---
title: Early Years Digest - 105 edition
description: Welcome to the 105th 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

## 4 November 2025

 Sign up to our fortnightly digest

PRESS & MEDIA 

SEND: White Paper delayed until 2026, Phillipson reveals – [**TES Magazine**](https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/send-white-paper-delayed-until-2026-phillipson-reveals) 

Surge in kids starting primary school obese could have ‘devastating impact’ – [**The Mirror**](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/surge-kids-starting-primary-school-36189339) 

Booker Prize launches new award for children's fiction including young judges – [**BBC** **News**](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ydgg1lzdgo) 

Parents look for £180,000 tutor to prepare baby for Eton or Harrow –[**The Times**](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/tutor-background-eton-harrow-school-pjd9zdw20)*\[subscription required\]* 

DfE seeks teachers for policy ‘sounding board’ –[**TES Magazine**](https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/government-reference-group-teachers-policy) 

 

FEATURE STORIES

Do we really expect five-year-olds to sit at desks? I want a school that understands play is learning – [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/29/school-play-learning-england-children)

School referrals to social services hit new high – [TES Magazine](https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/general/school-referrals-social-services-new-high) 

My daughter’s nursery reported us to social services – [The Times](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/parenting/article/nursery-social-services-wjg9b59sx) \[subscription required\] 

Having autism should not mean having to fight for our education – [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c891y5n2de8o)

Wealthiest households fuel demand for delayed school starts – [TES Magazine](https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/early-years/family-wealth-linked-to-delayed-school-start) 

 

RESEARCH & POLICY DEVELOPMENT

**REPORT:** Early years financial incentives evaluation – [**Department for Education**](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6902261e71b575684c3cf813/Early_years_financial_incentives_evaluation_final_report_October_2025.pdf) 

**REPORT:** The English Indices of Deprivation 2025 – [**Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government**](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68ff547a49d08dd781b48351/ID_2025_Research_Report.pdf) 

**REPORT**: The good childhood report 2025 –[**Understanding Society**](https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/research/publications/publication-588800/) 

<https://ifs.org.uk/articles/schools-bill-whats-changing-and-why>

BLOGS, PODCASTS & MORE

VIDEO: How bedtime stories synchronise your child’s brain with yours – [The Times](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQkG6bWDmbW/?igsh=MWg4Y2d5ejRjZnBocw%3D%3D) 

 

EVENTS & RESOURCES

11th annual Better Start Conference – [Better Start](https://betterstart.org.uk/conference/) – Thursday March 5, 2026, in person, full day. Venue: Blackpool Football Club, Lancashire. Price: Early Bird £75+ small booking fee (ends 31st December) / Standard £125 + small booking fee 

 

JOBS

Senior Research and Development Manager – [National Children’s Bureau](https://ncb.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3995815?cid=3423&t=Senior-Research-and-Development-Manager) (London Fields, Homebased, Northern Ireland, Devon, Sheffield) 

 

 

### 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.