Labour reportedly planning to fund new nurseries in primary schools
The party is said to be considering the move to tackle early years place shortages
DfE confirms no change over unqualified staff rules
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that unqualified early years staff can continue to work in early years settings as normal
IFS annual education spending report reveals 9% real-terms funding fall for early years in 2022-23
Government spending on the early years sector in 2022-23 has dropped by almost 9% in real terms, according to an annual report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)
Local authority funding rates confirmed for early years entitlement expansion
The Department for Education today confirmed long-awaited council funding rates for the early years entitlement expansion, due to come into effect in April 2024
Proposals given go ahead after Ofsted public consultation response
Ofsted has stated that four proposals put forward in a public consultation about its post-inspection arrangements will be implemented throughout 2024
Alliance CEO pens open letter criticising government delays in confirming early years funding rates
Government delays in confirming the upcoming funding rates for the new one- and two-year-old early entitlement offers are “putting the entire policy at risk”
Ongoing early years staffing challenge highlighted in Ofsted’s annual report
Ofsted’s latest annual report states that the ongoing recruitment and retention challenges in the early years sector are putting the quality of early years provision at risk.
Sharp rise in national living wage heightens fears over fate of early years settings
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced that the national living wage will increase from £10.42 to £11.44 in April 2024 – a near 10% increase – and extend to 21- and 22-year-olds
Essential maintenance – 22 November
On the morning of Wednesday 22 November, the My EYA Portal will be undergoing essential maintenance and will be unavailable for the duration. We appreciate your patience during this time.
Half of children under five living in ‘early education and childcare deserts’, says new report
More than 1.5 million children in England are living in areas where there are more than three children for every early years place, according to new statistics
New Ofsted statistics reveal fall in early years places
The number of early years places across the country has fallen by 17,800 over the past year, Ofsted figures reveal.
Early years funding gap costing parents £1000 a year in hidden fees, analysis suggests
Parents of three- and four-year olds accessing the early entitlement offers are paying up to £1000 a year in extra ‘hidden’ fees due to underfunding