The Guardian - All parents, working or not, should have access to childcare, say experts in England
A manifesto calling for an overhaul of childcare provision in England, including making early education accessible to all children regardless of whether their parents work or not, has been backed by dozens of leading employers and unions.
Read more
The Independent - Financial stress forcing many new mothers back to work early, research suggests
Most new mothers suffer financial stress during pregnancy and maternity leave, forcing them back to work earlier than they would like after the birth, research suggests. Maternity Action said its survey of 1,000 new mothers showed that three out of five managed by using credit cards, and a similar number had returned to work early or were planning to do so.
Read more
The Big Issue - Even Suella Braverman wants to end the two-child benefit cap. Why is Labour refusing to budge?
If right-wing Conservative MP Suella Braverman can recognise that the two-child limit is aggravating child poverty, why is Labour refusing to scrap it? Charities weigh in on the impact the 'cruel' welfare policy is having on kids living in deprivation across the UK.
Read more
The Daily Mirror - Children who use phones or watch television at mealtimes are significantly more likely to be overweight, study finds
Children who use phones or watch television at mealtimes are much more likely to be overweight, a study has found. The decline of the family meal is likely contributing to the childhood obesity crisis, with the 'distraction' of screens stopping children from realising they are full.
Read more
The Daily Mirror - Majority of parents want 30-minute screen time limit for young children
Amid mounting alarm over online harms, research for the charity Kindred² found 60% of parents think under-5s should spend less than half an hour looking at screens per day.
Read more
The Guardian - Tech firms must ‘tame’ algorithms under Ofcom child safety rules
Social media firms have been told to “tame aggressive algorithms” that recommend harmful content to children, as part of Ofcom’s new safety codes of practice.
Read more
Nursery World Magazine - Funding for childcare places has dropped in more than 50 local authorities since April
Funding for two-year-old places is lower in 57 council areas than it was last September, according to an analysis of funding rates by the National Day Nurseries Association, which also warns that Government funding ‘is not reaching the frontline’.
Read more
Today in Focus, Podcast - Put it down! Should children be allowed smartphones?
Almost all children have them by the time they are 11 years old – and some get them at four. But are they ruining childhoods?
Listen
ITV Tonight - Kids in poverty: Britain's shame
In the UK there are currently over four million children living in poverty, the highest number in twenty years. One million are described as being in extreme poverty or destitution, unable to stay fed, clean, dry and warm. In this episode of the Tonight programme, Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas calls for free school meals for all UK children, saying for her growing up they were a ‘lifeline’.
Read more
Hope Education Blog - 7 spring nature activities for early years kids
With the weather warming up and the sun shining, spring is the perfect time to get outdoors with the kids and do some spring nature activities. From nature play with toddlers, to covering many aspects of the EYFS, playing outdoors provides so much opportunity for little learners to develop their skills.
More detail
The Sutton Trust - Access to early years setting ahead of the general election
As the general election approaches, the walls of Whitehall and beyond will no doubt be abuzz with discussions on immediate policy priorities, with researchers and policymakers alike sharing their top priorities for change. Indeed, later this week sees the launch of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition’s manifesto to transform the sector in England.
Read more
The Early Education and Childcare Coalition - Rescue and Reform: A Manifesto to Transform Early Education and Childcare in England
This manifesto calls on all political parties to put early education and childcare at the heart of their plans for equality, opportunity and growth. High quality early education and childcare provides children with the foundations for lifelong success and a social infrastructure on which families, employers and the wider economy relies.
Read more
The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood - Prioritising early childhood for a happier, healthier society
The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood’s report sets out the business case for prioritising early childhood. Produced by Deloitte, it sets out how a greater focus on early childhood would create a happier and more productive workforce today and transform the health and wellbeing of the UK economy and society for generations to come.
Download report
Submit a Manuscript for a Special Issue on, "How Can We Embed Equity Into Implementation Science Across Early Years Research and Practice?"
This Call for Manuscripts is focused on the following overarching question: “How can we embed equity into implementation science across early years research and practice?” To make things more equal for children in their early years, from birth to age 5 years, we need to combine research and practical solutions. Implementation science can help us achieve this. However, despite an extensive number of implementation frameworks, theories, and models, the 'how' to use implementation science to advance equity remains in its infancy.
Submit
Webinar: Re-Imagining Child Health Through Primary Health Care Session One: Why Now? A Global Push for PHC (Free)
Wednesday 22 May 9:00-10:00am - Join the Child Health Task Force’s Re-imagining the Package of Care for Children subgroup, WHO, and Global Communities for a series in which we will discuss key strategies, challenges, and innovations in delivering integrated child-centered health services to children within the primary health care (PHC) framework.
Register
London OBC - Ofsted Big Conversation (Free)
Thursday 23 May 4pm-7pm at Bain & Co (London) - Chaired by June O'Sullivan, CEO of the London Early Years Foundation, the London Ofsted Big Conversation this year we will include presentation and discussion with some of the London Ofsted team: Caroline Dulon (London Regional Director), Christine Davies (London Early Years Senior Officer), Linda du Preez (London Early Years Senior Officer), Cait Mellow (External Comms – Big Listen) and Sam Sleeman-Boss (Early Education Quality and Practice Lead).
Register
Nursery Managers Show - Birmingham (Free)
27-28 June - The CPD training you need to become an outstanding manager – for free! Boost your leadership skills and get practical management tips that will optimise the way you run your nursery.
Register