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

Inadequate funding and rising costs pushing nurseries to ‘breaking point’, warns charity

Findings from the National Day Nurseries Association's (NDNA) sustainability survey reveal that two-thirds of settings expect to either break even or make a loss this financial year due to rising costs and a shortfall in funding, limiting their ability to invest in staff development, early intervent...

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Policy May 25, 2026

Education Secretary refers hidden childcare costs to competition watchdog

Bridget Phillipson has asked the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate why families continue to face unexpected charges in government-funded childcare schemes. The move signals potential action to make funded hours genuinely free at the point of use.

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Policy May 25, 2026

Nurseries charging parents extra fees to cover government underfunding

Parents of nursery-age children are reportedly paying thousands of pounds in additional charges for consumables such as food and nappies to compensate for inadequate government funding of free childcare hours. The Early Years Alliance has described these charges as a 'cross-subsidy', prompting the Education Secretary to refer the matter to the competition watchdog for investigation.

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Early Years 3 months ago

Inadequate funding and rising costs pushing nurseries to ‘breaking point’, warns charity

Read Summary

Policy 3 months ago

Education Secretary refers hidden childcare costs to competition watchdog

Read Summary

Policy 3 months ago

Nurseries charging parents extra fees to cover government underfunding

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Policy May 25, 2026

Education Secretary orders review of hidden childcare costs

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has asked the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate additional costs families face when accessing government-funded childcare provision. The review will examine whether providers are charging unfair fees for extras such as meals, nappies and activities alongside 'free' hours.

Policy May 24, 2026

Phillipson orders CMA review of hidden childcare charges hitting parents

The Education Secretary has asked the Competition and Markets Authority to examine nursery practices including non-refundable deposits and compulsory add-ons. The move comes amid concerns that families are facing unexpected costs despite the government's expansion of funded early years hours.

SEND May 21, 2026

Early Years Identification 'Significant' for SEND Support at School

New research reveals that early years settings play a crucial role in identifying children with special educational needs and disabilities, directly influencing the quality of support they receive when transitioning to primary school.

Early Years May 21, 2026

Most schools have no plans to open nurseries despite government push, report warns

Seven in 10 schools say they have no plans to open school-based nurseries (SBN), throwing into question the government’s goal to see 3,000 settings opened or expanded.

Early Years May 20, 2026

Ofsted acknowledges 'relationship' between lower gradings and high levels of deprivation

Ofsted has acknowledged a 'relationship' between higher levels of deprivation and lower gradings under its new school inspections framework, with analysis of report cards revealing that just three school-based early years settings were deemed to be ‘exceptional’.

Early Years May 20, 2026

Benedict’s Law changed allergy policies in schools. Early years settings must be next

Benedict’s Law was developed following the death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who died from anaphylaxis at school in 2021 after being mistakenly given cow’s milk. It strengthens requirements around allergy safety in schools. Benedict’s mother Helen Blythe and Adam Fox OBE, a professor in paedia...

Early Years May 20, 2026

Bright Horizons closes nursery for the 'foreseeable future' due to staffing issues

Bright Horizons has 'temporarily' closed its New Southgate Nursery and Pre-school in Barnet after experiencing 'significant staffing challenges.'

Early Years May 20, 2026

DfE awards universities £3 million for children’s brain development research centre

The Department for Education has announced the recipients of a £3 million contract to contribute to research on children’s brain development designed to underpin Government policy.

Early Years May 18, 2026

Decline in shared reading among families sparks Children’s Laureate’s urgent call for action

Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce has called for urgent action to reverse a decline in the number of families reading to their children regularly.

Policy May 18, 2026

Government Launches AI Chat Tool to Help Parents Access Childcare Funding

The Government has introduced a new AI-powered chat feature to its official app, designed to help parents navigate childcare funding options. The tool also provides information on apprenticeships, aiming to simplify access to vital family and skills support services.

Early Years May 18, 2026

Government urged to extend proposed smoking and vaping ban to all children's play areas

The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that the Government's now closed consultation on smoke and vape free spaces fails to include children's play areas within new build unadopted housing developments and national and country parks.

Early Years May 14, 2026

Ruth Glover: Why early years voices matter in SEND reform

Ruth Glover, chief executive of Springboard Opportunity Group, a specialist early years charity supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families, calls on early years workers and parents to respond to the ongoing consultation around SEND reforms before it...

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