Regions: England

Parents plan to have less children due to spiralling childcare costs

New research from smart money app Plum has laid bare the painful choices parents are having to make in the wake of spiralling childcare bills. 2 out of 3 parents are delaying having or will not have another child due to high childcare costs. A similar proportion also say high costs have affected their working habits.… Continue reading Parents plan to have less children due to spiralling childcare costs

Consensus of MPs at Parliamentary childcare debate

Another debate on the affordability and availability of childcare took place in Parliament this week, spearheaded by Ruth Cadbury, Labour MP for Brentford and Isleworth. MPs of all parties discussed the challenges facing families and providers. Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow gave a rousing speech at the Westminster Hall debate, saying: “Millions of mums are… Continue reading Consensus of MPs at Parliamentary childcare debate

NDNA and Sector give evidence to Education Committee

The Education Select Committee, on 21 February, heard evidence from childcare providers from across England on the challenges facing the sector as part of their inquiry into ‘Support for Childcare and the Early Years’. NDNA facilitated some members to be able to give evidence in person, share their experiences and have their voices heard. MPs… Continue reading NDNA and Sector give evidence to Education Committee

“Beat the Budget” tickets for NDNA’s Annual Nursery Conference

Today (17 Jan) National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) launches its annual national nursery conference with reduced price tickets. A total of 50 cheaper “Beat the Budget” tickets for the Shaping the Future of Childcare: Making the First Five Years Count conference on Friday 9 June are available on a first come first served basis. Half… Continue reading “Beat the Budget” tickets for NDNA’s Annual Nursery Conference

NDNA launches cost of delivery survey for nurseries

NDNA is asking the nursery and  early years sector across England, Scotland and Wales to fill in a short survey asking key questions to see the impact of rising costs on childcare businesses and charities. As providers face a number of pressures the design of the survey has been cut down to minimise the number… Continue reading NDNA launches cost of delivery survey for nurseries

Official reports show pressure building on early years providers

New statistics released by DfE and Ofsted on the Early Years sector this reveal that recruitment and retention crisis remains prevalent while nurseries remain determined to keeping rising costs away from parents and support their children. The Department for Education’s annual Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey 2022 gives insights into childcare and early years… Continue reading Official reports show pressure building on early years providers

New childcare funding rates fall short of rocketing nursery costs

With childcare providers’ costs due to rise dramatically from April, the Government has today unveiled hourly funding rates which for nurseries in some local authorities will only rise by 1%. Following intense lobbying by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and the early years sector in the wake of the Autumn Statement, the Government has agreed… Continue reading New childcare funding rates fall short of rocketing nursery costs

Think tank calls for universal funded childcare until the end of primary school

A new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank and Save the Children has called for universal childcare up to the end of primary school. The report states that free universal childcare until the end of primary school would create an extra £13 billion for the economy, allow parents to either work… Continue reading Think tank calls for universal funded childcare until the end of primary school

Onward First Steps: Fixing childcare: the five years are where we should be investing in their futures.

Economic think tank Onward have published their new report on childcare, First Steps: Fixing our broken childcare system, alongside Siobhan Baillie, MP for Stroud. The report highlights the expensive, inflexible and often complex nature of the current system, which is contributing towards parental economic inactivity. The research was compiled from a poll of 1,037 parents… Continue reading Onward First Steps: Fixing childcare: the five years are where we should be investing in their futures.

Fewer providers, places & good and outstanding judgements

Education Watchdog Ofsted have published their newest batch of data on the Early Years sector for the last academic year September 2021 to 31 August 2022. Their newest data has found that since August 2021: 5,400 providers have left the sector, representing an 8% drop in the total sector There are 302 fewer nurseries and… Continue reading Fewer providers, places & good and outstanding judgements

Autumn Statement: no additional support for nursery sector

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt gave his Autumn Statement in Parliament today announcing no sector-specific support for nursery businesses. From April 2023, the National Living Wage is set to rise again by 9.7%, with minimum wage for 21 and 22 year olds increasing by 10.9%. The education budget will increase by £2.3bn but there was no mention… Continue reading Autumn Statement: no additional support for nursery sector

Nurseries could pay staff more if they didn’t have to pay business rates

Nurseries in England would be able to pay staff more and reduce fee increases to parents if they did not have to pay unfair business rates, says National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). NDNA, the voice of the sector, represents private and voluntary nurseries across England, Scotland and Wales. Childcare businesses in Scotland and Wales no… Continue reading Nurseries could pay staff more if they didn’t have to pay business rates

MPs agree that childcare ratios should not be reduced

Dozens of MPs who spoke at a parliamentary debate about Government proposals to reduce ratios for two-year-olds agreed that it would benefit neither children or parents. The debate was called in Westminster Hall following a petition by the parents of nine-month-old Oliver Steeper who died following a choking incident in a nursery last year. The… Continue reading MPs agree that childcare ratios should not be reduced

Labour plans for expansion of state nurseries, but system must support all children

Labour has revealed plans for an expansion of new state sponsored maintained nursery schools as part of their reform plans of the early years sector ahead of the next general election. Currently maintained nurseries represent a small part of the sector, with fewer than 400 settings across the country, compared with private and voluntary nurseries… Continue reading Labour plans for expansion of state nurseries, but system must support all children

“The sector now needs stability”: New Ministers at Department for Education

The Department for Education has announced the roles of the new ministers at the Department for Education. Chichester MP Gillian Keegan was appointed by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak towards the end of October as the Secretary of State for Education. Under secretary of state Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey will be the Children,… Continue reading “The sector now needs stability”: New Ministers at Department for Education

Open letter to Ministers – investing in a specialist workforce

NDNA has joined more than 100 other charities, colleges and professional organisations in a letter calling for more support for children and young people, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). CEO Purnima Tanuku OBE signed the letter to Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan and Secretary of State for Education Steve… Continue reading Open letter to Ministers – investing in a specialist workforce

NDNA launches quick business rates poll for nurseries

NDNA has launched a snapshot survey for all private and voluntary nurseries in England who are eligible to pay business rates Access the survey here We campaign for better access to high-quality early education and care for children and this includes lobbying the Government for nurseries in England to be made exempt from paying business… Continue reading NDNA launches quick business rates poll for nurseries

New Minister for Schools and Childhood must give early years and schools equal priority

Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood, has been appointed Minister for Schools and Childhood at the Department for Education with the early years brief. She will be responsible for a child’s learning from early years all the way through their school years. Kelly who was elected in 2015 has previously been Minister for Small… Continue reading New Minister for Schools and Childhood must give early years and schools equal priority