Alliance launches Discovering Maths through Play
Resource considers everyday activities as maths lessons The Alliance has launched a new publication that helps practitioners turn everyday early years activities into maths lessons. Discovering Maths through Play helps practitioners to spot readily available opportunities for maths in their setting. The resource will help build confidence and develop skills in one of […]
Labour pledges to support Sure Start and make 30-hours universal
Party promises 30-hours of free childcare to all children aged two- to four-years-old The Labour Party has pledged to extend the current 30-hours offer to all children aged two- to four-years-old. The party estimates that this will benefit an additional 1.3 million children compared to the existing offer. Currently, funded childcare is only available […]
Concerns raised over Childcare Services website problems
Parents are said to be having difficulty accessing flagship website The government’s Childcare Services website is said to be experiencing technical problems, just one month after it launched. Run by HM Revenue & Customs, the .gov.uk site has left many parents unable to access accounts for tax-free childcare. Several parents have reported error […]
Green Party pledges to delay formal education until age seven
Party also plans for “free universal” early education and childcare for all The Green Party has promised to offer “free universal” childcare for all children in its latest manifesto. The party has also pledged to delay the start of formal education until the age of seven. Children in England currently start school […]
Conservatives promise that all new primary schools will have a nursery
Conservative manifesto pledges to add early years provision to all new schools and confirms commitment to 30-hours offer The Conservative party has unveiled its latest manifesto, including a pledge to add nursery provision to all new primary schools. The manifesto also reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the 30-hours offer, due to be rolled-out […]
Lib Dems pledge to triple early years pupil premium and offer 15-hours to all two-year-olds
Liberal Democrats plan to support disadvantaged three- and four-year-olds with £1,000 a year per child The Liberal Democrats have pledged to increase the early years pupil premium (EYPP) and extend the 15-hours childcare offer to all two-year-olds in their latest manifesto. The party has also promised to prioritise funded childcare for working families with […]
Labour pledges to extend 30-hours childcare offer
Party says it will spend £5bn each year making 30-hours offer universal The Labour party has pledged to extend the current 30-hours childcare offer if it wins the general election on 8 June. A party spokesperson confirmed today that, under a Labour government, all children aged three and four would be entitled to […]
Alliance and other sector voices join Parliamentary pressure group
All Party Parliamentary Group aims to support early years sector A group of early years providers and representatives, including the Pre-school Learning Alliance, has announced plans to start an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) as part of a cross-sector bid to help raise government awareness about issues surrounding early years. The planned APPG […]
Alliance and other organisations ask politicians to end childcare “bidding war”
Alliance, PACEY and NDNA ask political parties not to promise what the sector cannot deliver The Alliance, along with PACEY and NDNA, has written an open letter to all political parties ahead of the 2017 general election, asking them not to pledge childcare promises that the sector is unable to deliver. The organisations […]
Leaked Labour manifesto pledges extended childcare
Labour pledges “overhaul” of childcare system A leaked draft of Labour’s manifesto for the upcoming general election has promised an “overhaul” of the current childcare system. The draft proposes to introduce a National Education Service that is “cradle-to-grave” and pledges to maintain existing free entitlement offers, extend the 30-hour offer to all two-year-olds, […]
Education Select Committee raises concerns about baseline testing
Committee advises “caution” regarding the introduction of reception year testing The House of Commons Education Committee has warned the government about the potentially negative impact of testing and assessments on young children. The committee has released a report calling on the government to lower the stakes in assessments by changing what is usually […]
Alliance creates ‘need to know’ 30-hours document for parents
Document can be shared with parents to help explain funding concerns The Alliance has created a downloadable document to help providers explain concerns around early years funding ahead of the roll-out of the 30-hours offer. The ‘need to know’ document is available to download online and can be printed out or shared with parents […]