early years alliance - Under 5 news

Contacting the Alliance over the festive break

Tanya_temp — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:18:57 +0000

Contacting the Alliance over the festive break

We are operating a limited service over the break.

For insurance queries, members can still contact us on 0207 697 2595 on 23, 24, 27, 30 or 31 December. Opening hours for the festive break are detailed below.

Monday 23 December - 9am - 5pm

Tuesday 24 December - 9am - 3pm

Wednesday 25 December - closed

Thursday 26 December - closed

Friday 27 December - 9am - 5pm

Monday 30 December - 9am - 5pm

Tuesday 31 December - 9am - 3pm

Wednesday 1 January - closed

If you wish to make a claim on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day, please contact RSA directly on their 24-hour Claims Helpline on 0345 300 4006.

If you are a journalist with an urgent media enquiry only, please call 07710 923 051.

Our opening hours return to normal on Thursday 2 January 2025.

Wishing you all a restful break!

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

‘Mission-led’ government must centre vulnerable children, says safeguarding review panel

jessica.gibson_EYA — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:30:52 +0000

‘Mission-led’ government must centre vulnerable children, says safeguarding review panel

by Jess Gibson

The government must ensure that at-risk children are at the heart of strategies to break down barriers to opportunity, the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has stated in its latest annual report.

The call comes as the independent panel reveals that 485 children were affected by serious child safeguarding incidents (when a child dies or is seriously harmed, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected) between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.

The Annual Report 2023 to 2024 highlights three specific themes: safeguarding children with mental health needs; safeguarding children from risks outside the family home; and safeguarding pre-school children with parents who have mental health needs.

The report highlights that over half of incidents where the death or serious harm of a child aged one to five occurred involved a parent or relevant adult with a mental health condition, with reviews highlighting that parental mental health was often overlooked as a potential risk factor when considering parents’ capacity to care for their children.

As the new Mental Health Bill progresses through parliament, the panel is calling for greater measures to support effective partnership working between adult mental health services and children’s services.

Maria Neophytou, interim CEO at the NSPCC, said: “It is always deeply disturbing to see how many children have died or been seriously harmed as a consequence of abuse and neglect in the last year.

“This report acts as a powerful reminder of the tragic consequences when children’s best interests are not placed at the heart of the decisions that directly affect them, whether by frontline safeguarding partners in health, children’s social care or policing, or by government officials and policymakers.

“To deliver on its commitment to ‘raise the healthiest generation of children ever’, the new government must take a joined-up approach to transforming childhoods and tackling abuse and neglect. They can do this by ensuring vital, early help services are more widely available to support families before problems escalate to crisis point and children are harmed.

“It’s also crucial that children and young people experiencing, or at risk of, harm receive a swift, effective, child-centred response from the professionals and agencies that can protect them and support their recovery. That way, more babies, children and young people will be safe and able to grow up healthy and free from the horrific abuse and harm that can damage or even destroy their lives.”

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

New DfE statistics highlight sharp rises in early years fees for parents

jessica.gibson_EYA — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:24:36 +0000

New DfE statistics highlight sharp rises in early years fees for parents

by Jess Gibson

Average parent-paid fees for early years places increased steeply between 2023 and 2024, new statistics published today by the Department for Education (DfE) show.

These statistics provide information on early years provision in England from the DfE’s annual Survey of Childcare and Early Years �°��ϲʹ�� (SCEYP). The DfE commissioned IFF Research and London Economics to conduct the SCEYP in 2024, with fieldwork carried out between May and July 2024. 

The release shows the average increases for early years fees paid by parents, according to child age:

£6.05 to £6.60 for under-twos (a 9.1% increase)

£6.07 to 6.56 for two-year-olds (an 8.1% increase)

£5.90 to £6.30 for three- and four-year-olds (a 6.8% increase)

The statistics, which are available here, come shortly after confirmation of next year's early years funding rates for local authorities, which will increase by between 3-4% and do not factor in the impact of national insurance contribution increases.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: "It's not at all surprising that parent fees have increased so sharply over the past year. For many years, funding for the early entitlement offers has completely failed to meet the true cost of delivering places, meaning that, despite the recent higher increases in rates for young children, many nurseries, pre-schools and childminders still face a daily struggle to remain financially viable. As a result, many simply have no choice but to increase fees to avoid going out of business altogether.

"Worse still, we know that this trend is very likely to continue. When asked what would happen if next year's early years funding rates did not cover the costs of minimum wage rises and national insurance increases, 95% of respondents to an Alliance survey said that they would be forced to increase fees for parents. And, with recent confirmation that funding across all age groups will increase by just 3-4% - despite minimum wage increases of up to 18% plus the significant additional pressure of national insurance changes – it's clear that these fee increases are likely to be significant.

"At a time when government has rightly identified the need to ensure that all children have access to a quality early education as a policy priority, ministers simply must do more to ensure that early years places are affordable. Of course, this is especially critical given that those on the lowest incomes are the most likely to be excluded from the funded entitlement offers, most of which are aimed specifically at 'working families'.

"We therefore urge the Treasury to recognise the urgent need to tackle this issue and work with the sector to ensure that early years providers are adequately funded, both now and in the future, to deliver the quality, accessible, affordable early education and care that all families need and deserve."

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

Government announces over £2 billion boost to secure expansion in early education

jessica.gibson_EYA — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:42:07 +0000

Government announces over £2 billion boost to secure expansion in early education

by Jess Gibson

Early years settings are to receive an additional £2 billion to support the rollout of 30 hours of government-funded early education from September 2025, the government has stated.

This forms part of the government’s mission to break the link between background and opportunity, increasing access to affordable, high-quality early education to ensure children will be ‘school ready’ at age five.

The prime minister last week unveiled the government’s Plan for Change, which included an ambition for 75% of children to be achieving a good level of development when they start school by 2028. The government has said that “a reformed and sustainable early education system is central to this mission”, which is why it is increasing investment by over 30% compared to last year – bringing total spend to £8 billion – as it expands government-funded early education for working parents.

The £2 billion uplift reflects the government’s latest modelling for the final 2025-26 entitlement funding rates, the uplift to the Early Years Pupil Premium, and the £75 million expansion grant.

This updated spend figure is in line with existing projections of the 70,000 new places required to meet demand for next September.

Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson said: “High-quality early education is the cornerstone of our promise to ensure tens of thousands of children are school ready every year, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

“Despite the inherited challenges we face, this government will invest in our children’s future to break the link between background and success and build a system that gives every child the best start in life.

“The early years has been my priority from day one, because by giving more children the chance to start school ready to go, we transform their life chances, and the life chances of every child in their classroom.”

Sarah Ronan, Director of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, said: “We are really pleased to see the Government back its Plan for Change with this hugely significant increase to the Early Years Pupil Premium – something that members of the Coalition have long called for.

“A reformed early education and childcare system won’t happen overnight but decisive action on educational disadvantage must be the starting point for that work.

“We welcome today’s uplift in the EYPP as a clear sign of the government’s commitment to ensuring that all children get a fair start in life.”

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

Early years entitlement funding rates for local authorities announced

jessica.gibson_EYA — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 15:23:19 +0000

Early years entitlement funding rates for local authorities announced

by Jess Gibson

Local authority funding rates for the early years entitlement from March 2025 to April 2026 have been set, the government has confirmed.

These are the average rates that will be paid by the Department for Education (DfE) to local authorities to fund the early years entitlement expansion’s continued rollout.

The early entitlement expansion includes:

the 15 hours entitlement for eligible working parents of children from nine months up to two years old (due to be extended to 30 hours from 1 September 2025)
the 15 hours entitlement for eligible working parents of two-year-old children (due to be extended to 30 hours from 1 September 2025)
the 15 hours entitlement for families of two-year-olds receiving additional support (formerly known as the 2-year-old disadvantaged entitlement)
the universal 15 hours entitlement for all three and four-year-olds
the additional 15 hours entitlement for eligible working parents of three and four-year-olds.

The majority of the local authority hourly rate announced by the DfE is to support providers with the core costs of providing entitlement hours, with a small proportion being used to support local authorities to administer the entitlements locally.

In the announcement, the government has stated that the 2025 to 2026 pass-through rate – which is the minimum amount of funding local authorities pass on to providers – is being increased from 95% to 96%.

Frontline provider rates will be confirmed by individual local authorities by 28 February 2025.

Further information about the funding rates for 2025/26 can be found here.

Commenting, Alliance CEO Neil Leitch said: “While any increase of funding is, of course, welcome, the fact is that today’s funding rates will fail to even come close to covering the cost of changes to National Insurance Contributions and wage increases.

“With our own research showing the National Insurance changes will cost settings more than £18,000 a year, what providers needed was a commitment to mitigate the impact of these changes. Yet in reality, by not accounting for these changes in next year's rates, countless nurseries, pre-schools and childminders will be left with no option but to raise costs, reduce places, or simply close their doors completely.

“What’s more, the Treasury may claim that the rates announced today take into account the upcoming rises to national and living wages, but we know it will do little – if anything at all – to support settings in meeting these increases while ensuring wage differentials between junior and senior staff. As such, not only will it place even more financial pressure on settings, but it is likely to make the sector’s ongoing staffing crisis even worse.

“Today was an opportunity for the Treasury to show it recognises the catastrophic impact that the National Insurance and wage changes will have on the sector. Not only has it turned a blind eye to this, but it will have clear repercussions on families expecting to take advantage of the ongoing expansion."

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

DfE confirms £75 million expansion grant and pupil premium funding increase for early years settings

jessica.gibson_EYA — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 14:31:30 +0000

DfE confirms £75 million expansion grant and pupil premium funding increase for early years settings

by Jess Gibson

A new £75 million grant for early years settings, alongside an increase in Early Years Pupil Premium funding rates, has been announced by the Department for Education (DfE) today.

The DfE grant aims to support the delivery of the 35,000 additional staff and 70,000 places required to meet the early entitlement expansion’s projected demand in September 2025.

The government will also uplift the early years pupil premium (EYPP), increasing rates by over 45% to up to £570 per eligible child, per year. This increase is being described as “an investment in quality early education for those children who need it most, in the areas that need it most, to give them the support they need to be ‘school ready’ at age 5 and go on to have the best life chances”.

Commenting, Alliance CEO Neil Leitch said: “For far too long, the Early Years Pupil Premium has remained extremely low – both when compared to the remainder of the education sector and for it to translate to meaningful support for providers. As such, confirmation that it will increase is to be welcomed.

“That said, if this to truly result in long-term support for the sector it must mark the first step towards bringing the Early Years Pupil Premium in line with primary levels.

“On top of this, the news that the government will introduce a £75m expansion grant to support the ongoing expansion is positive, which we hope will support settings to sustainably increase their capacity. However, the devil is in the detail, and we look forward to hearing more about how this will work in practice, and what it will mean for the providers in the coming weeks and months.

“Of course, while any funding increases are encouraging, long-term solutions – including a holistic staffing strategy and funding which reflects the real-terms cost of delivering high-quality early education and care – are absolutely key if the sector is to be both sustainable and able to meet ever increasing demand both now and in the future.”

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

Disadvantaged and rural families unlikely to benefit from early entitlement expansion without reforms, research shows

jessica.gibson_EYA — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 13:49:48 +0000

Disadvantaged and rural families unlikely to benefit from early entitlement expansion without reforms, research shows

by Jess Gibson

The expansion of government-funded early years places currently underway across England is at risk of not delivering for poorer families, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Save the Children.

The report analyses the quality and quantity of early years provision in England – including private and voluntary settings, as well as childminders – identifying that there are vast differences in levels of access according to region and social class.

The new research analysis reveals that rural areas have 31% fewer places, and 29% fewer �°��ϲʹ��-rated ‘good’ places, compared to inner cities and town centres. Meanwhile, the most deprived areas have 32% fewer places per child, and 25% fewer �°��ϲʹ��-rated ‘good’ places, compared to the most affluent areas. It also shows that, at the current rate of childminder decline, there will be no childminders left by 2033.

In light of these findings, the IPPR and Save the Children have made the following suggestions to reform early education in England amid the early entitlement expansion:

Establish new not-for-profit nursery trusts, with the aim of helping smaller providers with business support and best practice guidance.
Reinvigorate the role of local authorities, including by pooling funding.
Grow and support the supply of childminders by developing a new, long-term national strategy.
Increase funding for deprived areas and children.
Reform the SEND funding system, giving greater recognition to emerging needs in early years within mainstream funding.

Ruth Talbot, policy and advocacy adviser at Save the Children UK, said: “Childcare that is accessible and affordable is critical for families and while we welcome the recent expansion in provision, major reforms are still needed to fix the system. The innovative proposals presented in this report attempt to deal with childcare deserts, a lack of funding and the patchwork of commissioning services.

“A new focus on children with SEND is essential and we support making better use of the standard two-year-old health checks to unlock funding. Local leadership and the development of not-for-profit childcare trusts is also something the UK Government should consider, ensuring the poorest children are targeted.

“In all, the childcare policies proposed in this report would improve support for families and help ministers reach their ambitious target of half a million more children meeting their early learning goals in six years.”

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “We know that access to early education has a proven impact on a child’s development and life chances, particularly for children from more deprived backgrounds – and yet, as today’s findings show, these families are even more likely to struggle to access places.

“Add to this the fact that availability of early years provision hugely varies across the country, and it’s clear the sector is in need of urgent support. After all, while the sector may be in the midst of a significant expansion, early entitlement places being solely aimed at working families means that those likely to gain the most from early education simply fall through the gap.

"On top of this, the fact that today’s research warns that there will be no childminders left by 2033 should set alarm bells ringing throughout government. Childminder professionals are not only an incredibly important source of quality, flexible home-based care and education, but for far too long they have been sidelined when it comes to government support. As such, not only has it never been important to value and support this part of the sector but it’s clear that time to address plummeting childminder numbers to quickly running out.

"Now, just days after the government’s commitment to the sector and to prioritising child development, these findings are a clear example of the scale of the task at hand. At the Alliance, we look forward to working with ministers to ensure that the sector receives meaningful funding and support before provider numbers plummet even further and more families lose out."

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

�°��ϲʹ�� annual report highlights plan to focus on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children

jessica.gibson_EYA — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 15:53:58 +0000

�°��ϲʹ�� annual report highlights plan to focus on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children

by Jess Gibson

Focusing on disadvantaged and vulnerable children at the earliest stage in life is a key priority for �°��ϲʹ��, the inspectorate announced today in its annual report.

The report is based on observations from �°��ϲʹ��’s work between September 2023 and August 2024, and follows its response to the Big Listen consultation in September 2024.

The annual report found that:

many families have trouble accessing high-quality early years provision, with ‘childcare deserts’ more likely to be in areas experiencing lower incomes and higher child poverty.

many nurseries are struggling to recruit and retain skilled and qualified staff. The disruption caused by high staff turnover can have a negative impact on children’s learning and well-being, with vulnerable children and those with SEND particularly affected.

the vast majority of early years providers are doing a good job for children, but primary schools report that some children continue to lag behind with language, communication and social skills by the time they start school.

The report also focuses on the interrelation of education and social care, and the challenges they face, stating that where “education and social care professionals are working hard under immense pressure […] with systems under strain”, it is “vulnerable and disadvantaged children who are most affected”. 

In the new year, �°��ϲʹ�� will formally consult on a renewed inspection framework for schools, early years, further education (FE) and skills providers, and initial teacher education.

�°��ϲʹ�� Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said: “The education and children’s social care sectors are fundamental to the future success of this country. Their influence on the lives of children cannot be overstated. Our work allows us to see this influence up close. For the vast majority of children, the outcome is a positive one: the education and care they receive is of a high standard, and their future is brighter because of it.  

“My priority is to make sure that all children share this positive experience. We know that for the most vulnerable children, life and learning can be more difficult. That is very rarely down to the services they receive, but it can be down to the services they do not receive.”

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: “�°��ϲʹ�� is absolutely right to recognise the impact of staffing challenges on the sector and to identify access to provision for children from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds as a key priority. 

“There is a wealth of research showing just how it important it is to ensure that those from disadvantaged backgrounds have the opportunity to reap the benefits of a high-quality early education – and yet, in reality, they are the most likely to find it difficult, if not impossible, to do so. And, as �°��ϲʹ�� rightly highlights, the sector’s ongoing recruitment and retention crisis has only made it harder for settings not only to meet demand but also ensure that every child benefits from consistent contact with a key person in their nursery, pre-school or childminding setting.  

“So, as the government announces its commitment to the early years, we hope that this translates into increased funding and support to tackle these longstanding challenges, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to make this a reality. Without this, those set to gain the most from early education will continue to lose out.” 

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

Prime Minister announces focus on early years in ‘Plan for Change’ speech

jessica.gibson_EYA — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:25:23 +0000

Prime Minister announces focus on early years in ‘Plan for Change’ speech

by Jess Gibson and Shannon Pite

Improving outcomes in the early years is a key part of the government’s long-term plan to deliver change, the prime minister announced today in a speech.

Speaking about the government’s ‘Plan for Change’ in Buckinghamshire today, the prime minister set out the milestones that it will use to measure whether or not it has achieved its six key missions by the end of this Parliament. The missions are: growing the economy; an NHS fit for the future; safer streets; secure power through clean energy; and breaking down barriers for opportunity.

The government has now confirmed that it will measure its progress within the ‘opportunity mission’ by aiming to increase the number of five-year-olds reaching a good level of expected development in their Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) assessment to 75%, up from the current 67.7%, by 2028.

To achieve this, the government aims to:

continue the rollout of government-funded early education support to improve access

work in partnership with the sector, offering sustained professional development and helping providers to grow evidence-based programmes

Strengthen and join up family services.

Commenting, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Life shouldn’t come down to luck. So, this new government is on a mission to spread opportunity far and wide, to give every single child the very best life chances.”

Earlier this week, Early Years Alliance CEO Neil Leitch represented the early years sector at a roundtable with the prime minister on the Plan for Change.

Following the announcement today, Neil said: “We know that the early years are absolutely critical in determining a child's long-term life chances. Given this, it is undoubtedly positive that the Prime Minister has identified early education as key to the government’s opportunity mission, and we look forward to working with ministers in this important area.

“Of course, if we are going to give all children, regardless of background, the best possible start in life – and support them to succeed not just at school, but beyond – we simply must be willing to invest what is needed to deliver consistent quality provision, and attract and retain the knowledgeable, experienced and passionate early educators that we know make such a difference to child's early learning experiences.

“As such, it remains critical that ministers ensure that our sector is adequately funded, both now and in the future – particularly in light of the changes announced at the Budget and the financial pressure that they will undoubtedly place on providers.

“Today has the potential to mark the start of a new approach to the early years: one that has the needs of the child at its centre, and that at long last recognises and values the important role that our sector plays in the lives of children and families. What we need now are the practical changes – and investment – that will help ensure that the ambitions outlined today can become a reality.”

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

New EPI report urges government to tackle food poverty in the early years

jessica.gibson_EYA — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 11:01:00 +0000

New EPI report urges government to tackle food poverty in the early years

by Jess Gibson

Tackling food poverty in the early years should be a priority of the government’s Child Poverty Taskforce, a new report by the education thinktank Education Policy Institute (EPI) has argued.

The EPI report, funded by the KPMG Foundation, investigates food poverty in the early years, looking at the effectiveness of national policies already in place as well as what can be learned from local place-based initiatives and other countries.

It was produced following a series of evidence reviews and expert interviews with key organisations whose work focuses on food poverty and/or early years.

The report highlights that children under five are 25% more likely to experience food poverty than older children, with 24% of households with children under four experiencing food poverty in January 2024. It also highlights that early years food poverty is associated with worse physical health – including obesity – as well as worse mental health and behavioural outcomes in later life.

The report also finds that:

food poverty is an offshoot of income poverty, with the cost-of-living increase affecting food prices and impacting low-income households more.
the Healthy Start Scheme does not do enough to support children experiencing food poverty, with the restrictive criteria potentially excluding many children experiencing food poverty.
there is unequal access to free meals in early years settings, with only those currently attending maintained nurseries and school-based nurseries eligible for free meals if they meet the income and benefits-based eligibility criteria, and the child attends before and after lunch.

As a result, the report recommends that the government’s upcoming Child Poverty Strategy should have a focus on food poverty experienced by children under five.

Dr Kerris Cooper, senior researcher in early years and inequalities at the education policy institute, said: “This research highlights the urgency of addressing food poverty for children under five. We know that the first five years is a critical period of development, yet we also know that children of this age are more likely to experience food poverty.

“The evidence is clear on how damaging food poverty is for young children’s outcomes. For the government to achieve its mission of breaking down barriers to opportunity it needs to take action to reduce food poverty for under-fives.

“We have an opportunity with the upcoming child poverty strategy to address the disadvantage faced by the youngest children who have been overlooked in food poverty policy and debate.”

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: "The Education Policy Institute is absolutely right to call on the government to tackle food poverty in the early years. 

"Not only are children under five more likely to suffer from food poverty, but as the EPI’s report shows, experiencing this in the early years is set to be particularly damaging to a child’s health and long-term development. 

"With so many families struggling with rising costs, we know that for some children, the food they receive when at nursery, pre-school or a childminding setting might well be their only opportunity for a healthy meal. Despite this, however, early entitlement funding not only continues to fall below delivery costs but also cannot be used to cover the cost of meals and snacks in early years settings, creating a significant barrier to addressing food poverty as many providers are unable to provide food without implementing additional fees.  

"So, as the government explores how to tackle poverty, we fully agree that addressing food poverty in the early years must be central to this and urge ministers to commit to providing additional early years funding to cover the cost of food provision in settings as part of this important mission."  

Tags:

Under 5 news

Publish externally:

Publish internally:

early years alliance - Under 5 news

Contacting the Alliance over the festive break

Contacting the Alliance over the festive break

‘Mission-led’ government must centre vulnerable children, says safeguarding review panel

‘Mission-led’ government must centre vulnerable children, says safeguarding review panel

New DfE statistics highlight sharp rises in early years fees for parents

New DfE statistics highlight sharp rises in early years fees for parents

Government announces over £2 billion boost to secure expansion in early education

Government announces over £2 billion boost to secure expansion in early education

Early years entitlement funding rates for local authorities announced

Early years entitlement funding rates for local authorities announced

DfE confirms £75 million expansion grant and pupil premium funding increase for early years settings

DfE confirms £75 million expansion grant and pupil premium funding increase for early years settings

Disadvantaged and rural families unlikely to benefit from early entitlement expansion without reforms, research shows

Disadvantaged and rural families unlikely to benefit from early entitlement expansion without reforms, research shows

�°������ϲʹ������� annual report highlights plan to focus on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children

�°������ϲʹ������� annual report highlights plan to focus on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children

Prime Minister announces focus on early years in ‘Plan for Change’ speech

Prime Minister announces focus on early years in ‘Plan for Change’ speech

New EPI report urges government to tackle food poverty in the early years

New EPI report urges government to tackle food poverty in the early years

�°��ϲʹ�� annual report highlights plan to focus on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children

�°��ϲʹ�� annual report highlights plan to focus on the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children