First glimpse of new inspections framework shows improvements for childminders

22 December 2015 | by Catherine Gaunt

Childminders have performed better than nurseries in initial results from the first two months of the new inspections framework.

Children's centres improve parenting for poor families

18 December 2015 | by Catherine Gaunt

Children’s centres in poor areas help disadvantaged families to develop parenting skills, improve mothers’ mental health and children's learning at home, research shows.

Busy Bees buys Kids 1st nursery group

18 December 2015 | by Catherine Gaunt

The largest nursery chain in the UK has acquired Kids 1st Day Nurseries, the ‘outstanding’ group of 11 nurseries.

Nursery workers leaving over GCSEs, finds survey

18 December 2015 | by Hannah Crown

Nursery fees are going up, vacancies are going unfilled for months at a time and staff are leaving childcare because they can’t progress, say the majority of employers in a new survey.

University nurseries face closure

14 December 2015 | by Catherine Gaunt

A number of nurseries operated by universities and colleges across the UK are under threat or due to close, as they claim too few students are taking up places.

Does the 30-hour funding stack up?

14 December 2015 | by Dr Jo Verrill

Following the announcements made in the Chancellor’s Autumn Spending Review, Dr Jo Verrill, managing director of research agency Ceeda, examines how providers will be affected financially

Spotlight on...

14 December 2015 | by Laura Marcus

Stewart Birchall, owner of Netstar9 Childcare

Nurseries warn that the national living wage will push up fees

10 December 2015 | by Nicole Weinstein

Nursery employers have ‘major concerns’ over the need to increase fees for parents in order to pay staff the National Living Wage, a report by Christie + Co reveals.

Nurseries and childminders gain right to ask to run school site provision

07 December 2015 | by Catherine Gaunt

Childcare providers will be able to ask schools if they can use their premises to run before and after-school and holiday childcare when they are not using them.

Minister confirms workforce strategy for next year

04 December 2015 | by Catherine Gaunt

Childcare minister Sam Gyimah has confirmed that there will be a workforce strategy established next year.