---
title: Early Years Digest - 19 March 2025
description: Welcome to the eighty ninth 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
---

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# Early Years Digest

## 19 March 2025

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PRESS & MEDIA 

 Unauthorised school absence widening ‘disadvantage gap’ in England - [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/17/unauthorised-school-absence-widening-disadvantage-gap-in-england)

Why childcare providers will be forced to limit funded places and increase prices - [The Independent ](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/free-childcare-warning-government-funded-b2714577.html)

‘No mad reinvention’ in national curriculum review - [The Times](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/no-mad-reinvention-in-national-curriculum-review-phpdlvpkh) \[Subscription required\]

 A new definition to close the school readiness gap - [Schools Week Magazine](https://schoolsweek.co.uk/a-new-definition-to-close-the-school-readiness-gap/)

 

Schools asked to start supervised toothbrushing - [Sky News](https://news.sky.com/story/schools-to-start-supervised-toothbrushing-with-a-quarter-of-5-year-olds-found-to-have-rotting-teeth-13323202)

 

FEATURE STORIES

How Covid changed children in Britain - [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/18/how-covid-changed-children-britain)

The trouble with ‘gentle parenting’ - [The Spectator](https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-trouble-with-gentle-parenting/)

Why Labour’s breakfast club policy is concerning - [TES Magazine](https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/primary/why-labour-breakfast-club-policy-concerning)

 

BLOGS, PODCASTS & MORE

PODCAST: How did lockdown impact children? - [BBC More or Less](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00291y1)

GUIDANCE: Early years pupil premium: guide for local authorities - [Department for Education](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-pupil-premium-guide-for-local-authorities)

 

RESEARCH & POLICY DEVELOPMENT 

 Nurseries and parents invited to take part in toilet training research - [Nursery World Magazine](https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/nurseries-and-parents-invited-to-take-part-in-toilet-training-research)

 

REPORT: Lost Boys - [The Centre for Social Justice](https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/library/lost-boys)

 

Play matters... Why play matters in early childhood - [Early Years Reviews](https://www.early-years-reviews.com/play-matters)

 

EVENTS & COURSES

WEBINAR: [Reading and wellbeing - BookTrust](https://www.booktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/programmes-and-campaigns/for-primary-schools/webinar-reading-and-wellbeing/?&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=primary-2025&utm_content=twitter-post-190325)  
Thursday 27th March, 4pm-5pm (online, free)

EVENT: CST Talks: [In conversation with Jonathan Haidt](https://cstuk.org.uk/professional-development/member-events/cst-talks?utm_source=x&utm_medium=social)  
Thursday 24th April, 2pm-5pm (Westminster, £22 for CST members)

 

**JOBS**

[Manager (Consultant)](https://www.linkedin.com/hiring/jobs/4182773145/detail/) - Early Childhood Funders (London, remote)

[Assistant Director Research and Evidence](https://www.ncb.org.uk/about-us/join-team/current-vacancies/assistant-director-research-and-evidence) - National Children's Bureau (Hybrid working from London/Sheffield/Devon/Northern Ireland)

[Fundraising Coordinator/Small Grant Writer](https://kidsmatter.org.uk/get-involved/work-with-us/job-opportunity-fundraising-coordinator-small-grant-writer/) - Kids Matter (Remote)

 

 

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##### Every fortnight we provide a summary of some of the work published in the EY sector. Sign up using the form below.