The Guardian - Revealed: the bumper profits taken by English private nursery chains
With more public money on its way, Joseph Rowntree Foundation calls for commitments on value for money and staff pay.
Read more
The Independent- Call to end ‘motherhood penalty’ as women report slower careers returning to work after parental leave
New polling for Fawcett Society underscores post-parental leave disparities between mothers and fathers.
Read more
The Daily Mail - Girls as young as FOUR are suffering joint problems caused by being fat
Data on 120,000 children from the National Child Measurement Programme and GP records showed girls were almost twice as likely seek help for musculoskeletal problems than their peers.
Read more
The Guardian - Charities evoke spirit of Sure Start in call for bold Labour early-years policies
First 1001 Days Movement says five-year decline in toddler development is a ‘ticking time bomb’ for the UK
Read more
The Telegraph - How smartphones poisoned our children’s brains – and how to fight back
Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation is a terrifying assessment of the digital carnage, and a clarion-call to parents everywhere.
Read more
The Guardian - ‘Children are being failed’: why more English parents are home educating
Fines, health needs, and a poor learning environment are among the reasons for the rise in children taken out of school
Read more
Schools Week - Ofsted and DfE must open their eyes to the realities of ‘disadvantage’
Thirteen years after additional funding was targeted for improving educational outcomes for ‘disadvantaged pupils’ (namely those eligible for free school meals as well as looked-after children), a regression in outcomes suggests the strategy is failing.
Read more
BBC News - Scottish childminder numbers almost halve in a decade
The number of childminders dropped from just over 6,200 in December 2012 to 3,530 in December 2022. The latest data shows the figure has dropped further.
Read more
The Guardian - The impact of screen time on parent-child relationships
Readers respond to a letter that linked a drop in children’s school readiness to the lack of interaction with the adults in their life
Read more
The Daily Mail - Nursery fees jump by 7% as the shortage of places continues to get worse, report finds
Nursery costs have risen by 7 per cent in just one year and a shortage of places appears to be worsening, a report has found. A part-time nursery place for a child under two to receive 25 hours now costs an average of £158 per week, compared with just £148 in 2023.
Read more
The Conversation - Child health is in crisis in the UK – here’s what needs to change
A new report from the Academy of Medical Sciences highlights the “appalling decline” in child health and a need for “urgent action”.
Read more
BBC News - Childcare shortage worsens as costs rise – report
The availability of places at nurseries and childminders has worsened for pre-school children across all age groups in Great Britain, a report says.
Read more
The Daily Mail - Parents want a ban on children in nappies starting school as 90% say pupils should be toilet trained, survey finds
A backlash is growing against the increasing number of parents who are sending their children to primary school in nappies.
Read more
BBC Money Box -Money Box Live: childcare
How are new arrangements for childcare payments that arrive in April going to affect parents in England?
Listen
EEF Blog - Communication and Language in the Early Years – a new summary resource
Making regular reference to research can transform our practice, helping us towards improving children’s learning outcomes.
Read more
Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood
Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood plunges into the joys and heartaches, mess, myths and mishaps of motherhood through over 100 artworks, from the feminist avant-garde to the present day.
More information
Third Sector Podcast - The End of Charity
In a world where need is spiralling out of control and new, radical forces are shaping the landscape for doing good, can charity be the answer to the world’s social and environmental problems?
Listen
The big Issue - Top 5 most important children's books, selected by The School of Life
The best children's books inspire children's curiosity and emphasise the value of hearing the perspectives of others
Read more
Teacher Development Trust Blog - Quality early years education crucial for better life outcomes
In the first part of this blog reflecting on the importance of the first five years, Hannah Tyreman, Curriculum Designer, Teacher Development Trust, shares how experiences in the first five years of a child’s life can significantly determine their future.
Read more
Education Select Committee Oral Evidence - Screen Time: Impacts on education and wellbeing
This is the final evidence session of the Committee’s inquiry into screen time and its impacts on children’s education and wellbeing.
Read more
Go Student - SEND Learning in 2024: An Expert Point of View
The landscape of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the UK is vast and intricate. It involves diverse needs, evolving policies and ongoing challenges.
Read more
First 1001 Days Movement, A Manifesto for Babies
A Manifesto for Babies is published by the First 1001 Days Movement – a coalition of over 200 charities and professionals who believe that babies’ emotional wellbeing and development matters.
Read the manifesto
Early Years TV - Sue Newman and Dr Kathryn Murray on Our Sound Environment Matters
Sue Newman and Dr Kathryn Murray share practical strategies for creating positive sound environments that support children's brain function, attention, memory, social-emotional development, and even promote a calm and focused state.
Watch
Investing in the Early Years: priorities and challenges
At a time when many household incomes are under severe pressure, there are challenges in the accessibility, affordability and quality of childcare provision.
Register
Foundation Years Live - Online Event (SEND)
Join specialist in neurodivergence in the Early Years, as well as speakers from Dingley's Promise, Coram Family and Childcare, to discuss best practice for inclusion and creating an enabling sensory space.
Read more