The NSPCC has warned that families on low incomes in the UK are missing out on vital support as they struggle to access early childhood services. In a new report with the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), the national children’s charity reveals that families living in poverty experience barriers to accessing early childhood...
300 new state nurseries promised to meet childcare demands
The Education Secretary has pledged the introduction of 300 new state nurseries in England within the next 12 months. The nurseries are set to open within English schools by next September to meet rising demand prompted by the introduction of free childcare for children from the age of 9 months. The new Labour government...
NSPCC calls for early years support to better protect young children
The NSPCC is calling on the government to invest in early years’ services to ensure we are “keeping the youngest children safe from harm”. The national children’s charity has spoken out after data showed that almost 4 in 10 of its Helpline referrals involved children aged 5 and under. The NSPCC said that their...
Drive to recruit thousands more teachers
The new Education Secretary has announced a scheme to recruit thousands more teachers. In a letter to staff working at all levels of education, Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education, outlined an intention to “reset the relationship” with the sector and put education “at the heart of change and the forefront of...
Child Safety Week 2024: Get safety sorted
Child Safety Week 2024 runs from Monday 3rd to Sunday 9th June in the UK. Spearheaded by the Child Accident Prevention Trust, the annual community education campaign is focusing on the theme of ‘Safety. Sorted!’ this year. The national charity, which works to prevent death and serious injury to children from avoidable accidents, says...
Government assurances to parents as schools return
The government has laid out guidance, information and assurances about early years providers, schools and colleges for parents. While nurseries and childminders have remained open and allowed children to attend their usual hours during the third national lockdown in England, schools are due to reopen for all students from 8th March. The government has...
Early Years groups call for vaccine priority
Early years groups are calling for nursery workers to receive the Covid-19 vaccine as a priority. The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey), Early Years Alliance (EYA) and National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) want mass testing to be carried out in early years settings, as well as vaccine priority for the early...
Early years charities warn babies and new parents are at risk
The NSPCC and a coalition of early years charities are calling on the government to rebuild health visiting services for children and families, as they warn that a generation of babies born during the coronavirus pandemic are being failed and potentially placed at risk. The charities have been joined by over 2,000 members of...
Dyslexia Week celebrates creative power of dyslexia
It’s Dyslexia Week 2020, focusing on the theme of #DyslexiaCreates, which explores the creative power of dyslexia to drive ideas, organisations and society. The British Dyslexia Association is marking Dyslexia Week from 5th-11th October this year, looking at the invaluable contribution that dyslexia makes to the UK while also acknowledging that dyslexia can also...
Life in lockdown: NSPCC sees 50% rise in domestic abuse concerns
The NSPCC has revealed that calls to its helpline about children living with domestic abuse have risen by nearly 50% since lockdown was introduced. Figures from 1st April to 31st August 2020 show that there were more than 4,500 calls made to Childline by members of the public concerned about children living in homes...