Early Years Alliance
LightNews LightNews
banner
eyalliance.bsky.social
Early Years Alliance
@eyalliance.bsky.social
500 followers 710 following 110 posts
The largest and most representative early years membership organisation in England.
Posts Replies Media Videos
eyalliance.bsky.social
The Department for Education has confirmed more detail about new funding available to help early years settings to develop and sustaining inclusive early years environments.

Read more on our website: bit.ly/4lM4t7S
DfE confirms further details on new early years SEND funding | www.eyalliance.org.uk
The Department for Education has confirmed more detail about new funding available to help early years settings to develop and sustaining inclusive early ye ...
bit.ly
March 26, 2026 at 9:19 AM
eyalliance.bsky.social
The government has published its plans for significant reforms to SEND provision across the education sector, including early years provision.

Alliance members: check your inbox for a summary of the changes.

1/2
EY Instant Update. early years policy update for alliance members. The Department for Education has published plans to improve support and funding for children and young people with special educational need and disabilities (SEND).
February 23, 2026 at 4:52 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
Alliance Connect Roadshow: Building belonging

Celebrating the power of difference to create kinder, stronger, and more inclusive early years environments

Join us at one of our two Alliance Connect Roadshows taking place this year.

Book today!
London: bit.ly/3LxcvDW
Manchester: bit.ly/4aXn11Q

1/3
January 13, 2026 at 10:59 AM
eyalliance.bsky.social
FREE Alliance Connect: Making movement matter

Join us for this session with Angelo Ciccarelli, the founder of Super Star Sport and passionate advocate for giving children the opportunity to develop a love of physical activity and movement.

Tuesday 27 Jan, 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Book now! bit.ly/3NeYA65
January 12, 2026 at 3:46 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
The government has today confirmed the local authority funding rates for 2026/27 (frontline provider rates will be confirmed by individual local authorities by 28 February 2026).

Read more: bit.ly/4aiLezd

1/4
Increased local authority funding rates announced for early years in 2026-27 | www.eyalliance.org.uk
LAs will receive average funding increases of 4.3% for under-twos, 4.4% for two-year-olds and 4.95% for three- and four-year-olds
bit.ly
December 15, 2025 at 5:10 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
All Best Start Family Hubs will be expected to have a SEND professional and services to support speech and language development, the government has confirmed today.

www.eyalliance.org.uk/news-events/...
December 4, 2025 at 4:33 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
Childcare & Education Expo's CPD Seminar Programme is officially live 🎉

To book your seminars, register first and then log into your Visitor Hub to book: forms.reg.buzz/childcare-ex...

View the full programme here: www.childcareeducationexpo.co.uk/london-progr...
November 27, 2025 at 3:49 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: "... in theory, plans to boost the wages of the lowest paid should be positive news for the sector. The reality is, however, that without adequate govt funding, these changes could be the final nail in the coffin for EY businesses."
theguardian.com The Guardian @theguardian.com · Nov 25
Millions of UK workers to get pay rise as Reeves plans increased minimum wage
Millions of UK workers to get pay rise as Reeves plans increased minimum wage
Chancellor says people must be ‘properly rewarded for their hard work’ with 16- to 21-year-olds also in line for raise Millions of low-paid workers in the UK are to get a pay rise of 4.1% next year, as Rachel Reeves confirmed that minimum wage rates will go up as part of the government’s ambition to improve living standards. The national living wage will rise from £12.21 to £12.71 an hour from April for over-21s, which the government said would increase the annual earnings of about 2.4 million workers by £900. A year in Westminster: John Crace, Marina Hyde and Pippa Crerar. On Tuesday 2 December, join Crace, Hyde and Crerar as they look back with special guests at another extraordinary year, live at the Barbican in London and livestreamed globally. Book tickets here Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:17 AM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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...
Podcast: Just the Start: Nutrition in Early Years Settings | Early Years Series
Hannah Brinsden, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the Food Foundation is with a panel of experts for a deep dive into the food provision in Early Years settings to make sure that all children can get a ...
foodfoundation.org.uk
November 3, 2025 at 12:26 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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
DfE evaluation finds early years recruitment bonus scheme failed to boost sector applications | www.eyalliance.org.uk
The DfE's evaluation of pilot recruitment scheme found that it had "no measurable increase in ... the number of applicants per vacancy"
bit.ly
October 31, 2025 at 12:51 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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
New government figures highlight need for urgent action on the early years in the upcoming Budget | www.eyalliance.org.uk
The 'funded' early education and childcare scheme is at risk due to ongoing issues with staffing and finances, according to new figures
bit.ly
October 31, 2025 at 12:39 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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...
September 9, 2025 at 9:27 AM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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...
Education Committee launches new inquiry into early years sector - Committees - UK Parliament
The Education Committee has today launched an inquiry into the early years sector, looking at issues around the sustainability of its workforce, families’ access to services and the quality of o...
committees.parliament.uk
September 4, 2025 at 1:45 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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...
Government announces next phase of school-based nursery expansion
The government is inviting more schools to bid for up to £150,000 of funding from a £45 million pot to create a further 300 new or expanded school-based nurseries from September 2026.
www.eyalliance.org.uk
September 4, 2025 at 11:45 AM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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
5 Live Breakfast - Rick and Rachel announce the winner of our Sportswoman of the Century vote - BBC Sounds
Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards with unique stories, and the biggest news and sport.
bbc.in
September 1, 2025 at 11:34 AM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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
New phase of DfE early years recruitment campaign encourages more men to join the early years workforce
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
bit.ly
August 1, 2025 at 8:48 AM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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...
Wealthier families more likely to benefit from government-funded hours than most disadvantaged families, new analysis reveals
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
www.eyalliance.org.uk
July 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
@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...
Ofsted outlines measures to aid start of inspections under new framework
Ofsted 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
July 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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...
Plans for professional early years register backed by sector and parents as a way to give educators the 'recognition they deserve' - Nursery World
The sector and parents have welcomed the Government’s plans to introduce a professional register for early years staff, but stressed it ‘must be more than just names on a list’ and inclusive of the wh...
www.nurseryworld.co.uk
July 15, 2025 at 1:13 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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
Education committee chair calls for government action on early years funding
The Labour MP has urged government to take action to prevent early years closures
www.eyalliance.org.uk
July 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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-...
July 8, 2025 at 10:57 AM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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...
July 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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...
Government revives family services, supporting 500,000 more kids
Up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs to be rolled out across the country to provide wide-ranging help for families, such as parenting and early development.
www.gov.uk
July 6, 2025 at 7:40 AM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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
June 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
eyalliance.bsky.social
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
June 25, 2025 at 8:31 AM