Early Years Digest

9 September 2025

PRESS & MEDIA 

One in three parents will buy second hand uniforms in bid to cut sky-high back-to-school costs - The Daily Mail

Call for complete ban on smacking children as new growing number say it's 'unacceptable' - The Daily Mirror

Special needs support is broken — so are parents - The Times [subscription required]

Poorer families may not benefit as 30 hours free childcare begins in England, experts say - The Guardian

Many governors lack oversight of school-readiness - TES Magazine

Swimming pool closures put children ‘at risk of drowning’, union warns - The Daily Mirror

Mental health the top concern for almost three quarters of schools - The Times [subscription required]

Reshuffle: 15 interesting facts about education’s new ministers - Schools Week Magazine

FEATURE STORIES

Why children’s manners make me despair — and what I’m doing about it - The Times [subscription required]

How we built AI chatbots to handle parent questions - TES Magazine

Phone-addicted yummy mummies are neglecting their children - The Spectator [subscription required]

The answer to parenting happiness? £100,000 - The Times [subscription required]

BLOGS, PODCASTS & MORE

PODCAST: How can I potty train my 4 year old? – Brenda Cheer, ERIC - CBeebies Parenting Helpline

PRESS RELEASE: Parents to save thousands in government cost of living support - Gov.uk

OPINION: Teaching five-year-olds about grief isn't morbid – it's necessary - The Big Issue Magazine

PODCAST: Introducing: This is early years – the podcast for early years educators - Nursery World Magazine 
 

RESEARCH & POLICY DEVELOPMENT

 AI and Literacy - The National Literacy Trust
 
Reducing Inequalities by Investing in Early Childhood Education and Care - OECD
 
 The Children’s Plan: The Children’s Commissioner’s School Census - The Children's Commissioner
 
 

EVENTS & RESOURCES

RESOURCE: 5 tips for improving parent communications - TES Magazine

TRAINING: How to stay well when the work's never done - with Education Support - Coram Life Education

Thursday 9 October, 16:00 (online, free)

JOBS


Research and Programmes Coordinator (part-time) - Kids Matter (remote)

Senior Trust Fundraiser - Kids (London)

Central Fundraising and Engagement Assistant (fixed-term) - Save the Children (London, hybrid)

Director (part-time) - The Birth Partner Project (Cardiff) 

 

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