Early Years Digest

17 December 2024

 

PRESS & MEDIA 

 Two-thirds of England’s poorest families miss out on childcare, report finds - The Guardian

Over £2 billion boost to secure expansion in early education - Gov.uk

Starmer wants 75% of children ‘school-ready’ by 2028 - Schools Week Magazine

Landmark bill seeks to keep children safe, says Phillipson - BBC News

Ofsted chief raises alarm over growth of ‘flexi-schooling’ - The Times [subscription required] 

Tokyo to introduce four-day work week for government staff in push for parenthood - The Independent

Universal infant free school meals funding increased by 5p - TES Magazine 

​DWP two-child benefit limit to be AXED in Scotland as Keir Starmer put under huge pressure - The Daily Mirror

Ofsted to examine link between 'childcare deserts' and children's school attainment - Nursery World Magazine  

Britain's boys are falling behind in a child development crisis fuelled by iPads - Miriam Cates, GB News [subscription required]

Public spending on childhood autism and ADHD ‘will trigger widespread council bankruptcies’ - The Telegraph [subscription required]

 

FEATURE STORIES

Ofsted 2023-24 annual report: everything you need to know - TES Magazine 

From Sure Start to youth centres, cutting children’s services is a false economy - The Guardian

Fixing the school-readiness crisis requires more honesty - Schools Week Magazine

Zip zip hooray! Helping children develop independence in dressing - Education Endowment Fund

 

BLOGS, PODCASTS & MORE

INTERVIEW: Bridget Phillipson speaking on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill - Today, Radio 4 [from 1hour 10mins]

PODCAST: Talking Early Years: In Conversation with Sarah Ronan (Early Education and Childcare Coalition) - June O'Sullivan, LEYF

OPINION: Plan for Change: ‘If early years is key for the PM, we need a revamped Sure Start’ - Labourlist

 

RESEARCH & POLICY DEVELOPMENT 

Revealed: Two thirds of poorest families miss out on childcare, as government urged to ‘think differently - IPPR
 
Opening Doors: Access to early childhood services for families impacted by poverty in the UK - UNICEF
 
Babies' brain activity changes dramatically before and after birth, ground-breaking study finds - Live Science
 
Too Skint for School: Breaking the link between poverty and attendance - Centre for Young Lives
 
Toddlers Use Grammar Hints to Unlock the Meaning of New Words - Neuroscience News
 
 
 

EVENTS & COURSES

WEBINAR: Unity in diversity with Prof. Tina Bruce, Dr Stella Louis and Prof. Chris Pascal - Froebel Trust, 16th January 2024, online (free)

 

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