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Children's News Feed

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

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Policy 2 months ago

Education Secretary refers childcare add-on costs to competition watchdog

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has formally requested that the Competition and Markets Authority investigate additional fees charged by childcare providers to parents accessing government-funded hours. The review will examine whether these extra costs undermine the affordability of the expanded childcare entitlement programme.

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Education 2 months ago

New Chief Executive Appointed to Lead Windsor Forest Colleges Group

Oliver Symons will take the helm at Windsor Forest Colleges Group this autumn, joining from Moulton College where he previously served in a senior leadership role. The appointment comes at a pivotal time for further education as colleges continue adapting to skills policy reforms and local labour market demands.

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Concerns grow over hair strand test reliability in Family Court child protection cases
Safeguarding May 26, 2026

Concerns grow over hair strand test reliability in Family Court child protection cases

Experts are raising alarms over the interpretation of hair strand testing in Family Court proceedings, highlighting cases where parents risk losing access to their children based on potentially flawed evidence. The concerns centre on whether current testing methods and their analysis adequately account for contextual factors that could affect results.

Nurseries charging parents extra fees to cover government underfunding
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.

Education Secretary orders review of hidden childcare costs
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.

Universities warn of cuts to hardship support as funding crisis deepens
Higher Education May 24, 2026

Universities warn of cuts to hardship support as funding crisis deepens

Nearly a third of UK vice-chancellors would cut hardship funds for impoverished students over the next three years if financial pressures continue, according to a Universities UK poll. The survey reveals more than two-thirds are prepared to make compulsory staff redundancies, while nearly 90% are considering hiring freezes.

Children’s Commissioner responds to Fordingbridge rape case sentencing
Safeguarding May 24, 2026

Children’s Commissioner responds to Fordingbridge rape case sentencing

The Children’s Commissioner for England has issued a statement following the sentencing in the Fordingbridge rape case. Dame Rachel de Souza praised the extraordinary courage of the two teenage victims and emphasised that no child should experience such heinous crimes.