Catherine Gaunt

Early years minister Stephen Morgan joined leading sector figures, experts, practitioners and academics in the House of Commons for the launch of the Early Years Social Enterprise Collective.

Early years minister Stephen Morgan joined leading sector figures, experts, practitioners and academics in the House of Commons for the launch of the Early Years Social Enterprise Collective.

There has been a rise in the number of parents of children with special educational needs who find it hard to find a nursery, pre-school or childminder place, according to government figures. 

The Chancellor has pledged an extra £1.6 billion a year for funded childcare entitlements by 2028-29 and £370 million over four years for school-based nurseries across England, but the PVI sector is 'frustrated' at the lack of urgent funding as many nurseries struggle to survive.

New research commissioned by the Early Education and Childcare Coalition ahead of the spending review has found that some nurseries have seen cost rises of more than 7 per cent, due to changes to the minimum wage and employer NI changes in April.

The Chancellor has pledged an extra £1.6 billion a year for funded childcare entitlements by 2028-29 and £370 million over four years for school-based nurseries across England, but the PVI sector is 'frustrated' at the lack of urgent funding as many nurseries struggle to survive.

Early years organisations are calling for an explicit reference to online safety and digital literacy in be added to the EYFS, ahead of the conclusion of a government inquiry.

Some group settings with larger outdoor areas welcome the proposals, while others raise concerns about staffing and the potential for overcrowding. By Catherine Gaunt

Some group settings with larger outdoor areas welcome the proposals, while others raise concerns about staffing and the potential for overcrowding. By Catherine Gaunt

The outdoor space available to children in nursery, pre-school, school and childminding settings could be considered as part of the space requirements for children, if Government plans to bring in proposed changes to the EYFS regulations go ahead.

The outdoor space available to children in nursery, pre-school, school and childminding settings could be considered as part of the space requirements for children, if Government plans to bring in proposed changes to the EYFS regulations go ahead.

Parents campaigning to save a school nursery from closure say they were not consulted by the school, and that the situation is made worse because of the lack of alternative provision, with local nurseries booked up until 2026.

Nearly half of all children in poverty are in families where the youngest child is under the age of five, according to the latest child poverty statistics – with the number of children in poverty now at its highest level since records began.

Nurseries and childminders across the country are threatening to cap the number of funded early years places available to parents in response to rising National Insurance, minimum wage increase and stricter rules on charging for extras, according to a new survey.

Nurseries and childminders across the country are threatening to cap the number of funded early years places available to parents in response to rising National Insurance, minimum wage increase and stricter rules on charging for extras, according to a new survey.

Researchers at University College London are urging nurseries, schools and parents to take part in a project to find out why the average age of toilet training has risen and to look at how to cut the impact of disposable nappies on the environment.

DfE extends funding for early years Stronger Practice hubs and Maths Champions

Change to guidance on charging for extras could have 'significant impact’ on nurseries

The DfE has updated its guidance to re-emphasise that early years providers must ensure parents can take up a free funded place without needing to pay for extras, but sector organisations warn move threatens nurseries' survival.

‘Giving children the best start in life’ is one of the six key ‘milestones’ set out by the prime minister today in his ‘plan for change’ speech.