AI-Curated News

Children's News Feed

Automatically curated from DfE announcements, education news, and sector updates.

Healthy diet costs 85% of income for poorest families as child obesity rises

New research reveals that families on the lowest incomes must spend 85 per cent of their disposable income to afford a government-recommended healthy diet. The findings coincide with increasing levels of obesity and tooth decay among Reception-aged children, highlighting the direct link between poverty and early childhood health outcomes.

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Early Years Jun 10, 2026

Government urged to review two-year development assessment to boost school readiness

The Government should review the two-to two-and-a-half year health and development check to increase numbers of children finishing Reception with a good level of development (GLD), a think tank says.

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Policy Jun 9, 2026

DfE announces £4,500 retention bonus for early years teachers in deprived areas

The Department for Education has announced a new £4,500 annual bonus for early years teachers working in 10 of England's most deprived areas. The incentive aims to address recruitment and retention challenges in the early years sector, ensuring high-quality provision for disadvantaged children.

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Early Years 3 months ago

Healthy diet costs 85% of income for poorest families as child obesity rises

Read Summary

Early Years 3 months ago

Government urged to review two-year development assessment to boost school readiness

The Government should review the two-to two-and-a-half year health and development check to increase numbers of children finishing Reception with a good level of development (GLD), a think tank says.

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Policy 3 months ago

DfE announces £4,500 retention bonus for early years teachers in deprived areas

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Early Years Jun 9, 2026

How Effective Mentorship Can Transform Early Years Workforce Development

Jack Edwards, operations director at Swift Childcare, examines how strategic mentorship programmes can significantly enhance support for new practitioners in early years settings. Effective mentoring not only improves staff retention and confidence but also directly impacts the quality of care and education provided to young children.

Policy Jun 9, 2026

Experts warn early years reforms will falter without workforce strategy

Specialists have told MPs that the Government’s early years plans risk falling short without a comprehensive strategy to recruit and retain staff. The evidence highlights that sustainable workforce planning is essential to delivering high-quality support for children and families.

Policy Jun 9, 2026

DfE Early Years Champion Urges Sector Unity Amid ‘Best Start in Life’ Strategy Concerns

Sue Robb, the Department for Education’s Early Years Champion, has called on private, voluntary and independent nurseries to unite with school-based providers amid growing concerns that the Government’s Best Start in Life strategy risks creating artificial divisions between sectors. The intervention comes as early years leaders warn that current policy approaches may inadvertently pit PVI nurseries against maintained nursery schools.

Education Jun 9, 2026

Beyond CPD: How Practice-Led Consultancy is Transforming Early Years Professional Development

Inspiration Nurseries and Forest School has developed an innovative training model that moves beyond isolated inset days and disconnected online courses. By embedding professional development within lived practice, early years settings are rethinking how education is delivered and sustained.

Safeguarding Jun 8, 2026

Calls for Regulation of Unregulated Baby Sleep Industry After Safety Concerns

A BBC investigation has revealed that the baby sleep consultancy industry remains unregulated, putting infants' lives at risk. Experts are calling for urgent clarity around the qualifications and training required for those advising families on infant sleep safety.

Early Years Jun 8, 2026

Exclusive: CMA investigation to inform Government's Early Education and Childcare Review that will consider funding rates, confirms minister

Findings from the Competition Markets Authority investigation (CMA) into childcare costs will inform the Government’s Early Education and Childcare Review, which is currently underway, the minister for Early Education, Olivia Bailey, told Nursery World.

Safeguarding Jun 8, 2026

Ofsted to scrutinise notification patterns in early years crackdown

Sir Martyn Oliver has announced that Ofsted will intensify scrutiny of statutory notifications from early years providers, examining settings that submit either no reports or unusually high volumes. The move signals a shift toward intelligence-led regulation as the inspectorate seeks to identify potential safeguarding risks and compliance concerns through data analysis.

Early Years Jun 8, 2026

Happy Days acquires farm-based nursery in Essex

Happy Days Nurseries and Pre-Schools has announced the acquisition of Polka Dot Farm nursery.

Early Years Jun 8, 2026

Early years support key focus of Government’s £1.8bn SEND intervention programme

Support for under-fives is a key focus of a new government programme designed to increase access to early intervention support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), new Department for Education guidance reveals.

Early Years Jun 8, 2026

Local authorities to pilot early years data sharing project

Councils in three areas are set to pilot new Government plans for data sharing between early education providers, health visitors and local authorities.

Early Years Jun 5, 2026

Breaking: 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.

Schools Jun 5, 2026

School Nurseries 'Far More Likely' Than Private Providers to Receive Ofsted 'Needs Attention' Grade

An investigation by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has revealed that school-based early years provision is receiving Ofsted's 'needs attention' rating at significantly higher rates than private, voluntary and independent settings. The findings raise urgent questions about inspection consistency and the distinct challenges facing maintained nursery schools.

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