Childminder consultation launched
Proposals include strengthening expectations for local authorities to pay childminders monthly
Alliance warns expansion is ‘unworkable’ as applications date for second phase is confirmed
Applications for the second phase early entitlement expansion will open on 12 May.
Ofsted launches Big Listen consultation for the education and care sectors
The Big Listen, a wide-ranging consultation inviting input from education and care professionals, was launched by Ofsted on Friday 8 March
Funding rates to increase in line with provider delivery costs over next two years, Chancellor announces
Commitment worth £500 million over two years, says Treasury
Employers must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for menopausal women
A recent survey found that one in ten women have left their jobs due to menopause symptoms,
Early years providers unable to meet demand for new places under extended entitlement offer, Alliance survey reveals
The majority of early years providers in England expect to struggle to meet the demand of the upcoming extended entitlement offers, research by the Early Years Alliance has found
Mandatory reporting duty introduced for child sexual abuse, Home Office confirms
Anyone working in a regulated activity relating to children in England – including early education and teaching professionals – will now have a legal duty to report crimes of child sexual abuse, the Home Office has announced.
Early years costs have rapidly outstripped inflation since 2010, Labour analysis reveals
Labour has unveiled data analysis showing that early education and childcare costs have increased beyond the rate of inflation by over a third since 2010
Almost half of parents either in debt or using savings for early years costs, new figures show
45.9% of parents have either been plunged into debt or had to withdraw funds from savings to keep up with early education and childcare costs
Job vacancies across early years up by 146% on pre-pandemic levels, says REC
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has stated that, in January 2024, job vacancies for the early years had increased by 146.2% on pre-pandemic levels.
DfE clarifies guidance around additional early years charges for parents
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that early years providers cannot place compulsory additional charges on families accessing the early entitlement offers
Deadline for confirming provider funding rates to be brought forward, government announces
Councils are likely to be required to publish final rates within eight weeks of receiving their own