NDNA Knowledge Hub - UK

The latest childcare updates you need to know now. Select your nation for nation-specific updates, or view UK-wide items below.

Practitioners talkingFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for nurseries and parents

Find out all you need to know about nurseries in our FAQs, collated from questions we get asked by our members and their parents, and updated regularly.

Can't quite find what you're looking for? Contact membership@ndna.org.uk. If you have a safeguarding concern, please call 01484 407070 to speak to an early years adviser without delay. 

See all FAQs here

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for nurseries

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) You might have heard about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the media but what is it and what do you, as a nursery, need to do about it?

Find out more in our FAQs and download our Privacy Notice for nurseries, record keeping and retention factsheet and data audit template for nurseries here. 

Attend one of our GDPR workshops for nurseries here.

HR and Health and Safety business briefings

Citation are holding free HR and Health and Safety business briefings across the UK throughout July. Join their experts who will discuss the latest HR and Health and Safety updates and advice to support you and your business.

The briefings will cover:

  • Changes to employment law in 2018 so far
  • Support with GDPR compliance
  • Reduce costly employee absence
  • Manage your fire safety and risk assessment obligations.
Download the flyer below for all the dates and locations of the free events:​

Legal support for parents/carers of children with SEND

Mother and baby talking to childcare practitioner2 July 2018

The Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA) has independent lawyers that support parents/carers of children with SEND on legal matters, for example, legal battles for getting the right funding or to get the proper support from Local Authorities.

Support includes:

  • Advice Line
  • Tribunal Helpline
  • Tribunal Support Service
  • Information Service
  • Face to face advice

A useful resource to share with parents/carers at your nursery.

View IPSEA childcare guidance here

Do you use wooden pallets as resources at nursery? 

19 June 2018

Do you use wooden pallets as resources at nursery?

View guidance here on the danger of re-using pallets treated with Methyl Bromide (marked MB) for craft activities.


How to identify and support deaf children


One in five children at KS 1 will experience temporary deafness and around 40% of deaf children have additional learning.

This document outlines how to spot if a child is experiencing hearing difficulties and what you can do to help.

Download the document below:
Deafness in children
(Adobe PDF File)

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child advice for nurseries

1 March 2018
Baby with UNCRC flagAll children have the right to grow up in an environment that meets their basic needs and allows them choices and decisions of their own.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, or UNCRC, is a list of 54 articles that list what the rights of each and every child should be, regardless of where they are born or grow up. 

View our advice and resources on the UNCRC here. 

Citation's Christmas Party Survival Guide

6 December 2017
Christmas babyWith the Christmas party season in full swing, Citation has shared its best tips on how to keep on top of the HR and health and safety challenges that this time of year can bring.

To help you avoid any surprises, take a look at Citation's Christmas Party Survival Guide.

Download the guide here

How to handle flexible working requests responsibly

8 November 2017
Did you know an employee has the statutory right to request flexible working after 26 weeks of employment?

Citation’s free guide covers all you need to know about flexible working and what to do when a request lands on your desk.

 
Download more information below:

6 steps to supporting your employees in the aftermath of tragedy

12 October 2017
Dealing with a tragedy is never easy and there’s no such thing as a one size fits all formula. When it comes to your business, there are many ways you can support your employees when faced with these circumstances.

Citation have provided 6 steps to supporting your employees in the aftermath of tragedy and a range of HR 
and Health & Safety business briefings all over the UK.

Download more information below:

Prevention of sepsis

6 October 2017
The Department of Health has announced further measures to prevent sepsis. Parents and carers of young children are urged to call 999 or take their child to A&E if their child displays any of the following signs:

  • looks mottled, bluish or pale
  • is very lethargic or difficult to wake
  • feels abnormally cold to touch
  • is breathing very fast
  • has a rash that does not fade when you press it
  • has a fit or convulsion.

For more information please see the UK Sepsis Trust website and the NHS Choices sepsis pages. 

 

Do you want to team up with a nursery in China?

6 October 2017
Little girl holding globe

NDNA is working closely with a Beijing-based kindergarten membership organisation with a view to ‘twinning’ UK settings with counterparts in China.
 
Mandarin-speaking Chinese nurseries are keen to learn more about how UK nurseries operate. They are specifically interested in operational issues such as staff recruitment and retention, sustainability and quality, themed activities, safeguarding, risk assessments and accident and incident procedures, School readiness and transition to name but a few. We envisage contact being one-on-one and monthly via online platforms. Full details are yet to be confirmed.


Are you interested in taking part? Please email patricia.hanson@ndna.org.uk for more information. 

Fire safety: free resources

21 September 2017
Citation logo

Citation has released a free downloadable inforgraphic 'Your fire evacuation plan in 10 simple stages' and free 3-page fire safety guide to support you in promoting fire safety at your nursery. 

Recruiting workers from outside of the UK

31 August 2017
Citation logo

Citation have got you covered when it comes to recruiting workers from outside of the UK. From following a fair recruitment process, conducting comprehensive checks, contracts of employment, calculating pay, and steering clear of hefty fines, read how to stay on the right side of the law 

Find out more here

Tax-Free Childcare - Compensation

11 August 2017
Adult holding child's hands and money

If you've been affected by technical issues when accessing Tax-Free Childcare services, you may be able to get the government top-up as a one-off payment. You may also receive a refund for any reasonable costs directly caused by any mistakes or unreasonable delays.

Find out more here

Early Years Education mission to China, Department for International Trade

20 July 2017
Little girl holding globe

With a growing demand for early years provision in China, expected to increase following the end of the one child policy, the Department for International Trade (DIT) is offering UK nurseries the chance to internationalise their operations in China and Hong Kong. 

Find out more here

Childcare Choices update

20 July 2017

Following queries from parents and providers, the government has published updates on the Childcare Choices website, covering Tax-Free Childcare and payment methods. 

See the updates here

Help for Grenfell Tower

21 June 2017
Child and adult holding hands with heart

We all send our heartfelt sympathy to everyone affected in the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower in London. In particular to all those who have children, families and nursery staff affected. 

View our practical advice here

Traumatic situations: advice for nurseries

3 June 2017
Child holding play dough heart

Everyone will be heartbroken by the news of the bombing in Manchester Arena on 22 May and London attacks in June. All of our members will be affected by this news, but some could have children and parents directly affected.

View our practical advice here

Ransomware cyber attacks: keep your setting secure!

15 May 2017
Cyber attack

Following the ransomware cyber attack on Friday 12 May which affected the NHS among other organisations globally, the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has issued an alert urging both individuals and businesses to follow protection advice immediately and in the coming days.

Find out more here and keep your setting secure!

New child car seat rules

14 February 2017
Lambert Smith Hampton business rates inforgraphic

Rules are being introduced across Europe by 1 March 2017 affecting how new backless booster seats are made. The new rules will not affect existing seats.

The change will make products better suited for younger children, and while it doesn't mean existing seats are illegal or unsafe, the Government is encouraging parents to make sure they know the rules for using child car seats. 

Find out more here, and share this information with parents at your nursery.

 

Handy business rates revaluation guide

19 December 2016
Lambert Smith Hampton business rates inforgraphic

New rateable values for all commercial properties, such as nurseries, in England, Scotland and Wales will be introduced in the 2017 business rates revaluation. 

NDNA Member Benefit Partner Lambert Smith Hampton has created a handy guide on the changes to come.

It simply explains the changes to business rates through the revaluation and how it will affect you. 

 
View or download the guide here, find out more about business rates here and discover membership discounts with Lambert Smith Hampton here.

New report shows importance of reading at an early age

2 December 2016
Lady reading with child

A new report from the Social Market Foundation has found that children who are not read to at age 5 have lower test scores at age 11, and children who read for enjoyment make better progress. The findings showed that encouraging a habit of reading at an early age continues to drive better outcomes in education past nursery age.

NDNA's Literacy Champions Programme supports practitioners to boost literacy achievements, and includes online training, one-to-one support and advice and access to over 300 literacy resources. Find out more!

New online course and advice from NSPCC to support parents

29 November 2016

NSPCC logo


The NSPCC had produced an online course and released advice for childcare professionals to give to parents, to help them cope with crying babies.

Key points from the Autumn Statement

24 November 2016
Phillip Hammond

View key points from the Autumn Statement including childcare being excluded from removal of tax breaks for salary sacrifice schemes – so no change for employer supported childcare vouchers and the National Living Wage to increase to £7.50 from April 2017.

Further questions answered: Tax Free Childcare

17 November 2016
All eligible parents for Tax Free Childcare will be able to open a Tax Free Childcare online account when it is launched in 2017. For every 80p a parent/guardian pays in, the government will top up an extra 20p. A number of members raised questions at recent member events answered here by HM Revenue and Customs..

Find out more

View UK Knowledge Hub archive items here