--- title: Early Years Digest - 103 edition description: Welcome to the 103rd 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 ## 7 October 2025 Sign up to our fortnightly digest PRESS & MEDIA  Child Benefit shake-up for thousands of parents as HMRC introduces new system – [The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/child-benefit-shake-up-thousands-35961908) ‘Poorly thought out’: expanded England childcare scheme results in higher fees for some families – [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/sep/24/poorly-thought-out-expanded-england-childcare-scheme-results-in-higher-fees-for-some-families) What could – and should – be in Labour's long-awaited child poverty strategy? – [Big Issue](https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/labour-child-poverty-strategy/) Reeves pledges library in every English primary school – [TES Magazine](https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/primary/rachel-reeves-promises-library-every-primary-school) Reform Send system now or face billions in extra costs, ministers warned – [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjv2rk9yjvo) Kido cyber attack: hackers say they are ‘sorry for hurting kids’ – [Nursery World](https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/kido-cyber-attack-hackers-say-they-are-sorry-for-hurting-kids/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=LinkedIn#Echobox=1759405313) ‘Motherhood penalty’ costs women an average £65,618 in pay by time first child turns five – [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/oct/03/mothers-lose-an-average-65618-in-pay-by-the-time-their-first-child-turns-five) Britain’s worklessness crisis begins at school – [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/09/23/britains-worklessness-crisis-begins-at-school/) *\[subscription required\]*   FEATURE STORIES Gen Z is leaning towards one parenting trend when raising their kids, new study reveals – [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/parenting-trend-cycle-breaking-gen-z-b2834095.html) Instagram still poses risk to children despite new safety tools, says Meta whistleblower – [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/25/instagram-risk-children-safety-tools-meta) Low birthrates in England could lead to ‘closure of 800 primary schools by 2029’ – [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/sep/25/low-birthrates-in-england-could-lead-to-closure-of-800-primary-schools-by-2029) Children with SEND need support. The government must not restrict their rights – [Big Issue](https://www.bigissue.com/opinion/children-send-support-government-white-paper/) Why early reading work is vital to spot and support pupils with SEND – [TES Magazine](https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/primary/why-early-reading-work-vital-spot-and-support-send-pupils) I’m a speech and language therapist: If your child starts school unable to talk, it may not be what you think – [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/non-verbal-children-screens-tablets-covid-pandemic-b2835229.html) I used my phone for ten hours a day - this is the heartbreaking reason I had to stop and the incredible change I've seen as a result – [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-15145009/mother-begged-toddler-phone-screentime.html) Why Labour’s conference gives us real hope for education – [TES Magazine](https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/general/why-labour-conference-gives-us-real-hope-education-schools) The global state of teaching: 8 insights from educators worldwide – [TES Magazine](https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/how-happy-are-teachers-talis-international-survey-oecd)   RESEARCH & POLICY DEVELOPMENT Opening the Door to the Baby Room: Learning from the Experiences and Perspectives of Baby Room Educators and Nursery Managers – [The Baby Room](https://thebabyroom.blog/report-2/) Study links greater inequality to structural changes in children’s brains – [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/sep/30/study-links-greater-inequality-to-structural-changes-in-childrens-brains?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Phase 2 of the school-based nursery programme: Everything you need to know – [Education Hub (DfE)](https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2025/09/nurseries-in-schools-everything-you-need-to-know) BLOGS, PODCASTS & MORE **LETTER:** Careless and damaging talk about autism –[The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/sep/25/careless-and-damaging-talk-about-autism) **VIDEO:** Raising kids in poverty: The UK’s ‘inhumane’ two-child limit – [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/society/video/2025/sep/25/raising-kids-in-poverty-the-uks-inhumane-two-child-limit) **COMMENT**: Most mums have horror stories – but trauma-dumping only makes new parents more anxious – [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/motherhood-baby-fear-c-section-parenting-b2837550.html)   EVENTS & RESOURCES The Future of Family Friendly Policies - [The ReGenerate Exchange](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-future-of-family-friendly-policies-the-regenerate-exchange-tickets-1562740271219) - Thursday 16th October at 3pm (online, free)   JOBS Deputy Director, Schools and Early Education – [Ofsted](https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi?SID=c2VhcmNocGFnZT0xJnBhZ2VhY3Rpb249dmlld3ZhY2J5am9ibGlzdCZ1c2Vyc2VhcmNoY29udGV4dD0xNTI2MjI5OTAmb3duZXJ0eXBlPWZhaXImc2VhcmNoc29ydD1jbG9zaW5nJm93bmVyPTUwNzAwMDAmcGFnZWNsYXNzPUpvYnMmam9ibGlzdF92aWV3X3ZhYz0xOTcxNDg4JnJlcXNpZz0xNzU4NzE2NjA0LWYwZDY4ZGExYmQ5ODFiNmUzZTI3ZjYxNWE1MGE4NzU2ZWU3MzM2YTY=) (hybrid or in-office, based out of one of five listed cities) Chief Executive Officer – [1001 Critical Days Foundation](https://www.prospect-us.co.uk/job/192813-chief-executive-officer/) (London) Senior Education Policy & Advocacy Adviser – [Save the Children UK](https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/jobs/vacancy/senior-education-advisor---policy-and-advocacy-7172-farringdon-london-home-based/7198/description/) (London, home-based) Education Programme Manager – [National Children’s Bureau](https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs?keywords=early+childhood&jobId=1039368) (London, hybrid) Chief Officer, Children and Families – [BBC](https://careers.bbc.co.uk/job/Chief-Officer%2C-Children-and-Families/28348-en_GB) (flexible location) Head of Change, Children’s Services – [Youth Endowment Fund](https://youthendowmentfund.org.uk/careers/) (London, hybrid)     ### Sign up to the digest ##### Every fortnight we provide a summary of some of the work published in the EY sector. 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