Childcare & Early Years

Latest news from the early years sector, including policy developments in Sure Start, children's centres, nurseries, and childcare issues.

Childminders integral to boost free childcare for two-year-olds

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With just one year to prepare for a massive expansion in the number of two-year-olds entitled to free childcare, childminders have the potential to plug a significant gap, but there are still barriers to overcome

Play providers battle to maintain free services despite severe cuts

With no clear commitment to play services in either the Liberal Democrat or Conservative manifestos, it was not a great surprise when the coalition government was formed, that the Labour administration's play strategy fell by the wayside - along with...

Interview: Sarah Teather, minister for children and families

Sarah Teather is apologising that her rather functional Westminster office is not as homely as those of fellow ministers. "You should see some of them, especially the men's - have you seen Tim Loughton's?" she giggles. "They like to nest. But I've no...

Interview: Kay Bews, chief executive, Home Start

Sitting in her living room only a short walk from the office where Kay Bews first joined Home Start 23 years ago, things have not, it seems, changed much over the past two decades.

Army of childminders can help bridge the gap

Social mobility is thankfully all the rage these days, and the free childcare entitlement is a crucial policy to help all children get the best start in life regardless of background.

A very tall order with a short deadline

Across the country, newly formed local teams are embarking on a colossal exercise. In every area, local authorities have until next month to quantify how many troubled families live in each area and set out how they are going to help them turn their ...

Welfare reforms will make children's lives worse

I published a joint statement last week with my fellow children's commissioners across the UK about an issue that has kept many people across the children's sector both busy, and awake at night: the Welfare Reform Bill.

Latest jobs Jobs web feed

Improving Futures - Project Manager Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council £27,052 - £29,236 pa, Wolverhampton
Community Sibling Support Worker Acorns Circa £20k pro rata + allowences, Walsall
Admin Officer Action for Children £16,830 - £19,620 pa, Wiltshire
Sessional Contact Assessor DVIP £15-30 per hour, London
Baby & Toddler Co-ordinator Pre School Learning Alliance £18,143 per annum plus £2,570 London Weighting., Fulham Central