Little Hands, Big adventures: Sensory play for early development
For children aged 0-5 years, engaging in sensory play can enhance cognitive, language, motor, and social skills. However, many adults may feel unsure about how to effectively incorporate sensory activities for children into their daily routines. Many children will have sensory experiences whilst in an early years setting. But how do we as early years […]
Around 4,000 school-based nursery places to be created from September, government says
Roughly 4,000 new early years places will be delivered across 200 new or expanded school-based nurseries from this September, the government has announced.
Play Week 2025: How children play is as important as ‘what’ they learn
This year’s Play Week has the focus ‘My Play, My Way’ – paying tribute to children being in control and having ownership over their own play. The ways that children use their play to learn is as important as what they are learning. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), this is summarised as […]
Government early years policy at risk of “embedding inequality”, Alliance CEO warns
Alliance CEO says current government policy is a risk of undermining its aim to ‘break down barriers to opportunity’ at the earliest possible opportunity
New report reveals private equity backed nurseries contributing to ‘care deserts’ in poorer areas
UCL research find that low early education and childcare availability in England’s most deprived areas is inhibiting choice and quality
IFS warns popularity of early years entitlements could leave spending much higher than initially forecast
Government spending could be higher than expected if current levels of take-up for the early years entitlement remain, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
Alliance publishes new essay collection on supporting children and families most in need
The Early Years Alliance has published an essay collection entitled No child left behind
New national nanny register launched to raise standards and improve safety
A voluntary national register of nannies has been launched by the National Nanny Association (NNA)
New analysis estimates funding needed to improve early years quality and inclusion
New analysis conducted by London Economics and commissioned by charity Save the Children has modelled the cost of various changes to the current early years model which, if implemented, could “improve inclusion and quality” in the sector
Alliance calls for ban on schools closing PVI early years settings to take up government school-based nursery funding
Primary schools that have forced private, voluntary or independent (PVI) early years settings to leave their premises to apply for school-based nursery funding should not be allowed to participate in the government scheme, the Early Years Alliance has said
Childcare & Education Expo Midlands: What to Expect from This Year’s Early Years Event
This 26th–27th September, Childcare & Education Expo Midlands returns to the Coventry Building Society Arena, bringing together thousands of professionals from across the UK for the sector’s most anticipated early years event. Whether you’re part of the senior leadership team at a nursery group, leading an independent nursery, managing a preschool or school, or working […]
New report warns most deprived children less likely to reach developmental goals by age five
Children in England’s most deprived areas are less likely to achieve development goals by the age of five, according to a report by the aid agency UNICEF UK