Regions: England

Government is underfunding us – 95% of nurseries say

A comprehensive survey probing private, voluntary and independent nurseries’ financial sustainability has uncovered a dire picture with 85% of childcare businesses in England making a loss or only breaking even. Ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review, National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) reveals the shocking landscape in which nurseries and childcare settings are operating, with 95%… Continue reading Government is underfunding us – 95% of nurseries say

Champions Programmes

Boost your team’s confidence and skills in maths, communication & language, and SEND provision with NDNA’s award-winning Champions programmes.  Hear from existing Maths, Communication & Language, and SEND Champions and find out how the projects benefited their settings. Each programme offers a range of support from our early years experts, training and resources. Each programme is… Continue reading Champions Programmes

An introduction to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) training

Understand the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory framework with NDNA’s training course. Course details Duration: Half day Who should attend: Owners, managers and practitioners What will I learn? This half-day EYFS training course will provide you with a clear overview of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, including the background to its introduction, how… Continue reading An introduction to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) training

Advanced Safeguarding training for nursery Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

This two-part training course will give you the skills to be a DSL in a nursery or early years setting, and the ability to deliver safeguarding training to your team. Course details Duration: Full day face to face course and online training courseWho should attend: Nursery professionals acting as the DSLs. Learners must complete a basic safeguarding… Continue reading Advanced Safeguarding training for nursery Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs)

NDNATalk England – virtual

Our England event provides you with the latest sector updates and support in policy and practice from the experts.  And best of all? It’s free to members. When: 26 March 2025Where: Virtual Booking open soon More speakers to be announced soon

NDNA tells MPs simplify funding rules to help parents and providers

NDNA’s Director of Policy and Communications, Jonathan Broadbery, today gave evidence to the Department of Work and Pension’s Select Committee regarding how parents on Universal Credit accessed quality early education and childcare places. He also highlighted the wider issues the sector is facing and advanced NDNA’s case for increased investment and a simplified childcare system for parents… Continue reading NDNA tells MPs simplify funding rules to help parents and providers

Ofsted: guidance on significant events or changes to health

NDNA had an urgent meeting today (13 January) with Ofsted about the guidance document ‘Childcare: reporting significant events and changes to health’. This has been taken down by Ofsted for review and we welcome this approach. We understand that it will be made clearer that the guidance will only apply to the registered person whose suitability… Continue reading Ofsted: guidance on significant events or changes to health

How many nursery staff and children are absent – January quick poll

NDNA put together a very short survey for all nurseries across England, Scotland and Wales to find out the proportion of members of staff and children who are currently absent from their early years setting. The survey simply asks what percentage of usual numbers of staff and children are absent during this week (week commencing 17 January). Please… Continue reading How many nursery staff and children are absent – January quick poll

Struggling settings can ask for an Ofsted inspection deferral

Ofsted has announced that early years settings in England which are currently significantly affected by the Covid pandemic can ask for a deferral of their routine inspection. The inspectorate officially resumed its routine inspection work this week which was paused in December. In the announcement they offered to defer inspections for those nurseries which are… Continue reading Struggling settings can ask for an Ofsted inspection deferral

Ofsted report: 98% still good or outstanding but more recent inspection concerns

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman launched Ofsted’s Annual Report 2020-21 today. The report covered the year to September 2021 during which the Inspectorate carried out fewer inspections than normal due to closures and restrictions. Although 98% of nurseries and pre-schools still remain judged as good (76%) or outstanding (22%) there are concerns about the numbers… Continue reading Ofsted report: 98% still good or outstanding but more recent inspection concerns

New shadow education ministers in place

Labour has appointed a new Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Shadow Early Years Minister for their Shadow Cabinet. Bridget Phillipson, (pictured left) MP for Houghton and Sunderland, was appointed as the new Shadow Secretary of State for Education following in the footsteps of Kate Green. Over the weekend, former Shadow Childcare Minister Tulip… Continue reading New shadow education ministers in place

Reach for the stars – we launch NDNA Nursery Awards 2022!

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is excited to launch its 2022 Nursery Awards after a break of two years due to the pandemic – with some new and updated categories. NDNA’s Nursery Awards are the only ones to feature awards where parents have the opportunity to vote and show their appreciation for their child’s nursery… Continue reading Reach for the stars – we launch NDNA Nursery Awards 2022!

Funding rates to rise for 22-23 by less than inflation

Today the Government has published its early years entitlement funding rates from the Department for Education to local authorities in England for two, three and four-year-old places. Most councils will receive an increase of 17p per hour for three and four-year-olds which for the areas with the lowest funding rate of £4.44 is an increase… Continue reading Funding rates to rise for 22-23 by less than inflation

1 in 10 parents believe nurseries are properly funded

A survey by a cross-party group of Parliamentarians finds serious doubts about the Government’s financial support for early years providers. Just one in ten parents believe that current levels of early years funding are enough to enable nurseries, pre-schools and childminders in England to remain financially sustainable, a new survey conducted by the All-Party Parliamentary… Continue reading 1 in 10 parents believe nurseries are properly funded

High employment rates will put stress on early years recruitment

The Office for National Statistics released its latest figures for the UK labour market this week. Employment is estimated at 75.4% – 1.1 percentage points lower than pre-pandemic levels, but 0.4 percentage points higher than last quarter. Unemployment figures came in at 4.3, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points and is only marginally higher then… Continue reading High employment rates will put stress on early years recruitment

Early years coaching programme supports dozens of London practitioners

A coaching programme funded by the Mayor of London’s office successfully helped dozens of early years practitioners to improve the quality of their provision and also to lead them through the challenges of the pandemic. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) ran the Early Years Leaders Programme across London to develop aspiring early years leaders and… Continue reading Early years coaching programme supports dozens of London practitioners

Early years organisations launch joint campaign

Leading early years organisations the Early Years Alliance, the PACEY and NDNA have today issued a joint call for the government to take urgent steps to protect the safety and financial sustainability of those working in nurseries and other childcare settings in England, in light of the government decision to ask early years settings to… Continue reading Early years organisations launch joint campaign

Fewer children in nursery so Government must reverse funding decision

A snap poll by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) shows that the average nursery has a third fewer children than normal and figures published by the Department for Education suggest this could be closer to half across all early years settings. The situation is now critical as 58% of nurseries are not confident they will… Continue reading Fewer children in nursery so Government must reverse funding decision