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Children's News Feed

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

Janet King: Valuing childminding in practice, not just in principle

Childminders deliver essential, high-quality care for families, but declining numbers highlight growing pressures on the system. Janet King, Sector Manager for Education and Childcare at NCFE, argues, during National Childminding Week (11-17 May), that recognition must now be backed by sustainable f...

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Education May 7, 2026

Royal Early Childhood Centre Launches Social-Emotional Development Guidance

The Princess of Wales’ Centre for Early Childhood has unveiled new guidance on social and emotional development aimed at supporting early years practitioners. The resource will be embedded into training courses to strengthen workforce understanding of young children’s wellbeing and developmental needs.

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SEND May 6, 2026

Early Years Funding Should Prioritise Child Need Over Parental Employment, Study Finds

A two-year research programme by the London Early Years Foundation reveals significant benefits for children with additional needs when early years funding targets developmental requirements rather than parental work status. The findings challenge current policy approaches and call for a fundamental shift in how England's childcare system is financed and delivered.

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Early Years 1 month ago

Janet King: Valuing childminding in practice, not just in principle

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Education 1 month ago

Royal Early Childhood Centre Launches Social-Emotional Development Guidance

Read Summary

SEND 1 month ago

Early Years Funding Should Prioritise Child Need Over Parental Employment, Study Finds

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Early Years May 6, 2026

New campaign to educate parents of young children about water safety

A campaign to educate parents about water safety for under-fives has launched as new statistics reveal 88 per cent of all child drownings happen in the absence of adult supervision.

Policy May 5, 2026

DfE issues new safe sleep guidance for early years settings ahead of EYFS framework updates

The Department for Education has published new guidance on safer sleep practices for babies and children in early years settings. The guidance comes ahead of strengthened requirements being introduced through the Early Years Foundation Stage framework later this year.

Policy May 5, 2026

One in Five Scottish Nurseries Predict Losses as Funding Rates Fail to Cover Costs

New research reveals over 20% of nurseries in Scotland anticipate running at a loss this year, with providers warning that government funding rates do not meet the actual costs of delivering childcare places. The findings raise serious questions about the sustainability of early years provision and the financial pressures facing childcare businesses across the country.

Safeguarding May 5, 2026

BBC investigation exposes lethal baby-sleep advice from unqualified 'experts'

Secret filming by the BBC has revealed alarming guidance being given to parents by self-described baby sleep experts, putting infants at risk of serious harm or death. Medical professionals have warned that the unregulated advice contradicts NHS safe sleep protocols and creates significant safeguarding concerns.

Policy May 1, 2026

All Party Parliamentary Group for Early Education and Childcare closes after Conservative MP leaves

The APPG for Early Education and Childcare has closed after Caroline Dinenage MP stepped down as an officer and no Conservative MP or Lord could be found to replace her.

Early Years May 1, 2026

Nursery World Awards 2026: Deadline extended to 15 May

The Nursery World Awards deadline has been extended until Friday 15 May, so there’s still time to enter your early years setting, colleagues and projects.

Early Years May 1, 2026

Anti-racist practice part 2: We all belong

A Scottish nursery school and a Welsh primary show how to create belonging and challenge bias. By Stella Louis and Hannah Betteridge

SEND May 1, 2026

Neurodiversity-affirming practice, part 1: How to provide fully-inclusive environments for neurodivergent children

How to really include neurodivergent children in your early years setting. By Cheryl Warren

Education May 1, 2026

Vygotsky and Bruner: How Early Years Learning Theories Shape Modern Practice

Lev Vygotsky and Jerome Bruner revolutionised our understanding of how young children learn through their theories of social development and scaffolding. Their pioneering work continues to influence early years provision, pedagogy, and the adult-child interactions that support optimal learning in the first five years.

Early Years May 1, 2026

Equipping Baby Rooms: Essential Resources for Safe Early Years Practice

Busy Bees Nurseries shares practical guidance on key equipment for baby rooms that supports safe practice and facilitates smooth daily routines. This resource highlights essential considerations for practitioners working with children from birth to age five.

Education May 1, 2026

Sensory Art in Early Years: Children Create Immersive Exhibition

An early years setting has demonstrated the value of sensory play by supporting children to create an immersive art exhibition. The project showcases how creative, sensory-rich experiences encourage exploration and support child development across the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Education May 1, 2026

Words in the Wild: Building Vocabulary Through Outdoor Exploration

Outdoor exploration offers rich opportunities for young children to develop language and communication skills. By engaging with the natural environment and discovering 'treasures' in the wild, children expand their vocabulary and build descriptive language in meaningful contexts.

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