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Little boy on cream sofa carefully building a structure out of colourful wooden blocks on the coffee table in front of him

DfE releases new funded entitlement take-up figures following final phase of expansion

Over 500,000 children are benefitting from government-funded early education and childcare, according to data released today by the Department for Education (DfE).
Little girl holding a purple toothbrush squeezing toothpaste onto it

Major dental health drive set to benefit hundreds of thousands of deprived children

Over two million free toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste have been delivered to three- to five-year-olds in the most deprived areas of England in a large-scale dental health drive

Olivia Bailey appointed as early education minister in cabinet reshuffle

Olivia Bailey, MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire, has been appointed to the role of early education minister, the government has confirmed.

Ofsted confirm changes to early education inspections and reveals updated report cards

Ofsted has today confirmed the rollout new reforms to education inspections, which it says will offer families “more detail about their children’s education”. 

Government announces next phase of school-based nursery expansion

The government is inviting more schools to bid for up to £150,000 of funding from a £45 million pot to create a further 300 new or expanded school-based nurseries from September 2026.

Education Committee launches new inquiry into early years sector

The Education Committee has launched an inquiry into the early years sector looking at issues around the sustainability of the workforce, families’ access to services and the quality of outcomes for young children. 

New research highlights workforce barriers to entitlement expansion

Poor pay and career progression in early years workforce could hamper the expansion of the early entitlement scheme, new research has found.

Final phase of entitlement expansion launches

Over half a million to benefit from government-funded places, government claims.

Cross-sector organisations publish open letter on early years funding

Leading organisations from across the early years and education sectors have written an open letter to the education secretary, warning of the impact of underfunding on the early years sector

OPSS launches new ‘Small Hazards, Big Harm’ campaign

A new campaign to make parents aware of the risks and dangers posed by small, everyday items has been launched by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). 

Independent investigation into NHS maternity and neonatal care to be spearheaded by Baroness Amos

Baroness Valerie Amos has been appointed by health and social care secretary Wes Streeting to lead a national NHS maternity and neonatal care investigation. 

New film series looking at social and emotional growth in the early years launched

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has today released a series of animated films supporting the social and emotional development of babies and young children

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