The National Audit Office (NAO) has raised concerns that the government’s extension of early years entitlement for working families will widen the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their peers. Read the...
England childcare scheme may struggle to deliver places, finds ‘damning’ report
The deployment of the government’s childcare scheme to tens of thousands more families is facing “significant uncertainties” and may struggle to meet its own targets, according to a report by Whitehall’s spending...
Charities evoke spirit of Sure Start in call for bold Labour early-years policies
An incoming Labour government must revive the 1997 spirit of Sure Start and put babies at the heart of policies if it is to achieve its goals, a coalition of charities has said. The First 1001 Days Movement, a coalition...
Tougher regulation needed to tackle ‘excess profiteering’ in early years, says charity
Regulation of private early years providers needs to be strengthened to tackle “excess profiteering” and improve quality, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). Through its proposed tougher regulatory...
Nurseries question ability to deliver on funded childcare expansion
The National Day Nurseries Association’s (NDNA) 2024 State of the Sector survey, conducted in January, that 54 per cent of 448 nurseries in England are “unlikely to offer any additional places to two-year-olds or...
Expanded childcare offer underfunded by £5bn, researchers warn
The gap between the government’s £4.3 billion investment in the expansion of funded childcare and the cost of delivering the hours for providers could lead to a £5 billion shortfall, a think tank has warned. The Women’s...
