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Policy 1 week ago

Humanities Under Threat: University Arts Funding Cuts Risk Cultural Future

Literature, arts and social sciences face severe funding cuts as UK universities tighten budgets, prompting fears that these essential disciplines are being reduced to mere cost centres. The Guardian warns that while ministers look away, the decline of humanities threatens the nation's cultural literacy and the skills pipeline for future generations.

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Extend National Year of Reading to a Decade, Urges Education Committee
Policy Jul 16, 2026

Extend National Year of Reading to a Decade, Urges Education Committee

A parliamentary inquiry has called for the National Year of Reading to be extended to a decade-long initiative, alongside a new National Reading Guarantee. The Education Committee's recommendations aim to ensure all children have frequent opportunities to enjoy reading for pleasure.

Defending University Autonomy: When Government Pressure Threatens Higher Education
Policy Jul 16, 2026

Defending University Autonomy: When Government Pressure Threatens Higher Education

Recent negotiations between Yale University and the Trump administration highlight the fragility of institutional autonomy in higher education. When government pressure intersects with university governance, the resulting tensions pose fundamental questions about academic freedom and democratic values. These developments offer important lessons for UK policymakers regarding the balance between oversight and institutional independence.

Birth to 5 Matters: Updated Guidance Launched for Early Years Foundation Stage
Policy Jul 16, 2026

Birth to 5 Matters: Updated Guidance Launched for Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Coalition has published a second edition of Birth to 5 Matters, providing refreshed non-statutory guidance for practitioners delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage. The updated framework supports high-quality provision from birth to age five, helping nurseries and childminders implement the EYFS effectively whilst maintaining professional autonomy.

Coram survey: Over half of councils unaware of holiday childcare sufficiency
Policy Jul 16, 2026

Coram survey: Over half of councils unaware of holiday childcare sufficiency

Coram Family and Childcare’s annual survey reveals that rising costs continue to burden families across Great Britain, while over half of local authorities remain unaware of their holiday childcare sufficiency. The findings raise significant concerns about whether councils can effectively meet their statutory duties to ensure adequate childcare provision.

Vice-chancellor warns arts and humanities cuts 'absolutely tragic' for higher education
Policy Jul 15, 2026

Vice-chancellor warns arts and humanities cuts 'absolutely tragic' for higher education

Professor Evelyn Welch, vice-chancellor of Bristol University and mother of musician Florence Welch, has warned that sweeping cuts to arts and humanities subjects across higher education are "absolutely tragic". Her intervention highlights growing concerns about the future of creative education and its value to the UK's cultural and economic landscape.

The Big Future: Hearing from Southampton's children
Policy Jul 15, 2026

The Big Future: Hearing from Southampton's children

The Children's Commissioner reflects on the importance of listening to children's hopes and concerns for the future, drawing on conversations with young people in Southampton as part of The Big Future initiative.

Children's Commissioner Backs Midnight Curfew to Protect Teenagers Online
Safeguarding Jul 15, 2026

Children's Commissioner Backs Midnight Curfew to Protect Teenagers Online

Dame Rachel de Souza has called for a midnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds, arguing that young people want protection from addictive algorithms and online harms rather than outright bans. The Commissioner emphasised the need to safeguard teenagers from dangerous strangers and explicit content whilst respecting their digital autonomy.

Nurseries Under Strain: Managing Cashflow Amid Rising Costs and Changing Funding
Policy Jul 14, 2026

Nurseries Under Strain: Managing Cashflow Amid Rising Costs and Changing Funding

Nursery settings across the UK are facing severe financial pressures as operational costs escalate and government funding arrangements shift. With parental expectations for quality care continuing to grow, early years providers must navigate increasingly complex financial waters to maintain sustainable provision.

Free school meal pupils face widening attainment gap, report warns
Policy Jul 14, 2026

Free school meal pupils face widening attainment gap, report warns

The Education Policy Institute has warned that pupils eligible for free school meals are falling further behind their peers academically. The report urges the new government to tackle educational inequality with "laser-like focus" to prevent the disadvantage gap from widening further.