English schools set to take part in OECD early years PISA study
England has joined an OECD pilot, testing 300 five-year-olds’ cognitive skills The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that 20 schools and childcare settings in England are set to take part in tablet-based tests on five-year-olds as part of a pilot scheme for an OECD study. The Department says that the study aims […]
Tracy Brabin announced as new shadow education minister
MP will also have responsibility for early years provision
Alliance shortlisted for two Nursery World Awards
Play Cards for the Home Environment and SmartPD shortlisted Two Alliance products have been shortlisted in the Nursery World Awards 2017. A panel of experts from the early years sector drew up the shortlist earlier this year and the final winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony in September. The Alliance’s SmartPD offering has […]
More two-year-olds take up 15-hours offer
DfE statistics show that 71% of eligible two-year-olds take up place The number of two-year-olds using the 15-hours offer has increased, according to the DfE’s latest Education Provision for Children Under Five report. The statistics show an increase in the number of eligible families using their funded place, with 71% of entitled two-year-olds […]
Social Mobility Commission report argues in favour of quality over quantity
Government should focus on improving the quality of childcare places, according to new report The government should focus on improving the quality of early years education, rather than increasing the quantity of places available, the Social Mobility Commission has suggested in a new report. The report, entitled Time for change: an assessment of government policies on social […]
Childminder data accidentally shared on Childcare Service website
HMRC error causes private details to be shared online HMRC’s Childcare Services website accidentally made private details from several childminders, including home addresses, public this week. The problem was reported to the Alliance by childminders, who noticed that their personal details had been listed under the site’s ‘Search for a childcare provider’ function […]
Robert Goodwill is named as minister responsible for early years
MP has been appointed minister for childcare and early years The DfE has announced that the new minister responsible for childcare and the early years is Robert Goodwill. Goodwill will also serve as minister for vulnerable children and families. The announcement follows the departure of previous early years minister, Caroline Dinenage, several weeks ago. […]
Early years education should target the poorest families, says OECD
Alliance welcomes OECD report calling for focus on improved quality ahead of more places Funded places for the early years should be aimed at the poorest families, according to a new report from the OECD. The international policy thinktank has released a report titled Starting Strong 2017, arguing in favour of high-quality early […]
Early years funding falls in real-terms, despite government’s “record investment”
Alliance FOI data reveals that 28% of local authorities have seen a drop in funding rates since 2012 Early years settings have seen a real-terms fall in funding levels between 2012/13 and 2017/18 in more than a quarter of local authorities, according to research from the Alliance. This is despite the government’s “record investment” […]
Ofsted statistics show fall in number of childminders
Statistics show a 24% decline in childminder numbers since 2012 The government could struggle to fulfil its promise of 30-hours a week of childcare after the number of childminders in England has fallen to below 43,500, the Alliance has warned. Statistics released by Ofsted show a 24% decline in childminder numbers since August 2012. […]
Early years underrepresented on schools forums
Alliance research shows that PVI providers are underrepresented on local authority schools forums Research has revealed that 70% of schools forums in England have just one representative from the PVI sector for the early years and a further 29% of forums have just two. Only two local councils reported having three or more representatives […]
A guide to childcare election pledges
An at-a-glance guide to all the chidlcare and early years pledges made by the major parties this election With so many political parties promising ‘free’ childcare, here is an at-a-glace giude to all the main parties’ proposed early years policies: Conservatives All new primary schools to include a nursery New capital fund to […]