POLICY UPDATE
There’s no doubt that the first few months of 2026 have been challenging across the early years sector. From new expense rules for childminders to significant changes to SEND provision and high-profile concerns around safeguarding in early years settings, there are many guidance and legislative changes that those in the sector will need to adjust to over the coming months.
As a result, it has never been more important to ensure that the voice of the early years sector is heard, and here at the Alliance, we will continue to do whatever we can to ensure that providers have
the resources, funding and support to provide safe and high-quality provision to every child in their care.
Neil Leitch, CEO, Early Years Alliance
Behind the scenes
Safety and safeguarding in early years settings
Over recent weeks, Neil has represented the early years sector at a number of parliamentary events on safety and safeguarding concerns in early years settings in recent months. This includes a drop-in session ran by children’s safety charity the Lullaby Trust, and a roundtable led by Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Munira Wilson, and attended by Ofsted, on prioritising safeguarding across early years settings.
Wear and tear concerns for childminders
Following the HMRC’s decision to abolish a longstanding agreement for childminders to claim a 10% tax-free wear and tear allowance, in January the Alliance worked in partnership with Coram Pacey, Childminding UK and Tiney to lobby against these changes.
We signed a joint letter to MPs highlighting the impact this will have on childminders and calling for them to rethink their plans, and we are currently working with the HMRC on a comprehensive set of FAQs to help ensure that childminders fully understand the plan changes and how they might be impacted by them, if they do come into effect.
Out and about
Speaking up for men in the early years
In the wake of recent high-profile cases of abuse and safeguarding breaches in early years settings, there have been a number of concerning calls for men to be banned from working in the sector entirely, including in national newsletters. In response, last month, Alliance CEO Neil spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Today at One, arguing for the need for both men and women working in early years settings, and calling for a focus on improving safeguarding practices more generally, not based on gender.
Neil also authored a comment piece for Nursery World on the same topic, which is available here: https://bit.ly/3OXIzlO.
Dingley’s Promise event on SEND
In February, Neil attended an event hosted by children’s SEND charity Dingley’s Promise which took place shortly ahead of the release of the Schools White Paper, focused on building a more inclusive early years.
During the event, Neil spoke about the importance of an early years system that benefits everyone, and the Alliance’s long-term plans to support efforts to prioritise inclusion in the sector.
Under 5 magazine
The magazine of the Early Years Alliance