The Conservative Party’s childcare manifesto could increase the early years funding deficit to £824m, a new report has warned. A cost analysis of early years pledges from all main political parties by independent research agency Ceeda shows all...
Charity’s early support in children’s centres halves in two years
The number of families accessing early help from the charity Barnardo’s in children’s centres has halved over the last two years. The charity has revealed in its 2018/19 annual report that 92,000 parents, carers and children accessed its...
‘Free’ childcare offer will lead to more nursery closures, finds research
Nearly a quarter of childcare providers predict they could close next year due to insurmountable financial pressures resulting from delivering the government’s 30 hours ‘free’ childcare offer, new research shows...
DfE ordered to publish early years funding calculations
The Department for Education has been told to disclose details of how it calculates early years funding levels by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) following a lengthy freedom of information dispute. Current national funding rates...
Early years inequality gap grows
Early years development has continued to improve, but the gap between the lowest achievers and their peers is still growing, government figures show. The attainment gap has increased in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Picture: Lucie Carlier The...
Primary headteachers condemn the negative effect of SATs on pupils’ wellbeing
Over 80% of headteachers agree that SATs have a negative effect on pupils’ wellbeing, new research by UCL Institute of Education (IOE) reveals. A survey of 288 primary school headteachers and 20 in-depth interviews were conducted by Dr Alice...
