Safer nurseries with 3,000 more surprise Ofsted visits
Parents will have greater peace of mind as more surprise Ofsted visits, stronger checks and faster action help keep children safe in nurseries.
Thousands back campaign to prevent proposed closure of South Tyneside Council nurseries
More than 4,000 people have signed a petition urging South Tyneside Council to reconsider plans to review its early years provision, which campaigners fear could lead to the closure of as many as 12 nurseries based inside Family Hubs.
Paedophile nursery worker could have been stopped sooner, says former colleague
Serious concerns about a suspected paedophile childcare worker were ignored for months by nursery managers, a BBC investigation has been told.
Usefulness of Ofsted judgments questioned by complaints analysis
Childcare experts are questioning the use and accuracy of Ofsted inspection judgments after latest research found more than half of complaints and concerns about “outstanding” early years providers were logged after their most recent inspection.
Literacy charity expands its inclusive book gifting programme to 100 under-resourced primary schools
One hundred primary schools will receive a collection of inclusive children’s books under an expansion of the Inclusive Books for Children’s (IBC) gifting programme.
Falling primary rolls will ‘narrow curriculum’, Lords warned
The government must financially support schools and councils to manage demographic upheaval, hears inquiry into the falling number of pupils in primary schools.
Concerns over South Tyneside Council review of early years provision
Trade unions, MPs and opposition councillors have hit out at a northeast council’s plan to ‘review’ its early years provision amid fears nurseries could close.
Kido buys 269-place London nursery
Kido Schools has acquired a 269-place nursery in South West London.
Valued by children, but feeling undervalued by society
In Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings across the world, staff are greeted each morning with hugs, smiles, laughter and occasionally some tears.
Half of England’s maintained nursery schools unable to balance budgets as funding review looms
A recent survey reveals that many of England’s 376 maintained nursery schools face severe financial struggles.
Nearly three-quarters of nursery schools to cut costs amid pressures
Many maintained nursery schools are struggling to stay afloat, research shows – at a time when the government is talking up early years’ role in getting children school-ready.
DfE Early Years Champion urges sector to ‘work as one’ amid claims policy ‘pits school-based nurseries against PVIs’
Sue Robb has urged the early years sector to ‘work as one’ amid concerns that the Government’s Best Start in Life strategy ‘pits private, voluntary and independent (PVI) nurseries against school-based nurseries’.
Primary school teachers matter for learning, but may have little impact on attendance
A long-running question in education research is just how much difference individual teachers make to pupil outcomes.
Nursery teachers to get £4,500 tax-free bonus if they take jobs in these 10 areas
Qualified nursery teachers will be offered a £4,500 tax-free bonus to take jobs in 10 areas of the country with the most acute staff shortages.
Are parents happy with early years childcare? MPs hear evidence on affordability and safeguarding
The Committee has been investigating the access, affordability and quality of early years provision, among other issues including the safeguarding of children in early years settings.
School based nurseries 'far more likely' than PVI providers to receive an Ofsted ‘needs attention’ grade
An investigation by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) suggests that far more schools with early years provision are receiving ‘needs attention’ grades, than private or voluntary settings.
Ofsted to include safer sleep in inspections – early years minister Olivia Bailey
Ofsted will now consider safe sleep practices as a routine part of inspection, alongside an update to safe sleep requirements in the early years curriculum from September.
Half of primary pupils now taught in academies
The DfE has published its latest census figures on schools and pupil characteristics. Here are some of the key trends.
Council acted unlawfully by failing to provide single-sex toilets at primary school
7. Scotland: Primary school’s unisex toilets breach girls’ rights, judge rules | The Telegraph
Education secretary encouraging all schools to join Government's free breakfast club programme
The education secretary is encouraging all primary schools to get involved in its free breakfast club programme, as the policy marks a milestone of having served 10 million free breakfasts to over 300,000 children, across 1,250 clubs.