can access 15 hours a week of government-funded childcare. The full roll out of funded childcare will be in place by September 2025. The Government has launched… Continue reading Childcare expansion begins from 1 April for parents of two-year-olds

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced today that parents of nine month olds who will be eligible for a childcare place from September can start the process of applying from 12 May. From the beginning of September 2024, 15 hours a week of government-funded childcare will be offered to working parents of children from… Continue reading Childcare applications to open 12 May for parents of nine month olds

By Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted HMCI I’ve now been in the post of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector for nearly two months. It has been an incredibly busy but rewarding start to this new role. As you may know, I come from a schools background, having been a teacher, headteacher, and most recently the Chief Executive… Continue reading Sir Martyn Oliver: My priorities for the early years sector

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in his Budget today (6 March) that he will be boosting the funding for the early years entitlement in line with inflation and staffing costs from April 2025. He confirmed that for the next two years, the hourly rate paid to providers will increase in line with the metric used at… Continue reading Budget 2024 – future funding increases to be linked to rising costs

A major new national recruitment campaign has been launched by the Department for Education today (Friday 2nd February) alongside a trial of £1,000 cash sign-on bonuses. The Government released their latest data that showed that 102,480 children have been registered on the system, “reflecting the strength of demand across the country before the first phase of… Continue reading DfE launches recruitment campaign and incentive payments for early years

Following discussions with the DfE regarding parents who won’t receive their reconfirmation codes until March, there will be a temporary fix to the problem. Some parents who reconfirmed their Tax-Free Childcare account in November or December will not receive their code for their two-year-old place until too late to reserve a place. The DfE will… Continue reading Childcare Expansion:DfE will give temporary reconfirmation codes to parents who need them

The DfE confirmed to NDNA in a meeting yesterday that they would be adding an additional £120 million approximately to the overall funding allocation for the under twos entitlement from September 2024. This additional money was because some local authorities would be funding 26 weeks for the autumn 2024 and spring 2025 terms, rather than… Continue reading Government will fund 26 weeks for under twos costing around £120 million

Changes to the Early years inspection handbook Ofsted have issued an update to the Early years inspection handbook to reflect the changes to the way the organisation works. Additional clarity has been added to the way that inspectors will conduct themselves during inspections and in the pre-inspection call, where deferrals and pressures on settings can… Continue reading Important Ofsted Updates

The DfE has published its annual early years provider survey which shows a fall in the numbers of providers and also in qualified staff. Overall statistics are showing a 4% increase in early years professionals across all types of providers but this could be partly accounted for by an increase in apprentices. While more apprentices… Continue reading Provider survey 2023 results – more staff leaving and more apprentices in settings

The Government has announced the funding rates from April 2024-25 and also set out its response to the funding consultation regarding two-year-old places. Parents can apply for a 15-hour place for their two-year-old from 2 January, which the Government describes as: “the first step in the government’s long-term plan to give working families a brighter… Continue reading Funding rates 2024-25: Average rate increase lower than wages rise