Early Education and Childcare Coalition

Over 100 groups call for Labour to fully scrap two child benefit cap ‘Abolishing the two-child limit in full will set millions of children’s lives on a path to a brighter future’, major organisations say

We’ve joined more than 100 organisations in calling on the government to scrap the two-child limit in full. Every child deserves the best start in life, yet this policy is pushing too many families into hardship.

Read more here: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
@cpaguk.bsky.social

Our newsletter isn’t just for Coalition members. Get sector news, policy insights, research highlights and event updates straight to your inbox.

Sign up here today www.earlyeducationchildcare.org/contact

On the 18th & 25th of Nov, Coalition Member @eyalliance.bsky.social are hosting a free two part training session on Supporting prematurely-born children and their families in the early years.
Register here: bit.ly/47Hb1yg

Don’t miss these free learning opportunities from our members.

On Nov 6th, Coalition Member, Dingley's Promise are hosting a free webinar packed with practical, evidence-based strategies to improve transitions into school for children with SEND
Register here: bit.ly/4qGHk92

How Government could clamp down on nursery chains pushing up prices for parents Nurseries backed by investment firms have been accused of driving up prices and only opening up in wealthy areas, leading to childcare deserts

Our Exec Director @sarahronan.bsky.social spoke to @theipaper.com about the role of underfunding in shaping the childcare market.

Read more here: inews.co.uk/news/labour-...

How Government could clamp down on nursery chains pushing up prices for parents Nurseries backed by investment firms have been accused of driving up prices and only opening up in wealthy areas, leading to childcare deserts

With the Best Start in Life strategy highlighting the role of private equity in early education, the Education Secretary has now further confirmed that the Government is monitoring consolidation among larger providers.

New report: 290,000 disadvantaged young children will miss out on free meals   – BremnerCo A new report – ‘Too young to count’ – reveals that, despite rising hunger and poverty, most children in childcare are excluded from free meal support.

A new report from Bremner & Co reveals that while the Government has pledged to extend free school meals to all Universal Credit households from September 2026, 290,000 disadvantaged children under five will still miss out.

Read more here: bremnerco.com/report-too-y...

Are you a parent in England who uses private nurseries or childminders and receives the childcare element of Universal Credit but struggles to pay for nursery meals?
Please contact info@bremnerco.com if you would be willing to speak to a journalist.

In our latest guest blog Dr Sara Bonetti and Dr @nathanarcher.bsky.social explore the potential of an early years professional register: what it could achieve, the questions that still need to be answered, and what we can learn from other sectors.

Read the full piece here:
bit.ly/4obJyLK

Sarah Ronan: Memories of my early years - Nursery World Sarah Ronan, director of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, shares some memories from her early childhood

Our Executive Director, @sarahronan.bsky.social, reflects on her own early years and how those experiences shaped her passion for the system in this feature for @nurseryworld.bsky.social

Read the full piece on the link:
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat...

Thanks to everyone who came to our packed out event at the Labour Party Conference, it was inspiring to see so many show their support

@oliviabailey.bsky.social
@mayaellismp.bsky.social
@kamalpreetkaur.bsky.social
@eyalliance.bsky.social
@savechildrenuk.bsky.social
@sarahronan.bsky.social

Join the Coalition for breakfast at the Labour Party Conference

📅Mon 29th Sept
🕘9-10am
📍Suite 3/4/5 of the Leonardo Hotel

With panellists
@oliviabailey.bsky.social
@mayaellismp.bsky.social
@kamalpreetkaur.bsky.social
@eyalliance.bsky.social
@savechildrenuk.bsky.social
@sarahronan.bsky.social

Join our expert panel for breakfast at the Labour Party Conference

Childcare Reform: Building a Legacy that Lasts

Date: Mon 29 September
Time: 9–10am
Place: Suite 3/4/5, Leonardo Hotel

@sarahronan.bsky.social @mayaellismp.bsky.social @oliviabailey.bsky.social @eyalliance.bsky.social

Are you a male working in an early year's setting? Join our Sector Advisory Panel!

We are looking for a male nursery worker (non-managerial role), working in a PVI Setting nursery in England (outside of London) to join our advisory panel.

📅 Closing date: 28/09/25
🔗 More info: lnkd.in/emV66uXv

Don’t miss a thing. You don’t have to be a member of the Coalition to get our newsletter, packed with sector updates, policy analysis, research highlights and upcoming events.

Stay in the loop by signing up here today www.earlyeducationchildcare.org/contact

Recruitment as new Derbyshire nursery opens The director of the new business in Derbyshire says it has been difficult to find staff.

"I recruited during Covid times for NHS 111 and thought that was tricky – this is a whole new ball game.”

We were pleased to support NFER’s new research, which highlights the scale of the workforce challenge as quoted in this BBC piece. Read the full story here: www.bbc.com/news/article...

Childcare expansion could leave parents paying more, study finds University of Bradford research finds the government's free childcare expansion could 'backfire'.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Childcare expansion could leave parents paying more, study finds University of Bradford research finds the government's free childcare expansion could 'backfire'.

Today marks the final phase of the 30 hours expansion. Our director Sarah Ronan, warns that it would be 'unwise to think this is the end of the road [when] the sector is operating in really difficult financial circumstances'.

Access to early education is the first line of defence against inequality - The Sutton Trust Discussing the importance of improving access to early education and childcare.

"Breaking the link between background and opportunity does not start at the school gate, it starts in the nursery doorway."

Read our guest post on the Best Start in Life Strategy for Sutton Trust

www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

Access to early education is the first line of defence against inequality - The Sutton Trust Discussing the importance of improving access to early education and childcare.

Under the current childcare system in England, many families are missing out on extra childcare support from government.

@coalitionedcare.bsky.social Director Sarah Ronan reiterates the importance of ensuring the system delivers for all in our latest guest blog ⤵️
www.suttontrust.com/news-opinion...

Media request 📢 Are you an early years provider in the North East struggling to meet demand this Sept either due to funding/staffing challenges? Or a parent who can't find the place they need?

If you would be willing to speak to media today, please email us press@earlyeducationchildcare.org

Early years needs funding to cope with free childcare expansion The rollout of 30 hours of funded childcare for nine-month-olds is welcome news for parents, but providers need financial help to meet rising demand

"Unless the government is prepared to tackle the thorny issue of low pay, it will never grow the early years workforce to meet demand, let alone improve its status or diversity."

Our director, Sarah Ronan, writes for Tes magazine 👇

www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has launched seven animated films exploring the science behind early social and emotional development.

These short videos show how everyday moments of connection can have a long-term positive impact on a child’s life.

www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Free childcare crisis as surge in demand leaves Labour with funding black hole Exclusive: Education secretary Bridget Phillipson insists she is unafraid of scheme’s soaraway popularity, describing it as a ‘good problem to have’

While we all welcome the Government's vision for early years and stand ready to work in partnership to make it a reality, that won't happen without addressing the chronic underfunding of early years entitlements.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

📢Calling all small early years business owners!

Coalition member, FSB wants your views on the future of skills, whether it’s apprenticeships, in-work training, or engaging with schools. Your insights will help shape key policies

Take the survey:

🔗https://www.unbrandedfsbbigvoice.uk/c/r/Skills

📢 Almost half the public thinks the Government needs to do more to bring down the cost of childcare.

Our annual Pulse Check report provides unique insight into how the public and parents view early years and the Government's efforts.

Read it www.earlyeducationchildcare.org/pulse-check

Plans to increase the Early Years Pupil Premium in areas of greatest need are welcome, as are plans to improve outcomes for children from low-income households. But right now, these are just vague promises with no firm timings.

The Government must act now.

Read the EPI's report: bit.ly/46PBg6y

The disadvantage gap at age five has widened to 4.7 months, according to the Education Policy Institute while the number of two-year-olds registered for the disadvantaged early years entitlements is down by 18% (DfE).

Does the Best Start in Life Strategy include enough to tackle this? 1/2

Parents and the wider public think access to early education should be about a child's needs.

Read more in our annual Pulse Check report ➡️ bit.ly/44CuL5J

Families facing holiday childcare bill of over £1,000 per child this summer, with significant gaps in provision for children with additional needs - Coram Summer holiday childcare costs in Great Britain have risen by 4% on 2024, according to Coram Family and Childcare's annual Holiday Childcare Survey.

NEW 📢 Families are paying an average of £1,000 per child for six weeks of holiday childcare, according to coalition member Coram Family and Childcare's annual holiday childcare survey.

Read it here 👇

www.coram.org.uk/news/holiday...