NEWS

The funding will see Ofsted undertake 3,000 additional unannounced visits to early years settings, tripling the amount carried out in 2025, which the DfE says will allow inspectors to act faster to protect children and rapidly address urgent issues.

It will also enable Ofsted to conduct more face-to-face interviews before new providers open “so every setting meets safeguarding expectations from day one”.

The government has also confirmed that the investment will fund upgrades to Ofsted’s computer systems to provide inspectors with real-time updates that will help them intervene more quickly.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Nothing matters more than keeping children safe. Parents should be able to trust that when they leave their child at a nursery, they are in safe hands.

“This investment means more surprise Ofsted visits, stronger checks, and faster action where there are concerns – so risks are spotted early and dealt with quickly.

“Early education gives children the best start in life, and we are making sure it is backed by the high standards of care and protection families expect.”

Alliance CEO Neil Leitch said: “It is vital that any measures introduced to strengthen safeguarding in the early years are developed through a collaborative approach between government, regulatory bodies, families and early years settings.

“As such, we will be looking to work closely with both the Department for Education and Ofsted not only to understand how the changes announced today will be implemented in practice, but also to ensure that they are developed as part of a much wider package of measures, one that focuses on supporting providers to develop and maintain the robust policies and processes that we know are so vital in keeping young children safe.”

years educators in communities where shortages have been identified and where children face barriers to early development.

The first phase of the scheme was launched in June in 10 local authority areas – Sandwell, Middlesbrough, Tameside, Rochdale, Bolton, Hartlepool, Rotherham, Dudley, Luton, and Barking and Dagenham – with an expansion to 30 areas planned later in the year. Eligible settings in the ten trial areas will be contacted directly by the Department with a link to apply.

The scheme will be open to early educators holding Qualified Teacher Status, Early Years Teacher Status or Early Years Professional Status working in private, voluntary and independent group-based early years settings in one of the eligible local authority areas, whether they’re already working in the sector or joining the sector.

According to the government, just 58% of children in the most deprived communities reach the desired level of development by the end of reception, compared to 77% in the least deprived areas. The government says the bonus will raise the quality of teaching in these areas and help parents access their funded entitlement, worth £8,000 a year on average.

The government has also confirmed 18 new nursery excellence hubs as part of the Early Years Stronger Practice Hub programme, as well as new school-nursery partnership grants which will allow early years settings, including childminders, to work together with schools to share teaching approaches and build stronger links with families.

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “It shouldn’t matter if you’re born in Sandwell or Middlesbrough, in Rochdale or Rotherham – every child deserves the best teachers, with the best tools at their disposal, to give them the very best start in life.

“These measures will help nurseries attract and keep more qualified staff – so they can deliver the funded childcare that saves families up to £8,000 a year in the communities that need it most.”

Early Years Alliance CEO Neil Leitch commented: “Given the scale of the staffing challenges currently facing the early years sector, any action by government to tackle recruitment and retention is welcome – especially initiatives that recognise both new entrants to the workforce and existing professionals. That said, we’re very clear that not only are one-off payments alone not enough to address longstanding workforce issues, but the scheme announced today does absolutely nothing to improve the situation facing highly-experienced educators working without a degree.

“Despite the critical importance of the early years, all too often, those working in the sector are still grossly underpaid and undervalued. Until the government is willing to tackle these issues, and crucially, invest what is needed to ensure that all settings are able to pay their educators a fair wage, initiatives like the one announced today are likely to have a limited impact in the long term.

“We know how rewarding a career in the early years can be – but we also know that all too often, the realities of working in the sector end up driving quality educators away. If we want to give all children the best possible start in life, we need to ensure that the professionals who care for and educate them – degree-educated or otherwise – are given the respect and support they deserve.”

launched to address long-standing workforce pressures, recruitment challenges and quality inconsistencies across the early years sector.

The consultation includes a proposal for early years initial teacher training to lead to QTS, which the DfE argues would “encourage parity of esteem between EY teachers and teachers in the rest of the system, signalling prestige and helping to position early years teaching as a high-impact, respected and desirable career choice”. The change would see the current Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) phased out.

The government is also seeking views on how educators currently holding EYTS or Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) could convert their qualification to QTS.

In the consultation foreword, Minister for early education, Olivia Bailey said: “We must … do more to champion early years teachers for the vital role they play in shaping children’s futures. Too often, their expertise and impact are undervalued, despite the evidence that high-quality teaching in the early years is critical to children’s development and long-term outcomes.

“By raising the status of early years teaching, recognising the professionalism it requires, and ensuring those working in the sector are supported to develop and thrive, we can attract and retain the talented individuals needed to deliver the very best for our youngest children and deliver consistently high-quality provision.”

Share your views at bit.ly/U5-teachingconsultation.

Safe sleep practices will be assessed as part of routine early years inspections from September, Ofsted has confirmed.

The news follows the publication of new safer sleep guidance, which are set to come into effect as part of the revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework this September, though the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that early years settings are expected to adhere to the guidance now.

The publication of the guidance followed campaigning by Campaign for Gigi, founded by John Meehan and Katie Wheeler, whose nine-month-old daughter Gigi tragically died after being left face down on a beanbag at a nursery, and the Lullaby Trust.

It includes a requirement for under-twos to be placed down to sleep “on a firm flat surface such as a cot, bed or mattress on the floor”, with babies aged one year and under placed to sleep in a cot only.

Ofsted has also confirmed that it will become the designated whistleblowing body for early years provision.

An Ofsted spokesperson said: “Safe sleep and safer eating have always been part of our inspection practice. From September, Ofsted Inspectors will be required to look at and report on safer eating and sleeping practices on every inspection. We will look at how these practices are understood and overseen in the day-to-day running of an early years setting.

“We welcome the Department for Education’s announcement that Ofsted will become the designated whistleblowing body for registered early years provision. We will continue to work with the DfE on the implementation of this, ensuring that people with concerns are able to contact us and get the protected status that whistleblowing affords.”

Short news updates from the early years sector and beyond.

Research from The Food Foundation and Sustain has found that the government’s Healthy Start scheme, which offers money towards nutritious foods, has failed to keep up with food inflation.

A unique funded opportunity is available to early years professionals in five regions in England. Successful applicants will lead efforts in a local authority area to promote effective use of Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) funding. The Education Endowment Foundation Champions scheme is open for applicants until 16 July.