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. 

Increasing childcare funding rate would give economic gains – new report

A report by the Centre for Progressive Policy “Women in the Labour Market” shows that lack of affordable and accessible childcare is a barrier to maternal employment, resulting in billions in lost earnings. Read more                      

Early years recruitment costs must be reflected in funding rates 

12 October 2021

LGA calls for significant funding rates increase

In its Spending Review submission, the Local Government Association (LGA) calls for a “significant increase in funding rates for early entitlements in all settings to enable the early years sector to reduce the disadvantage gap and allow all children the opportunity of the best possible start.” Read more                     

UNCRC Incorporation delayed by Supreme Court judgement

Today the UK Supreme Court ruled that four aspects of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill will need to be re-considered by the Scottish Parliament. Read more                     

ELC offer saving families money – Scottish Government report 

The Scottish Government has published its Early Learning and Childcare expansion delivery progress report revealing that the families of more than 79,000 children are saving almost £5,000 per child annually due to the ELC offer. Read more                   

New Education Secretary recognises importance of early years

The new Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi made his first speech at the Conservative party conference yesterday. Read more                  

Reducing ratios newspaper article – NDNA’s response

A front page article in the Telegraph on Saturday suggested that the Government is looking at reducing ratios of children to adults in childcare settings in England. Read more                 

Shadow Education Minister addresses Labour party conference 

The Shadow Education Minister Kate Green MP addressed the Labour party conference today. Read more                

Nurseries dazzle at the Nursery World Awards 2021 

The Nursery World Awards 2021 ceremony took place on Saturday night (25 September) at the Brewery in London and a number of NDNA members were crowned winners. Read more               

Extra support announced for childcare sector in Wales

Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan MS, which includes responsibility for early years and childcare, has released a written statement announcing £5.1million of extra support for the childcare and play services sector. Read more              

Minister denies early years sector is in crisis 

14 September 2021

Wales: Rates relief extended for providers 

Registered child care premises in Wales will benefit from 100% non-domestic rates relief for an additional three years, the Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan has announced. Read more    

Scottish Financial Sustainability Health Check reveals evidence on sector’s sustainability 

The Scottish Government has published the findings of its Financial Sustainability Health Check of the Childcare Sector in Scotland.  Read more   

Sutton Trust: Give all children access to 30 hours funded childcare

The Sutton Trust has published a major piece of research that sets out the case for improving access to early education for the poorest children.  Read more  

Hard work of nurseries recognised in DayNurseries.co.uk annual awards

Daynurseries.co.uk has announced the winners of its annual Nursery Awards 2021. Read more          

Local authorities remain concerned about future of childcare sector

Coram Family and Childcare and Frontier Economics has released its latest report Covid and Childcare: The Role of Local Authorities. Read more         

Early years representatives call for critical status for vital practitioners

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has joined with other leading early years organisations the Early Years Alliance and the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) to call on the Government to add early years and childcare practitioners to the list of essential workers offered an exemption to the current self-isolation rules. Read more        

Early years not recognised as key sector under self-isolation exemption 

Updated Test and Trace guidance for the Workplace has been published identifying 16 key sectors that will be exempt from self-isolating should they come into contact with a positive case of Covid-19. Read more       

Updates to Development Matters

The Department for Education has published a revised version of Development Matters following feedback on the original version first published in September 2020. Read more      

NDNA research used in Parliament

A debate was held by MPs in Parliament yesterday on early education funding. Read more     

Plans to reduce self-isolation in critical roles

The Government has announced plans for critical workers not to need to self-isolate. Read more   

Social Mobility Commission calls for children to be at centre of pandemic recovery

The Social Mobility Commission (SMC) has published its latest State of the Nation report 2021, unveiling details of the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic across all four UK nations. Read more  

NDNA agrees that it’s time to make staff wellbeing a policy 

The Anna Freud Centre has today published its findings from a survey about staff wellbeing alongside NDNA’s sample wellbeing policy. Read more

Early Years commission launch manifesto 

The Early Years Commission set up jointly by the Centre for Social Justice and the Fabian Society have today released a new manifesto and findings from a YouGov survey. Read more

No more bubbles from 19 July – new EY guidance

Following statements in Parliament yesterday by the Health Minister and Education Minister, early years settings will no longer be responsible for contact tracing or keeping children in small groups or bubbles from 19 July. Read more                               

Government not planning review of childcare system

In response to an ongoing petition signed by more than 110,000 people, the Government has said it is not currently planning a review of the childcare system. Read more                              

The Duchess of Cambridge launches The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood

The Duchess of Cambridge has launched The Royal Foundation for Early Childhood and her Big Change Starts Small report. Read more                             

NDNA adds support to petition calling for independent review of childcare sector

Sir Kevan Collins resigns over Covid-19 catch-up plans

Government includes early years in next step of recovery plan

Non-maintained nurseries included in latest Welsh Government funding announcement

Scottish Government appointments announced 

NAHT recovery blueprint calls for government to prioritise early years

Welsh Government Cabinet Appointments announced

Sutton Trust highlights parental concerns owing to pandemic 

20 May 2021

Report recognises importance of childcare for working single parents

19 May 2021

EPI recovery plans for early years education

14 May 2021

Queen’s Speech: “Government will ensure children have best start in life”

11 May 2021

Scottish Lib Dems to extend free ELC

19 April 2021

SNP pledges extension to funded ELC

15 April 2021

Expansion of ELC: Principles of Partnership Working updated

29 March 2021

Government review: babies and children to get better start  

25 March 2021

Historic moment for children’s rights in Scotland

17 March 2021

Childcare costs rise by 4% as providers struggle to remain sustainable 

09 March 2021

Budget 2021: business rates relief extended 

03 March 2021

Unclear how much of £700 million education recovery allocated to early years 

24 February 2020

Testing kits WILL be distributed to PVI nurseries 

22 February 2021

Education catch-up plans fail to offer support needed  

Deputy Minister thanks childcare sector in Wales 

Majority of nursery workers supporting children with challenging and complex issues

11 February 2021

Pandemic made existing inequalities worse, says Women and Equalities Committee

09 February 2021

NDNA Members have excellent awards night

05 February 2021

Nurseries in Scotland to reopen on 22 February

02 February 2021

Foundation Phase will be the same as Childcare Offer

02 February 2021

Minister responds to NDNA regarding testing and vaccinations

29 January 2021

Covid notifications in nurseries rise in January

25 January 2021

IFS: unclear whether current registration levels will reflect actual demand 

22 January 2021

Working mum wins her claim challenging the requirement for parents on Universal Credit to meet childcare costs upfront 

22 January 2021

Sector risks becoming unsustainable - commission calls for change

18 January 2021

Attendance in nursery has plummeted this month

13 January 2021

Temporary financial support for Scotland nurseries

13 January 2021

Final push for vaccinations petition 

11 January 2021

DfE reveals reasoning behind its decision to keep nurseries open

05 January 2021

Chancellor announces support for businesses during lockdown

05 January 2021

NDNA calls for nursery staff to be prioritised for vaccine

05 January 2021

Nurseries being put in intolerable position

04 January 2021

Purnima’s Christmas message: you have been a pillar of strength

22 December 2020

LAs anticipate closure of providers following Covid funding 

22 December 2020

Funding rates to increase by a few pence 

17 December 2020

Local authorities will no longer fund nurseries at pre-Covid levels 

17 December 2020


The arrangements for the spring term 2021 will mean that nurseries and other childcare providers will be funded at their actual attendance levels rather than pre-Covid levels. Read more                   

Ofsted briefing: serious concerns for early years sector

15 December 2020

New date for 1140 hours expansion announced

15 December 2020

Graduates have positive association with children’s outcomes 

10 December 2020

Childcare ‘underfunded’ impacting sector wide pay, Low Pay Commission finds 

09 December 2020

Government will pay for Childcare Level 3 qualifications in England 

09 December 2020

Scottish nursery rate relief extended until 2023 

4 December 2020

The future of nurseries and early years settings debated in Parliament

4 December 2020

Ofsted announce assurance inspections as full inspection activity delayed

3 December 2020

Ofsted Annual Report: 98% of nurseries judged good or outstanding 

1 December 2020

• « first
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next ›
• last »