Latests news from Nursery World

Mothers going back to work after children pushed into lower-paid jobs

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Women are being forced into lower-skilled, part-time work after having children, according to a new survey.

High-quality childcare key to mothers' involvement in children's learning

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:08:00 GMT

Good quality childcare isn't only important for children, but for their mothers too, claims a new study.

Think-tank proposes scheme to make childcare more affordable

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:17:00 GMT

Parents would be able to borrow up to £10,000 to pay for the cost of childcare which they would then pay back on a monthly basis through the tax system, under plans proposed by the think-tank the Social Market Foundation.

National Childcare Contribution Scheme: a better beginning

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:50:00 GMT

Ryan Shorthouse explains the thinking behind the Social Market Foundation's proposal for a scheme to increase the affordability of childcare

Teachers report rise in number of three-to five-year-olds not toilet-trained

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:40:00 GMT

Rising numbers of children are starting school before they are fully toilet trained, a survey of teachers suggests.

Campaigners to draw up 'alternative' EYFS

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:46:00 GMT

A new group made up of academics and practitioners will draft an alternative early years curriculum, amid concerns that the review of the EYFS does not go far enough in reforming the current early years framework.

Penelope Leach backs NSPCC babies' rights campaign

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:57:00 GMT

The NSPCC is calling for babies' rights to be better protected under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), as part of its 'All Babies Count' campaign.

Babies choose healthy eating

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:14:00 GMT

Babies that feed themselves from the start of weaning are likely to eat more healthily and be an appropriate weight than babies who are spoon-fed purees, according to a new study.

One in four babies in families with 'multiple risks' to development

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:11:00 GMT

More than a quarter of children in the UK are growing up in families with a number of difficulties, including financial hardship and parental depression, that are risking their cognitive and behavioural development, according to new research.

Manchester's children's centres to stay open, but council daycare to go

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:54:00 GMT

Manchester city council has confirmed that it will keep all its 39 children's centres open but will phase out daycare in centres.

New national research project aims to cut child asthma deaths

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:27:00 GMT

A landmark study into the cause of asthma deaths to reduce the number of children dying from the condition is being led by the Royal College of Physicians.

Councils reply to clawback claims for NEG

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

In our previous issue, Nursery World revealed how nurseries around the country were losing thousands of pounds of free entitlement funding because councils were reclaiming money for some of the 15 hours a week for three- and four-year-olds that parents did not use.

Level 3 Diploma wins UCAS points

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

CACHE has confirmed that the Level 3 Extended Diploma for the Children and Young People's Workforce has now been accredited with UCAS points. This means the two-year, full-time course is equivalent to three A levels and is a route to a university degree.

Ex-Sure Start director calls for defence of universal access to centres

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The first director of Sure Start, Naomi Eisenstadt, has voiced her concerns about the Government's targeting of the 'neediest children' at the expense of all children, which she said risked pushing more families into poverty.

Nursery World's Noticeboard - Celebrating Chinese New Year and much more

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

See what nurseries across the country have been up to.

Interview - Pamela Park, chief executive of Parenting UK

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Parenting UK, a national membership body for those who work with parents, has created a new scheme to encourage organisations to recognise the importance that family plays in the lives of their employees.

The Big Picture: Drumming up mutual respect

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Catholic and Protestant children from Long Tower and Foundation Primary Schools in Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, work together to create a rhythm on the drums.

News Analysis: In numbers

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Activity and obesity

Children will have legal right to see fathers after divorce

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:43:00 GMT

The Government is to recommend that children are given legal rights to maintain relationships with both parents after they separate, in its response to the Norgrove review of the family justice system published on Monday.

Training to help nurseries make the most of the outdoors

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:11:00 GMT

Learning though Landscapes has launched a new scheme for London nurseries to help them enhance their outdoor environments through workshops and funding.

Impact of free early education by age seven 'unclear', audit report says

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:33:00 GMT

The link between free early education for three-and four-year-olds and how well children do at school at the age of seven is not yet known, according to the National Audit Office.

Nutbrown Review: Training providers 'not up to scratch', says NDNA

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:36:00 GMT

Training providers should be more tightly controlled, the National Day Nurseries Association has said in its response to the Government's review on early years qualifications, amid concerns that courses are not preparing childcare students for working in nurseries.

Eye contact study reveals autism risk in babies

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:54:00 GMT

Researchers claim that autism could be detected in babies as early as six-months-old, as a new study reveals that children at risk of the condition show different brain responses when someone looks at them.

Funding scheme launched for parents campaigning against cuts to children's centres

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:56:00 GMT

Daycare Trust and Unison have joined forces to provide grants to support parents and staff campaigning to save their local Sure Start children's centres from closure.

Childcare charities awarded lottery funding for early intervention projects

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:31:00 GMT

The Pre-school Learning Alliance and 4Children are among the voluntary sector organisations to share £15.2m from the Big Lottery Fund, aimed at improving outcomes and offering early support for children and families with multiple and complex problems.

Brain scans in pre-school children identify children likely to develop dyslexia

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:21:00 GMT

Children with dyslexia could be diagnosed before they even start school as new research shows differences in their brain scans.

The direction of an infant's gaze could indicate early signs of autism

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:20:00 GMT

New research which suggests that babies learn to talk by lip reading could help diagnose autism early on in childhood, according to a new study.

Experts to review vitamin D recommendations

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:26:00 GMT

England's chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, has raised concerns that children are not getting enough vitamin D.

Online film teaches practitioners how to cope with allergic reactions

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT

A new cartoon with advice on what to do if a child has an anaphylactic shock has been created to coincide with Food Allergy and Intolerance Week (23-29 January).

Children under four should travel in rear-facing car seats

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:13:00 GMT

Clearer guidance on car seats is needed as many people are unaware that it is safer for children up until the age of four to be placed in rear-facing car seats, claims a new study.

More than two million parents raise children on their own

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:18:00 GMT

The number of single-parent families in the UK has reached the two million mark for the first time, according to new statistics.