We are delighted to share news that two Alliance members were formally recognised by the Queen in this year’s birthday honours list for their services to children. Penelope Webb, early years volunteer and registered childminder from Worcestershire and Pamela Baxter, early years volunteer from Warwickshire both received British Empire Medals (BEM). Since 1984, […]

There may be insufficient providers willing to roll out the 30-hour free entitlement scheme next year to meet demand from working families, the Public Accounts Committee has warned in a new report. The Committee, which is responsible for scrutinising the value for money of public spending conducts an inquiry into the free entitlement offer […]

Young children’s eye movements respond faster to pointed fingers than arrows or signs, researchers from the University of Lincoln have said. During the university’s ‘Summer Scientist’ week, researchers used eye-tracking technology to observe the speed at which children – between the ages of three and 10 – reacted to different visual cues. The […]

Serious case reviews (SCRs) are to be scrapped in favour of a new system where cases will be reviewed either by a national panel or the local safeguarding children board (LSCB). In a review, the DfE said it will create a “stronger but more flexible statutory framework” that will require local authorities, the police […]

Research from the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has claimed that refugee and migrant children are particularly vulnerable to poor mental health, as a result of experiences both before and during migration. Titled, “Delivering the Healthy Child Programme for young refugee and migrant children”, the report highlighted a number of specific health issues affecting refugee […]

Lengthy negotiations between the DfE and York City Council have resulted in an increased flat rate of £4 per hour for providers taking part in the 30-hours free childcare scheme being piloted in September this year. The government had initially offered a split rate of £3.38 and £3.95 for the first and second 15 […]

The 30-hours free childcare scheme is likely to be more beneficial for higher income families than those living on the minimum wage, a new report has claimed. According to the report from Centreforum – “Widening the gap? The impact of the 30-hour entitlement on early years education and childcare” – two-parent families earning £19,000 […]

A recent study has suggested that free part-time pre-school care for three year olds has had little lasting impact. The study – “Universal Pre-school Education: The Case for Public Funding with Private Provision”, published in the May 2016 edition of the Economic Journal of the Royal Economic Society – said that the £2 billion […]

Young children’s nutrition will get a welcome boost from today with the launch of the Early Years Nutrition (EYN) Partnership. The EYN Partnership sets a new standard for nutrition practice in early years settings, providing ‘hands-on’ help, delivered by a network of registered nutritionists and dietitians with experience of early years settings. The goal of […]

The DfE is to launch a tender for a two-year contract to support the 30-hours free childcare initiative, on which it plans to spend approximately £3 million. It will look for a national organisation or consortium to help the 152 local authorities in the country to implement the scheme. An invitation to tender […]

Local authorities in Northumberland, Hertfordshire and the London Borough of Newham have now revealed funding details for their 30-hours childcare pilot, following the news of York’s funding formula late last month. As with York’s formula, the existing 15 hours and the additional 15 hours will be paid at different rates. In Northumberland, for […]

Nearly a third of children are not ‘school ready’ when they start reception, with many not toilet-trained, a national survey has claimed. The State of Education survey – carried out by schools support service The Key – reviewed 1,100 primary school leaders and revealed that many youngsters had a lack of social skills, delayed […]