In case you missed it…

The Early Education and Childcare Coalition released the findings of new modelling carried out in partnership with the London School of Economics, which found that the April 2026 national minimum wage rise will increase delivery costs for early years providers in England by an average of 2.4%. This follows rises of 5.3% in 2024 and 4.8% in 2025 due to previous changes in the minimum and employers’ national insurance contributions.

The government appointed early childhood pedagogy expert Sue Robb, involved in the introduction of the EYFS in 2008, as its Best Start in Life Champion. Her role involves supporting the delivery of the Best Start in Life Strategy by “providing expert advice and challenge to ministers and officials and helping strengthen collaboration between government and the early years, education, health and voluntary sectors”.

The Education Committee launched an inquiry into how the use of artificial intelligence and EdTech (Educational Technology) are reshaping education in England, ranging from early years all the way through to university. The inquiry will examine opportunities these technologies present for improving learning and teaching, as well as the risks they pose – including their potential impact on children’s digital rights, safeguarding, inequalities and assessment.

HMRC published new research into parents’ experiences of the government’s ‘childcare service’, which provides access to tax-free childcare and the funded entitlement offers, with some parents asked about their current and intended future use of government early years schemes. The respondents were surveyed between May and June 2025, before the final phase of the funded entitlements rollout.

The Department of Health and Social Care launched a ‘Stay Strong, Get Vaccinated’ campaign to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated. The campaign, developed in partnership with NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency, aims to reverse the decline in uptake by providing clear, trusted information and making it easier for families to access vaccines, following on from successful flu and maternal vaccination campaigns.

Following the announcement of a consultation on young children’s screen time, the Labour MP for York Outer, Luke Charters, tabled a Westminster Hall debate on young children’s screen time. Georgia Gould, minister for school standards, responded on behalf of the government and outlined the action it will be taking.