--- title: Early Years Digest - 122 edition description: Welcome to the 122nd Early Years Digest. Every fortnight we provide a summary of some of the work published in the EY sector. image: https://info.kindredsquared.org.uk/hubfs/EY%20Digest.gif --- ## Kindred² [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.twitter.com/kindredsquared) ## Kindred² [![Kindred Horizontal Logo](https://info.kindredsquared.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Email%20Template%20Build/Kindred%20Horizontal%20Logo.png?width=150&name=Kindred%20Horizontal%20Logo.png "Kindred Horizontal Logo")](https://kindredsquared.org.uk/) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.twitter.com/kindredsquared) # Early Years Digest ## 14 July 2026 Sign up to our fortnightly digest     PRESS & MEDIA  Free school meal pupils falling further behind their peers, report warns - [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr7xgx831exo) UK children will be one of unhealthiest generations in decades, doctors say - [The Guardian ](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/14/children-uk-unhealthiest-generation-decades-doctors-say) Longer paternity leave benefits the whole family, study finds - [The Times](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/paternity-leave-benefits-family-study-2v03nnzr7)   FEATURE STORIES   The Big Debate: Should potty training be introduced at six months? [Nursery World](https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/opinion/the-big-debate-should-potty-training-be-introduced-at-six-months) How the GLD target could hide a growing early years divide - [Tes Magazine](https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/early-years/how-gld-target-could-hide-growing-early-years-divide) Five school reform recommendations for Burnham's government - [Schools Week](https://schoolsweek.co.uk/five-school-reform-recommendations-for-burnhams-government/) Safe from AI: Childminding is one of the careers least likely to be replaced by AI - [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jul/11/ai-work-jobs-future-medicine-teaching-hotels-law)   RESEARCH & POLICY DEVELOPMENT CONSULTATION: Changes to the funding system for early years entitlements, closes on 14 Sept 2026 - [DfE](https://consult.education.gov.uk/early-years-funding/early-years-funding-proposed-changes-to-the-entitl/)  REPORT: State of Child Health 2026 - which provides a comprehensive overview of children’s health across each nation of the UK. Tracking progress against 12 key indicators, it shows that, without urgent action, we risk raising one of the unhealthiest generations of children ever. - [Royal College of Paediatrics ](https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/state-of-child-health) REPORT: Building bridges: integrating early education with family support in England and Scotland - [NESTA](https://www.nesta.org.uk/report/building-bridges/)   GUIDANCE: Screen use - help for early years providers - [DfE](https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/screen-use) GUIDANCE: Birth to 5 Matters: non-statutory guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage - 2nd edition - [Early Education - The British Association for Early Childhood Education ](https://birthto5matters.org.uk/download-or-buy-a-copy/)   BLOGS, WEBINARS & MORE  BOOK: [Nursery by Design: Creating Spaces for Learning and Belonging](https://www.leyf.org.uk/news/nursery-by-design-a-book-born-from-small-steps/), brings together the core principles of nursery design through a social justice lens, by Dr June O’Sullivan OBE  WEBINAR: Giving children the best start: what evidence do we need? Thurs 16 July 12pm -1pm, [NESTA](https://www.nesta.org.uk/event/giving-children-the-best-start-what-evidence-do-we-need/)  RESOURCES: New resources to support parents and professionals around three key periods of family change; becoming a parent, adjusting to a child’s complex needs, and supporting a child starting school - [University of Cambridge Centre for Child, Adolescent and Family Research](https://resources.newn.cam.ac.uk/shape/WP3/slide-001.html)   JOBS Head of Operations and Finance, [10001 Critical Days Foundation](https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/1001-critical-days-foundation-/head-of-operations-and-finance/1075047?tsId=6) Policy Manager, applications close at midnight 23 July, [iHV](https://ihv.org.uk/about-us/opportunities-with-the-ihv/policy-manager/)   ### Sign up to the digest ##### Every fortnight we provide a summary of some of the work published in the EY sector. Sign up using the form below.