With this December issue we bid farewell to a year that has been eventful – or some might say turbulent – to say the least.
Right now the sector is trying to grapple with the impact of the Budget, and its negative effect on providers’ ability to meet demand for expanded childcare. The hike in NI contributions along with the rise in the national minimum wage are needed like the proverbial hole in the head, given the existing state of the sector. Unfortunately the dots just don’t seem to join up in terms of current policy, as our analysis on page 6 reveals. Our accompanying survey suggests that the change to NIC could add between £50,000 and £99,000 to a significant number of nurseries’ annual wage bills. Also concerning is how the additional squeeze will further undermine the scope for training and professional development of the workforce.
But let’s move on to the positives of 2024. I’m still buzzing from our Sustainability Conference, which was held last week at the America Square Conference Centre in London. The day demonstrated the power of collaboration, and everyone left feeling motivated and more optimistic about the future.
This year’s annual Nursery World Awards ceremony in September was another highlight – truly a night to remember! I’m also delighted that this year we have extended our magazine and website content to include the EYE supplement, which provides more pages for in-depth coverage of cutting-edge research, training and reviews of professional books.
Next year is shaping up to be exciting. I urge everyone to put 16 May in their diaries for a new event – Nursery World’s Big Day Out, for which more details will soon be disclosed. 2025 also marks the 100-year anniversary of our magazine.
To celebrate this enormous milestone, we will be taking our readers on a fascinating journey throughout the year – looking forward, as well as back.
