Regions: UK

Early years leaders honoured in King’s Birthday List

King Charles

To mark the extraordinary contributions and services to Early Years Education three NDNA members have been recognised in the first King’s Birthday Honours List.   Recognition has been given to the individuals for making an outstanding contribution to early years education, charities and their local communities.   Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of NDNA said: “A huge… Continue reading Early years leaders honoured in King’s Birthday List

Childcare payments for Universal Credit overhauled after NDNA campaign

As part of the Government’s biggest ever expansion to childcare provision, low-income families will be able to access increased childcare support from 28 June. The Department for Work and Pensions will raise the amount that parents across the UK can claim back monthly for their childcare costs on Universal Credit up to £951 for one… Continue reading Childcare payments for Universal Credit overhauled after NDNA campaign

NDNA partners with Hope to secure more discounts for nurseries

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is announcing a new commercial partnership with educational resources supplier Hope. The partnership with Hope, part of the Findel family of brands, will offer new benefits for NDNA members including discounts on over 32,000 products. Hope is the home of everything nurseries need for their settings. From role play and… Continue reading NDNA partners with Hope to secure more discounts for nurseries

Meet the Minister at NDNA’s Annual Nursery Conference

Children, Families and Wellbeing Minister Claire Coutinho will be attending National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA)’s conference in June. The MP for East Surrey, whose brief includes early years and childcare, will be delivering her keynote speech at the Shaping the Future of Childcare: Making the First Five Years Count conference on Friday 9 June. Delegates… Continue reading Meet the Minister at NDNA’s Annual Nursery Conference

Women 7 times more likely to be out of work due to caring commitments: TUC finds

The analysis of official statistics – published at the annual Trades Union Congress women’s conference (8 March) – finds that more than 1.46 million women are unable to work alongside their family commitments, compared to around 230,000 men. New TUC analysis finds more than 1.46 million women are kept out of the labour market because… Continue reading Women 7 times more likely to be out of work due to caring commitments: TUC finds

“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

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

Childcare businesses must be classed as vulnerable

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy headed by the new Secretary of State Jacob Rees-Mogg have announced a package of support for businesses, households and the public sector to alleviate the pressure of energy bills. The package has revealed a new Government Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers which will provide a… Continue reading Childcare businesses must be classed as vulnerable

Queen’s Funeral and Bank Holiday 19 September – Q&A for nurseries

The Government announced the date of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will be Monday 19 September and will be a Bank Holiday. Today the Department for Education has issued guidance for educational settings regarding the closure. Scottish Government issued this guidance. Welsh Government has said opening is down to the discretion of individual settings. It’s vital your… Continue reading Queen’s Funeral and Bank Holiday 19 September – Q&A for nurseries

PM announces support for businesses with energy bills

Prime Minister Liz Truss announced that she will put support in place from October to assist all businesses with their energy costs for six months. This will be “equivalent” to the support for householders, which will mean that a “typical household” will pay no more than £2,500 in energy bills for the next two years.… Continue reading PM announces support for businesses with energy bills

Tax-Free Childcare: Parents only using half of accounts

The Government has published its latest statistics for Tax-Free Childcare showing that half of all open accounts are not even used. There was a dip in numbers of people using TFC in June but otherwise more people are using the support than previously. However, only 50% of open accounts were used in April which means… Continue reading Tax-Free Childcare: Parents only using half of accounts

Sector returns to celebrate achievements in annual nursery awards!

Staff and practitioners made a triumphant return to NDNA’s annual awards to celebrate their achievements in glitzy ceremony at the Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth. NDNA’s annual conference returned during the day, bringing members and sector experts together before finalists and their families gathered in anticipation at the awards dinner. The biggest award of the… Continue reading Sector returns to celebrate achievements in annual nursery awards!

Less than 1/5 of parents recognise unique importance of age 0-5

The Royal Foundation has unveiled its newest findings of research into the public perceptions of early childhood development. The Duchess of Cambridge’s Foundation, which aims to drive awareness of and action on the extraordinary impact of the early years, published the research based on a survey of 4,682 adults and over a 1,000 interviews with… Continue reading Less than 1/5 of parents recognise unique importance of age 0-5

Urgent funding boost for childcare sectors is needed as costs rise £2000 a year since 2010

New analysis published by the Trades Union Congress on Monday reveal that the cost of childcare for children under two has drastically increased by more than £2000 (£185 per month )in the last decade since the Conservatives took office. Parents saw an average annual nursery bill for a child under two of £4,992 in 2010.… Continue reading Urgent funding boost for childcare sectors is needed as costs rise £2000 a year since 2010

TAX FREE CHILDCARE: Less than half of eligible families accessing support

HMRC have published the statistics on the usage of their Tax Free Childcare offer for the 2021/22 tax year. The Government scheme offers up to £2,000 a year per child towards childcare costs, including nursery provision. The latest statistics show that only around half of the estimated 1.3 million eligible families are accessing the support… Continue reading TAX FREE CHILDCARE: Less than half of eligible families accessing support

Celebrating Early Years; NDNA awards finalists revealed

National Day Nurseries Association has revealed the finalists for their much anticipated awards for 2022. Finalists and guests will come together on the 24th June at Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, with celebrity guest Jenny Powell, presenting the awards. Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of NDNA, said: “We are extremely excited to welcome everyone back… Continue reading Celebrating Early Years; NDNA awards finalists revealed

Healthy Body, Happy Me week: supporting children right from the start

“Right from the Start” is the theme of this year’s Healthy Body, Happy Me week, an annual March campaign run by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) to support children’s health and wellbeing. The week highlights the essential building blocks for children’s development and focusses on a different area each day to ensure practitioners are equipped with… Continue reading Healthy Body, Happy Me week: supporting children right from the start

How many 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 staff and children are absent – January quick poll