SEED report says that early education boosts future levels of employment
Investment in early years is said to reduce rates of depression, school truancy and crime and can help the government reduce costs later on.
Alliance launches new online training course on supporting children with SEND
We have launched a new online training course to support early years providers working with children with special educational needs
English schools set to take part in OECD early years PISA study
England has joined an OECD pilot, testing 300 five-year-olds’ cognitive skills The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that 20 schools and childcare settings in England are set to take part in tablet-based tests on five-year-olds as part of a pilot scheme for an OECD study. The Department says that the study aims […]
Tracy Brabin announced as new shadow education minister
MP will also have responsibility for early years provision
More two-year-olds take up 15-hours offer
DfE statistics show that 71% of eligible two-year-olds take up place The number of two-year-olds using the 15-hours offer has increased, according to the DfE’s latest Education Provision for Children Under Five report. The statistics show an increase in the number of eligible families using their funded place, with 71% of entitled two-year-olds […]
Alliance shortlisted for two Nursery World Awards
Play Cards for the Home Environment and SmartPD shortlisted Two Alliance products have been shortlisted in the Nursery World Awards 2017. A panel of experts from the early years sector drew up the shortlist earlier this year and the final winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony in September. The Alliance’s SmartPD offering has […]
Childminder data accidentally shared on Childcare Service website
HMRC error causes private details to be shared online HMRC’s Childcare Services website accidentally made private details from several childminders, including home addresses, public this week. The problem was reported to the Alliance by childminders, who noticed that their personal details had been listed under the site’s ‘Search for a childcare provider’ function […]
Social Mobility Commission report argues in favour of quality over quantity
Government should focus on improving the quality of childcare places, according to new report The government should focus on improving the quality of early years education, rather than increasing the quantity of places available, the Social Mobility Commission has suggested in a new report. The report, entitled Time for change: an assessment of government policies on social […]
Robert Goodwill is named as minister responsible for early years
MP has been appointed minister for childcare and early years The DfE has announced that the new minister responsible for childcare and the early years is Robert Goodwill. Goodwill will also serve as minister for vulnerable children and families. The announcement follows the departure of previous early years minister, Caroline Dinenage, several weeks ago. […]
Celebrating a successful Annual Conference and Volunteer Awards
Initial feedback from our 2017 Annual Conference has been overwhelmingly positive. The Alliance would like to extend a huge thank you to all staff, volunteers, members and others who attended the event on Friday 16 June. With an exciting opening line-up of keynote speakers including our own chief executive Neil Leitch, the Director of […]
Early years education should target the poorest families, says OECD
Alliance welcomes OECD report calling for focus on improved quality ahead of more places Funded places for the early years should be aimed at the poorest families, according to a new report from the OECD. The international policy thinktank has released a report titled Starting Strong 2017, arguing in favour of high-quality early […]
Early years funding falls in real-terms, despite government’s “record investment”
Alliance FOI data reveals that 28% of local authorities have seen a drop in funding rates since 2012 Early years settings have seen a real-terms fall in funding levels between 2012/13 and 2017/18 in more than a quarter of local authorities, according to research from the Alliance. This is despite the government’s “record investment” […]