Latest childcare and early years news

Coronavirus guidance for nurseries and early years providers

See the latest guidance on coronavirus / COVID-19 for nurseries and early years settings on our dedicated page here, updated regularly.

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NMT Awards: Congratulations to winners and nominees

30 November 2020

Winners of the 2020 NMT awards were announced at a virtual event. Read more

Early years exclusion from support fund “a kick in the teeth”

27 November 2020
Department for Education logo

NDNA has hit back at the Department for Education’s exclusion of the early years sector from an emergency workforce support fund for showing a lack of understanding, respect and recognition to providers and practitioners. Read more

Duchess of Cambridge launches early years research findings

27 November 2020
Duchess of Cambridge - @KensingtonRoyal

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has revealed the findings of the Five Big Questions on the Under Fives study. Read more

Government £44m increase to early years not enough

25 November 2020
Rishi Sunak

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has pledged an additional £44m to increase the hourly rate for three and four-year-olds places in his Comprehensive Spending Review announcement today. Read more

Minimum wages to rise by inflation in April

25 November 2020
worker and child

The Government has announced the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates which will be introduced from April 2021. Read more

Ofsted to move to six year inspection arrangements

12 November 2020

Ofsted has announced that it will move to inspecting early years settings every six years once full routine inspections resume. Read more

Ofsted highlights support nurseries are giving children during pandemic

10 November 2020

Ofsted has issued a report which highlights the hard work that nurseries are carrying out to support children with their development during the pandemic. Read more

Government funding rates need to factor in Living Wage increases

10 November 2020
Living Wage Foundation logo

The Living Wage Foundation which oversees the voluntary Real Living Wage has announced an increase of 20p today to what they believe is a fair hourly salary. Read more

Chancellor announces further furlough extension

05 November 2020
Rishi Sunak

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has today confirmed in the House of Commons that the furlough scheme will now continue to the end of March 2021. Read more

Implications of England lockdown for nurseries

02 November 2020

On Saturday evening the Prime Minister announced that new lockdown measures are planned to come into force from Thursday. Childcare and early education settings will be able to remain open for the duration of the lockdown - a significant difference from the national lockdown earlier this year. Read more