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Children's News Feed

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

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Policy 1 month ago

Oxbridge Dominance in Burnham's Cabinet: Social Mobility Success or Persistent Inequality?

Analysis of the Prime Minister's team reveals a concentration of Eton and Oxbridge alumni, prompting debate over whether this represents widening access to elite education or entrenched class barriers. The journey of Kanishka Narayan, who rose from a Cardiff council flat to Balliol College via scholarship, illustrates the complex pathways through Britain's stratified education system.

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Family Support & Early Help 1 month ago

Five Tips for an Affordable and Enjoyable Summer Break with Children

The summer holidays offer families a valuable opportunity to spend quality time together without breaking the bank. From exploring local parks to utilising council-run family hubs, there are numerous ways to keep children engaged and supported. Discover practical approaches to balancing fun and affordability during the six-week break.

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Care-Experienced Young People Invited to Shape Social Care Inspections
Social Care Jul 24, 2026

Care-Experienced Young People Invited to Shape Social Care Inspections

The Children's Commissioner is recruiting care-experienced young people aged 16-18 to participate in a two-day project in London this summer. The initiative aims to give those with lived experience of the care system a direct voice in shaping how children's social care services are inspected.

Indian Students Lead Mass Protests in 'Cockroach Movement'
Youth Services Jul 24, 2026

Indian Students Lead Mass Protests in 'Cockroach Movement'

Tens of thousands of young people have taken to the streets across India as part of the Cockroach Janta party protests. Guardian South Asia correspondent Hannah Ellis-Petersen describes the student-led movement as unprecedented in scale, marking the largest demonstrations the country has seen in years.

India's Exam Leak Protests: What UK Youth Policy Can Learn from Student Movements
Policy Jul 23, 2026

India's Exam Leak Protests: What UK Youth Policy Can Learn from Student Movements

What began as isolated anger over examination paper leaks has evolved into India's most significant student mobilisation in decades, revealing the power of digitally savvy youth collective action. The movement highlights critical tensions in exam integrity, educational equity, and governmental accountability that resonate beyond national borders. For UK local authorities, the protests offer crucial insights into how young people organise in the digital age and why transparent governance in assessment matters profoundly to student populations.

Early Education Minister Olivia Bailey departs in cabinet reshuffle
Policy Jul 23, 2026

Early Education Minister Olivia Bailey departs in cabinet reshuffle

Olivia Bailey has stepped down as early education minister as part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's cabinet reshuffle. The departure signals potential shifts in early years policy and departmental leadership affecting local authority childcare responsibilities.

Early Years Leaders Call for Extension of Business Rates Cuts to Nurseries
Policy Jul 23, 2026

Early Years Leaders Call for Extension of Business Rates Cuts to Nurseries

Early years leaders have urged the Prime Minister to extend business rates cuts to nurseries and pre-schools, ensuring England aligns with Scotland and Wales where providers already receive reduced rates. The campaign aims to ease financial pressures on early years settings and support the sustainability of childcare provision across the country.

Academics Urge Foreign Secretary to Strengthen Early Childhood Education Rights
Policy Jul 23, 2026

Academics Urge Foreign Secretary to Strengthen Early Childhood Education Rights

A coalition of 161 early childhood academics has written to Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband calling for UK backing of a new protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The proposed measures would strengthen the right to education under international law, enhancing legal protections for young children's learning and development.

DfE Publishes Revised Early Years Practitioner Occupational Certificate Content
Early Years Jul 23, 2026

DfE Publishes Revised Early Years Practitioner Occupational Certificate Content

The Department for Education has published revised content for the new Level 2 Early Years Practitioner Occupational Certificate after consultation feedback revealed only limited confidence in the original materials. Just over half of respondents felt the previous content fully or mostly enabled students to achieve the qualification's aims, prompting updates designed to better prepare early years professionals.

Legal challenge to Home Secretary's ban on study visas for overseas students
Policy Jul 22, 2026

Legal challenge to Home Secretary's ban on study visas for overseas students

Students are mounting a legal challenge against the Home Secretary's decision to halt study visas for applicants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. Shabana Mahmood imposed the suspension in March, claiming some individuals were exploiting the student visa route to abuse the asylum system.

Early Years Provision Faces Sharp Decline as Pupil Numbers Set to Fall by Over 10 Per Cent
Policy Jul 22, 2026

Early Years Provision Faces Sharp Decline as Pupil Numbers Set to Fall by Over 10 Per Cent

Department for Education projections indicate a significant drop in the number of children under five accessing state-funded early education, with numbers expected to fall by more than 10 per cent over the next five years. The decline poses challenges for local authorities managing early years provision and planning future capacity across the sector.

James Hempsall: Ending the 'making do' culture in school holiday childcare
Early Years Jul 22, 2026

James Hempsall: Ending the 'making do' culture in school holiday childcare

For too long, families have faced the annual struggle of patching together adequate childcare during the school holidays, often settling for arrangements that are inconvenient, expensive, or insufficient. James Hempsall argues that a cultural shift is underway, with school-age childcare providers leading the charge toward a future where parents can say 'can do' rather than merely 'make do'.

Home Counties nanny costs surge to £60k amid talent shortage
Early Years Jul 22, 2026

Home Counties nanny costs surge to £60k amid talent shortage

New research reveals that hiring a nanny in the Home Counties now costs families almost £60,000 annually, following a record £12,000 increase in salaries. Affluent parents are competing for a limited pool of experienced childcare professionals, driving up wages in the private early years market.