--- title: Early Years Digest - 15 July 2025 description: Welcome to the ninety seventh 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 ## 15 July 2025 Sign up to our fortnightly digest PRESS & MEDIA   Child’s first 1000 days of life ‘critical’ in preventing obesity, academics say - [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/childhood-obesity-uk-interventions-b2780565.html) Five-year-olds in England with special educational needs 20 months behind peers – report - [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jul/15/five-year-olds-in-england-with-special-educational-needs-20-months-behind-peers-report) Early years teachers to get £4,500 bonus to work in nurseries in poorer areas - [The Daily Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/early-years-teachers-4500-bonus-35510702) Family support hubs to be opened across England offering a ‘lifeline’ to thousands - [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/family-support-hubs-council-england-b2783326.html) Government urged to keep education plans for children with special needs - [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2vn950d5go) NFER is to carry out early years workforce study - [Nursery World Magazine](https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/nfer-is-to-carry-out-early-years-workforce-study) \[*subscription required*\] School meal costs mean less meat and smaller portions, caterers say - [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k7dv1mnpvo) Labour vows to protect Sure Start-type system from any future Reform assault - [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/07/labour-protect-sure-start-type-system-future-reform-assault-bridget-phillipson) ‘Best start in life’ strategy: Primaries to get ‘intensive’ RISE reception support - [Schools Week Magazine](https://schoolsweek.co.uk/best-start-in-life-strategy-primaries-to-get-intensive-rise-reception-support/)  About 200 new nurseries to open at schools in England in September - [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/jun/30/about-200-new-nurseries-to-open-at-schools-in-england-in-september)   FEATURE STORIES A year of Labour: how are their manifesto promises progressing? - [Schools Week Magazine](https://schoolsweek.co.uk/a-year-of-labour-how-are-their-manifesto-promises-progressing/)   Early years in schools: Using a new resource to support school starters - [Nursery World Magazine](https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/features/early-years-in-schools-using-a-new-resource-to-support-school-starters) \[*subscription required*\]   The parental leave review: a chance to boost teacher retention - [TES Magazine](https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/general/parental-leave-review-chance-boost-teacher-retention) \[*subscription required*\] What is Send? How EHCP reform could lead to a fresh Labour row - [The Times](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/what-is-send-ehcp-fgg2m3gg7) \[subscription required\]   BLOGS, PODCASTS & MORE OPINION: Bridget Phillipson: This new Sure Start plan for children is a moral mission: a watershed moment for our government - [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jul/07/government-children-britain-labour-early-years-provision-bridget-phillipson) PODCAST: The policy that changed childhood in the UK - [The Institute for Fiscal Studies](https://ifs.org.uk/articles/policy-changed-childhood-uk)  OPINION: Do men really want more paternity leave? - [The Spectator](https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/do-men-really-want-more-paternity-leave/) \[*subscription required*\] RESEARCH SURVEY: What is the role of play for children in the UK? - [Nottingham Trent University](https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/northampton/play-2025-final) RESEARCH & POLICY DEVELOPMENT   Study reveals fresh insight into when babies start to feel pain - [The Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/foetus-baby-pain-study-b2780415.html)   Growing up in a low-income family: Children's experiences - [The Children's Commissioner](https://assets.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wpuploads/2025/07/Growing-up-in-a-low-income-family-childrens-experiences.pdf)   Towards a new era of integration in the early years - [Nesta](https://www.nesta.org.uk/report/towards-a-new-era-of-integration-in-the-early-years/)  The NHS 10-Year Plan: What does it mean for babies, children, families and health visiting? - [The Institute of Health Visiting](https://ihv.org.uk/news-and-views/news/the-nhs-10-year-plan-what-does-it-mean-for-babies-children-families-and-health-visiting/)   Early education use and child outcomes at key stage 2 - [The Department for Education](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-use-and-child-outcomes-at-key-stage-2)   Giving every child the best start in life -[The Department for Education](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/giving-every-child-the-best-start-in-life)     EVENTS & RESOURCES [Childcare reform: public support for early years since the General Election](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/childcare-reform-public-support-for-early-years-since-the-general-election-tickets-1431469396499) - Early Education and Childcare Coalition 16 July, 12pm (online, free) [Starting Reception Communication Toolkit](https://startingreception.co.uk/communication-toolkit/)(resource) Free, online   **JOBS**   [Impact and Operations Manager](https://kindredsquared.org.uk/jobs/) - Kindred Squared (London) [Senior Partnership and Innovation Officer](https://jobs.savethechildren.org.uk/jobs/vacancy/senior-partnership-and-innovation-officer-7107-ashton-under-lyne-england/7133/description/?_channelid=6)- Save the Children (Manchester, hybrid) [Project Manager Strategic Delivery, Homewards](https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/the-royal-foundation/project-manager-strategic-delivery-homewards/1028722?tsId=2) - The Royal Foundation (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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