Alliance CEO Neil Leitch took part in a new podcast with the Food Foundation, discussing food poverty in the early years, why government must do more to support the provision of health meals and snacks in PVI settings and more. You can listen here: foodfoundation.org.uk/news/podcast...

A newly-published evaluation of the Department for Education’s (DfE) Early Years Financial Incentives pilot scheme has found that it failed to meet its objectives. It found that the scheme had “no measurable increase in … the number of applicants per vacancy”. Read more: bit.ly/4oLMI98

The expansion of the government’s ‘funded’ early education and childcare scheme is at risk due to financial and staffing pressures, new statistics from the Department for Education (DfE) reveal. Read more: bit.ly/3L91dFE

Ofsted has today confirmed significant changes to how it will inspect education settings – incl. early years providers – going forward. The changes, which will come into effect from 10 Nov, follow a recent consultation into proposed inspection reforms: www.eyalliance.org.uk/news/2025/09...

The Education Committee has launched an inquiry into the early years sector looking at issues around the sustainability of the workforce, families’ access to services and the quality of outcomes for young children. committees.parliament.uk/committee/20...

The government has announced funding of £45 million to create a further 300 new or expanded school-based nurseries from September 2026. However, the Alliance has called on government to place more focus on private and voluntary providers. Read more: www.eyalliance.org.uk/news/2025/09...

Alliance CEO Neil Leitch appeared on BBC 5 Live Breakfast earlier, discussing the expanded early years entitlement that comes into effect today. Listen from 11 minutes here: bbc.in/3I3vAfj 1/3

The latest phase of the government’s early years recruitment campaign will focus on increasing the number of male educators working in early years settings, the Department for Education has announced. Read more: bit.ly/3Hdjujm

The richest households in England will be eight times more likely to benefit from the full roll-out of the government’s funded early entitlement expansion than the most disadvantaged families, analysis by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) has found. www.eyalliance.org.uk/news/2025/07...

@ofstednews.bsky.social has today announced several measures to “reassure the education sector” about the rollout of the renewed Ofsted inspection framework in November. www.eyalliance.org.uk/news/2025/07...

84% of parents of under-fives support the introduction of a professional register for early years staff, new research commissioned by the @coalitionedcare.bsky.social and conducted by More in Common, has found. Read more: www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news...

Labour MP and chair of the Education Select Committee Helen Hayes called on the government to take action to ensure that early years settings aren’t forced to close as a result of the impact of high delivery costs and inadequate funding rates during a Westminister Hall debate on Wed: bit.ly/4kuvfzy

What does the public really think about childcare and early education, and what do they want the Government to prioritise next? Join a free panel discussion with @coalitionedcare.bsky.social and the Alliance’s Shannon Pite on Wednesday 16 July at 12pm: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/childcare-...

The government has published a new strategy for early years care, education and support – entitled ‘Giving every child the best start in life’, including planned changes to funding, professional development and Ofsted inspections: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/686bd6...

The Alliance has welcomed government plans to roll out up to 1,000 family support services in every local authority in England by April 2026. Read more here: www.gov.uk/government/n...

The government has confirmed that roughly 4,000 new early years places will be delivered across 200 new or expanded school-based nurseries from this September, as part of the first phase of the previously-announced school-based nursery programme. lnkd.in/e7Hi6XBZ

We're delighted to publish 'No child left behind', our new FREE essay collection where key early years experts reflect on the current sector challenges & outline their long-term vision of a system underpinned by fairness & equality. Download your copy: bit.ly/3TKhTUE

If you’re an active Alliance member who wants to build early years sector that respects and values its workforce and puts the needs of children and families first, then you sound like just the type of person we want to join our Board of Trustees. Find out more: bit.ly/3GeahXx

New analysis conducted by London Economics and commissioned by @savechildrenuk.bsky.social has modelled the cost of various changes to the current early years model which, if implemented, could “improve inclusion and quality” in the sector. www.eyalliance.org.uk/news/2025/06...

Following confirmation that the government's school-based nursery policy will be rolled out in full, the Alliance has called for primary schools that have forced PVI early years settings to leave their premises to be prohibited from applying for school-based nursery funding. bit.ly/3FH4BoV

"If you saw it and lived it, you'd make different decisions." Alliance CEO Neil Leitch spoke to the Famly Tiny Chair Podcast, where he spoke about his message to the Chancellor and how his own childhood shaped his own views on why early years matters: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3hS...

One in 10 early years settings in England warn they are at risk of closure in the next two years due to rising costs, according to a new poll conducted by @coalitionedcare.bsky.social Read more: www.eyalliance.org.uk/news/2025/06...

We’ve recently joined forces with NDNA and Early Education – ahead of the conclusion of the House of Lords Communications & Digital Committee’s review into media literacy – to call for online safety and digital literacy to be added to the EYFS.

*** Don't miss your chance to have your say on the impact of NI and NMW arises! *** @coalitionedcare.bsky.social has launched a new survey ahead of the Spending Review: We're asking as many early years settings as possible to respond to the survey here: 7lhwgqj38fv.typeform.com/to/IV3auaYQ

Neil Leitch, Alliance CEO, will be speaking at the Westminster Insight #EarlyYearsWM conference on Thursday 10 July discussing ‘Delivering Reforms in Childcare and Early Years’. Get your tickets and learn more here: bit.ly/4kldFPk Use our code SPKR4451 for 20% off!

@coalitionedcare.bsky.social has launched a short survey to capture the true impact of recent cost pressures, including NMW rises and changes to NI contributions, on EY settings now that these changes have come into effect. You can respond to the survey here: bit.ly/43Lfijc

In case you missed it, financial journalist and consumer champion @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com interviewed education secretary Bridget Phillipson on his podcast last week as part of a 'Childcare special'. You can listen to the full podcast here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The DfE has launched a consultation on EYFS floor space requirements. Alliance CEO Neil Leitch has called for an comprehensive early years strategy that puts quality at its centre, rather than an "endless stream of ad hoc, short-term policies". www.gov.uk/government/c...

Thank you to @jamestapper.bsky.social for covering this concerning trend. The DfE simply must put better safeguards to ensure PVI providers are better protected in partnerships with schools, and also make sure that school nursery funding is focused on areas where there is a genuine need for places.

"We will never fix the crisis in early years without fixing the deep problems facing private and charitable providers." Positive to see the challenges facing PVI raised in Parliament yesterday. You can view a transcript of the whole debate here: hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...

"Given the vital role that PVI providers will play in the ongoing rollout of the early entitlement expansion to younger children..I cannot understand why the government continues to put out messaging that suggests that our vital part of the sector is held in such disregard." 1/4

"The truth is that for many settings across the country, the income they receive from additional charges is the only thing standing between them and permanent closure." bit.ly/4kFnNCV

** Qualifications ** The Department for Education has published a new early years qualification checking service for early years managers. To access the service visit bit.ly/4kSzeHE and for more detail 👇

“We are not glorified babysitters; we create citizens of the future..Anyone who knows anything about child development will tell you [change happens] in the early years.That’s where you invest” Our CEO Neil spoke to BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour on ensuring every child can access early years education

@coramfam.bsky.social annual Childcare Survey, out today, shows that that while costs have fallen for children under three who are eligible for the new entitlement offers, those from disadvantaged backgrounds and with special educational needs are more likely to struggle to access provision. 1/5

** Employment Allowance ** HMRC has published new guidance on Employment Allowance eligibility for early years providers offering funded entitlement places 1/3

A new Alliance survey from the Early Years Alliance has found that as a result of the combined impact of NI rises, NMW increases and updating charging guidance: - Nearly 4 in 10 early years settings in England are likely to cut the number of 3/4YO funded places they offer

Our survey on the future of the early entitlement offers closes on Tuesday. If you haven't already, you can complete the survey here: bit.ly/4h6mzxp

Explore @theeef.bsky.social new guide to the Early Years Pupil Premium! To support the Department for Education's increase to the EYPP funding, the EEF has launched a new resource to help early years settings support their socio-economically disadvantaged children Access the guide bit.ly/41TDZcB

** Updated: FREE Fair funding toolkit ** With a number of policy changes set to come into effect next month we've updated a range of free resources to support you to explain sector challenges to families & campaign for fairer funding Access the toolkit: bit.ly/4i6FNnW

* Have your say: Future of early entitlement offers * With upcoming changes – including NI rises, wage increases & updated charging guidance - set to take place from April, we've launched a short survey to ensure we have an up-to-date understanding of the impact Complete the survey bit.ly/4h6mzxp

* Early Years Expansion Grant * The DfE has published guidance for local authorities on the £75m grant to support the final phase of the entitlement expansion Councils are expected to communicate funding rates by 10 April & to pay providers before the end of August For more detail: bit.ly/43j30if

** Charging Guidance ** To support our members navigate updated charging guidance, we've compiled the most commonly-asked questions into a new mini-guide. Alliance members check your inboxes for the miniguide along with detail on how to access resources to share with parents

The DfE has published new guidance on delivering the early entitlement offers. See the new guidance, including requirements for settings to provide clear breakdowns of fees and charges, here: bit.ly/3QrY3vW Alliance members – check your inboxes for further information.

@ofstednews.bsky.social has published a new blog outlining when early years providers need to notify the inspectorate about an event, including serious incidents, significant events, changes to health and changes to registration You can read the full blog here earlyyears.blog.gov.uk/2025/02/14/w...

** Apprenticeships ** The DfE has confirmed that apprentices aged 19 years or older at the start of their apprenticeship are no longer be required to hold Level 2 English and maths qualifications in order to complete their apprenticeship. For more detail visit: bit.ly/4ht2ySO

Today Ofsted has a launched a consultation on inspection changes, including replacing one word judgements with report cards We believe that while this may mark an improvement on the old system, we are yet to be convinced that moving to a five-point scale is the transformative change many hoped for

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has today launched a new ‘Shaping us’ framework, aimed at improving the wider understanding of the importance of supporting the early development of social and emotional skills.

Today government has confirmed details of the experience-based route At the Alliance, while the route is likely to offer some welcome respite to providers struggling in the face of the ongoing staffing crisis, it can only ever be one small part of a much wider recruitment & retention strategy. 1/2

“If you’re starting to see closures & starting to see a sector in disarray, why would you not invest in an infrastructure that is already established, has the skill sets & infrastructure...to accommodate parents?" Our CEO Neil spoke to iNews about the upcoming school-based expansion bit.ly/4h97X17