NEWS

young children.

This follows a Met Office report which warns that climate extremes are becoming the new normal for the UK.

Current government guidance on caring for children in early years settings during heatwaves, first published in December 2024, makes no specific reference on keeping babies safe in hot weather, despite the fact that babies are not able to regulate their own temperature.

New safe sleep guidance from the Department for Education states that the ideal temperature of a baby’s room should be 16-20°C but provides no additional guidance on what to do if temperatures exceed that range, only stating that “providers should use their own professional judgement during extreme temperature”. This is despite the fact that high temperatures are becoming increasingly common, with the Met Office confirming that 2026 is the first year on record to reach 35°C in May, June and July.

Alongside more guidance, the Alliance is also calling for additional funding to support early years settings to invest in resources and equipment – such as air conditioning – to help ensure they can remain open during hotter temperatures, where safe to do so.

It has also urged the government to ensure that early years providers are not penalised for closing due to extreme heat through the loss of entitlement funding. Current Department for Education guidance states that local authorities should “ensure that providers are not penalised through withdrawal of funding for short-term closures of a setting”.

Alliance CEO Neil Leitch said: “It’s now clear that we are living at a time where extreme temperatures during the summer months are fast becoming the norm. Early educators have done a fantastic job adapting to the most recent heatwaves and continue to do their utmost to ensure the children in their care are kept safe, but they shouldn’t feel that they are doing so alone.

“With an ongoing rise in the number of babies and young toddlers attending early years settings following the expansion of the early entitlement offers, we’re clear that much more support and evidence-based guidance from government is needed on the best ways to keep them safe in extreme heat, particularly in light of new safe sleep rules.

“Over recent months, there has – rightly – been a growing focus on the need to take proactive steps to ensure all children, and particularly babies and young children are kept safe in early years settings. We’re clear that protecting them from the effects of increasingly extreme weather conditions is very much a part of this."

The Early Years Alliance is calling on government to extend business rates relief to early years settings in England, warning that providers face severe financial strain without urgent government support.

The call comes after the newly-appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a 20% business rates reduction for pubs, clubs and live music venues across England, which is due to take effect from April 2027.

While early years settings in Scotland and Wales already benefit from full business rates relief, the same support has not been extended to providers in England.
Alliance CEO Neil Leitch said: "The Prime Minister is absolutely right to recognise the significant impact that business rates can have on the viability of businesses – but this is as much of a pressure on early years settings as it is on pubs and clubs.

"While nurseries and pre-schools in Scotland and Wales have been exempt from business rates for some time now, those in England have continued to face ever-rising rates bills with little to no support from government. We're clear that while a business rate cut wouldn't solve the financial challenges faced by many early years settings, it would go at least some way to easing the financial strain on those impacted by rates.

"The Prime Minister has said that 'This government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities' – and we are of no doubt that this should include early years settings. We hope that as he continues in his drive to strengthen the economy and tackle the cost of living, we will see similarly positive policies to support our vital sector."

Phillipson will remain in cabinet as women and equalities minister.

Powell has been an MP since winning a by-election in Manchester Central in 2012 and has held several shadow ministerial roles, including shadow childcare and early years minister and shadow education secretary. She also served as a member of the education committee from 2017 to 2020 and leader of the House of Commons from 2024 to 2025 and previously chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for nursery schools, nursery and reception classes.

Commenting on her appointment, Alliance CEO Neil Leitch said: "We warmly welcome Lucy Powell MP to the role of education secretary and congratulate her on her new post.

“As a former shadow early years minister, Ms Powell is already well aware
of the transformative power of our sector, and she has previously spoken
powerfully on the importance of ensuring that those children and families
most in need are not overlooked when it comes to early years policy.

“As such, we look forward to working closely with the new education
secretary to ensure that the early years remains a priority within the
Department for Education, and that both families and providers get the
support they need so that every child, without exception, can get the best
possible start in life.”

Want to get the most out of reading with young children? Room leader Andrew Collings at Fir Cones Nursery near Chester says: "Children really engage when you leave any pride at the door and fully commit to telling the story. Big emotions, silly actions and quiet moments."

Here are Andrew's thoughts on three bear-themed books the children at Fir Cones are loving right now:

What stories have you been reading at your setting? Under 5 wants to know!
Share your storytelling tips and recommendations by emailing editor.u5@eyalliance.org.uk.