Coram research shows lack of confidence in the future phases of the entitlement expansion
Coram Family and Childcare has today published research highlighting a lack of confidence in the sector on the future phases of the entitlement expansion.
EPI report says election manifestos show ‘concerning lack of engagement’ with key issues facing the early years sector
The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has released analysis of the key manifesto pledges for education, highlighting their lack of focus on key issues affecting the early years sector.
Conservatives confirm early years expansion plans in manifesto
The Conservative Party has launched its manifesto today, confirming the rollout of the early entitlement expansion, as planned.
Liberal Democrats launch election manifesto with promise to invest in early years education
The Liberal Democrats have launched their election manifesto, in which they pledge to invest in the early years sector, and ensure early education and childcare access that is “flexible, affordable and fair” for all families.
100,000 new early education and childcare places pledged by Labour
The Labour party has announced it will create 100,000 additional early education and childcare places for children from nine months old, through 3,334 new nurseries as part of its plan to meet demand in under-served areas.
Voters call on next government to prioritise early years as much primary school
Most voters want political parties to prioritise the early years sector, new research out today from the Early Education and Childcare Coalition shows.
New Ofsted/ONS analysis prompts concern about equality of early years access
New joint analysis from Ofsted and the Ofsted for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed significant disparities between availability of early years settings across England.
40,000 more staff and 84,500 places needed by 2025 to meet increased early entitlement demand, PAC warn
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has published a letter to the Department for Education (DfE) highlighting challenges in meeting the number of early education and childcare places available for the entitlement expansion.
Investing in the early years holds untold benefits both for business and wider society, report shows
Prioritising the early years has the potential to benefit the UK’s economy, according to a new report released today.
Early Education and Childcare Coalition launches new Rescue and Reform manifesto
The Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) has today launched its new manifesto, which sets out proposals to ‘rescue and reform’ England’s early education and childcare sector
56,000 early education and childcare places lost since 2019, research shows
The number of early education and childcare places in England fell by 56,000 between 2019 and August 2023, representing a 4.3% fall in places, new research by the House of Commons Library shows.
Sector voices capacity doubts as second phase of early entitlement expansion opens
The second phase of the government’s early entitlement expansion opened on Sunday 12 May, sparking fresh concerns about the early years sector’s capacity to accommodate demand.