Childcare News

The Department for Education has announced that early years nurseries are set to receive a £204 million cash boost as part of the Government’s promise to deliver the largest-ever investment in childcare. The plans, which were announced in the...

Almost all councils are warning that an escalation of nursery closures linked to the cost-of-living crisis “will undermine capacity” when the government extends free childcare. Nine out of 10 council representatives surveyed have said they fear...

The Department for Education has released its latest statistics reporting on government-funded early education and childcare (early years provision) for children aged 2 to 4 years in England.Headline facts and figures – 2023In 2023, the number...

Freedom of Information requests submitted by the NDNA have revealed that local authorities are failing to pass on the money for funded childcare places, showing councils were holding back millions of pounds to offset deficits or add to reserves....

Children’s levels of physical activity have returned to their pre-pandemic levels, according to new research from the University of Bristol released in April. According to the study, 41% of children in the UK were getting the recommended hours...

This summer, The Department for Education will consult with the sector on how funding for 15- and 30-hours childcare will be distributed, including the expanded entitlement for children from the age of nine months. During the Education Select...

Dig out your dance shoes as it’s time to Lindy hop, jitterbug, disco, northern soul, freestyle, tango, street, ballet, hip hop, tap, and more. The art and fun of moving and grooving will be celebrated on the 29th of April on International Dance...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Devonport, located on Green Ark Children’s Centre, have launched a Joining Generations programme with local care home, Parkwood house Nursing home, on Exmouth Road. Tops Devonport have been visiting...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Michael Tomlinson MP joined Harriet Pacey, a Director of Tops Day Nurseries, to participate in National Storytelling Week and spend time reading and interacting with the children as well having discussion...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Rebecca Pow, MP, joined Cheryl Hadland, Managing Director of Tops Day Nurseries to participate in National Storytelling Week and spend time reading and interacting with the children as well having...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Poole, part of the Tops Day Nurseries chain, located on Denmark Lane, have spent the last week promoting the importance of reading in the Early Years. Tops Poole, invited local Mayor & Mayoress,...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Topsie Yeovil, part of the Tops Day Nurseries chain, based at the Holy Trinity Church Community Centre, have spent the last week promoting the importance of reading in the Early Years. Topsie Yeovil invited...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Penny Mordaunt MP joined Harriet Pacey, a Director of Tops Day Nurseries to participate in National Storytelling Week and spend time reading and interacting with the children as well having discussion on...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Topsie Gillingham, part of the Tops Day Nurseries chain, located at The Stone House, High Street, have spent the last week promoting the importance of reading in the Early Years. Topsie Gillingham invited...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Staff and Children at Tops Poole, on Denmark Lane, are pleased to be celebrating a GOOD rating from Ofsted following their recent inspection. Poole day nursery & preschool, are located in a busy...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries John Glen, MP, met with Cheryl Hadland, Managing Director of Tops Day Nurseries, to discuss the issues being faced in the Early Years sector. Tops Day Nurseries Salisbury, based onsite at the Salisbury...

The growth of the internet has been a double-edged sword. On the one hand it makes our lives easier – we have a vast array of knowledge at our fingertips, we can work from home more easily, we can buy things from the comfort of our armchairs and...

Throughout history, the field of science, STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) and STEAM (plus arts) have been dominated by men and for years and women have been under-represented on university courses and in occupations not only in...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries The Lord Lieutenant of Dorset has met with local childcare provider Tops Day Nurseries Wimborne, on Leigh Road, to award them with a Queens Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development Angus Campbell...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Teaching our future generation how to help save the planet! As we start the new year, Tops Bearwood, a day nursery on Magna Road, have reflected on all their achievements in 2022. With the aim of driving...

Press relsease from: Milton Hall Montessori Nursery School The children and teachers at Milton Hall Montessori Nursery School decided to take a slightly crazy, bonkers and colourful approach to the Nativity Show this term! After two years of not...

Press release from: Boys & Girls Nursery Boys & Girls Nursery, a family run and thriving group of nurseries are enjoying their fifteenth year of providing childcare in the local community. With their first nursery opening in Loates Lane,...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries Wimborne, located on Leigh Road, have been getting involved in the Wimborne community by singing carols during the recent Wimborne Light Switch. On the 26th November, Wimborne Minister...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries, recent winners of a Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development, have spent the last week promoting the importance of reducing plastic and stopping waste going into the ocean. Oceans Of...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Pokesdown on Wolverton Road, have re-started their Joining Generations programme this term with local care home, Signature, in Southbourne. Tops Pokesdown has been visiting Signature, a home for...

On Monday 14th November, a Westminster Hall debate is being held on the controversial e-petition regarding staff to child ratios. The debate will be opened by Catherine McKinnell MP and states: “The Government should not reduce the existing...

Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey, has been named the new minister for children, families and well-being within the Department for Education (DfE), replacing Kelly Tolhurst. This move sees the responsibility for early years being handed back...

Christopher Russell, National Director Education has posted a new article on the Ofsted Early Years Blog in which he explains what Ofsted will be doing as part of its early years strategy. He writes, “In April 2022, we published our new...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries, an eco-sustainable family of day nurseries, have recently taken part in Children’s Book Week 2022. Tops have been working hard to promote the importance of reading in Early Years...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Bournemouth, onsite at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital, have re-started their Joining Generations programme this term with local care home, Queensmead at Castle Dean, Throop, Bournemouth. Tops...

Press release from: Milton Hall Montessori Nursery School The children at Milton Hall Montessori Nursery School took part in the school annual Harvest Festival celebration. Traditionally a time for reflection and gratitude, children at Milton...

Press release from: Milton Hall Montessori Nursery School With Diwali falling on the 24th October 2022, the stage was set to spend the week immersed in just some of the many traditions associated with the ‘Festival of Lights.’ The children were...

What can help our children listen?Speak and read with smiles that glisten?There’s no need for hide and seekIt’s here, hooray – World Nursery Rhyme Week! Yes, it’s back, this November from the 14th to 18th, parents, schools, libraries and early...

Veganism is growing in popularity as a way of life, one which carries many benefits, not just for the person choosing to be vegan, but also for the planet. There are an increasing number of hotels and restaurants that specialise in vegan food...

Anti-Bullying Week is organised every year in England and Wales by the Anti-Bullying Alliance which is a coalition of organisations united against bullying. In Scotland it is supported by Respect Me, and in Northern Ireland by the Anti-Bullying...

November is National Diabetes Month in the US, and many other countries around the world use the time to join together to raise awareness of this important condition that affects more than 4.9 million people in the UK. In addition, a staggering...

It’s November, it’s cold, and the nights are drawing in. We have rising inflation, insecurity in financial markets, higher mortgages and energy bills, and a cost-of-living crisis not seen in a generation. Key workers are striking, there’s a war...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries, a family of day nurseries across the South and Southwest, have spent the last week celebrating Baking Week during Tops Cooking School, an extracurricular activity offered by Tops. Baking...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Michael Tomlinson, MP, officially opens Tops Bearwood, planting an apple tree in the grounds with the children and MD Cheryl Hadland, to teach children where apples come from, and to help clean the air...

On 30th September 2022, Ofsted launched a new early years blog, for everyone who works in the early years sector. Yvette Stanley, Ofsted's National Director of Regulation and Social Care said; “We will use this new blog to help raise...

The Early Years Alliance and the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) have launched a new survey about food and nutrition in early years settings to highlight any “key challenges” that can be faced when trying to “improve children's health”. The...

Early years sector leaders have welcomed the appointment of Kelly Tolhurst as the Minister for Schools and Childhood, expressing the hope that it shows a “growing recognition” that “the early years is a vital part of the education system”. In...

Press Release from: Tops Day Nurseries Katie Humphreys, local Senior Nursery Manager at Tops Havant on Stockheath Lane, Portsmouth, was nominated for the National Nursery Manager Award, and achieved the ‘highly commended’ status by the Nursery...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Staff and Children at Tops Copnor, located at Pompey Health and Fitness Club, are pleased to be celebrating a GOOD rating from Ofsted following their recent inspection. According to the Ofsted report,...

Press Release from: Milton Hall Montessori Nursery School During this period we understand that parents may be facing questions from their children. The  children, Parents and Teachers at Milton Hall Montessori Nursery School were deeply...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries, an eco-sustainable family of day nurseries, have recently taken part in a company-wide clean up day, ‘Tops Clean-Up Day’. The 'Tops clean-up day' was inspired by World Cleanup Day, one...

Glebe Kids has won Private Nursery of the Year at the recent Lux Life Parent & Baby awards. Kent Atkinson from Glebe Kids said; "We are winners - again! We are delighted to announce we have been honoured at the national Lux Life Parent &...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Children at Tops Day Nurseries have been paying tribute to Her Late Majesty the Queen this week through various activities and the creation of keepsakes. Children at a number of the Tops nurseries have been...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nursery, onsite at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, recently underwent their Ofsted Inspection. The team were delighted to share their GOOD news with families and the local community. According...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nursery, based on Heather Road in Southampton, recently underwent their Ofsted Inspection. The team were delighted to share their GOOD news with families and the local community. According to the...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries A local day nursery chain, Tops Day Nurseries, has been selected as finalists for several awards in the NMT Nursery Awards 2022. The eco-friendly family of day nurseries has been selected for the Nursery...

New Prime Minister Liz Truss has appointed Kit Malthouse to the position of Secretary of State for Education – a position that was previously held by James Cleverly since July 2022 and before that, Michelle Donelan and Nadhim Zahawi. Prior to...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries Havant, located on Stockheath Lane, have been getting involved in the local community with the help of BANKcommunitySPACE. BANKcommunitySPACE are all about building a sense of community....

In today’s modern, fast-paced world, whilst many of us thrive on the opportunities and situations life brings us, for a few people, life itself becomes part of a problem that they can see no hope for and no way out of, except by the extreme...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Topsie Gillingham, located at The Stone House in Gillingham, will be re-opening their doors on the 5th September. Topsie Gillingham is part of an eco-sustainable chain of day nurseries, with over 30 day...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries have just been made Gold Award holders by Plastic Free Plymouth. The B Corp certified group has 5 nurseries across Plymouth including Tops Prince Rock, Tops Efford, Tops Stonehouse, Tops...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries have just been made Gold Award holders by Plastic Free Plymouth. The B Corp certified group has 6 nurseries across Plymouth and Torquay including Tops Prince Rock, Tops Efford, Tops...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries, an award-winning nursery chain with over 30 nurseries across the South and Southwest celebrated National Tree Day by partnering up with Ecologi, a company dedicated to ending the climate...

Press release from: National Day Nurseries Association Staff and practitioners made a triumphant return to NDNA’s annual awards to celebrate their achievements in glitzy ceremony at the Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth. NDNA’s annual...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries, recent winners of a Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development, have spent the last month promoting the importance of reducing the amount of plastic they use for Plastic Free Month. Tops...

Plans to ease childcare staffing ratios in nurseries in England have drawn an angry response from providers and parents alike, who say their previous concerns have been ignored. The government has announced it is launching a consultation on ways...

Ofsted has published a new post on its blog called “The education inspection framework (EIF) – looking ahead to September 2022” It contains some updates to the Education Inspection Framework (EIF) including changes to the Early Years Inspection...

Brendan Clarke-Smith, the MP for Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, has been appointed the new children and families minister, with a remit which includes early years and childcare. He was appointed to the Department for Education (DfE), alongside...

Press release from: Boys & Girls Nursery Boys & Girls Nursery are delighted to report on another ‘GOOD’ rating by Ofsted, this time with their nursery based in Rickmansworth. The nursery was inspected on 1st June and the inspectors...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries have been awarded with a national award recognising the Training and Development they provide to their, almost 800, colleagues across the business. At the end of June National Day...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries WOFO used to take place every 2 years.  Close on a thousand delegates attended from all over the world, with conference fees directly related to the country you come from’s Income, hence we pay more from...

Chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, Neil Leitch has highlighted the “disgraceful misconception” of what a nursery job demands, referring to an article in the Daily Telegraph which reported that nursery workers ‘watch’ children. He told...

A report by the TUC has revealed that childcare costs have increased by 44% since 2010, for parents with children under 2 years - and the union body is calling for an urgent cash boost for the childcare sector. It argues that childcare is a...

Thousands of babies are set to join a study of early childhood as part of research into children of the 2020s. The study, commissioned by the Department for Education and led by researchers from University College London will follow children for...

Press release from: Pam McFarlane May 25th, 2022, was an auspicious moment for EnRich Coaching for Educators who hosted their official launch in the beautiful Cafe at City Coast Centre in Brighton & Hove. Pam McFarlane, founder of EnRich...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries Bournemouth, based on site at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, recently paid a visit to Bournemouth Hospital. The children at Bournemouth created some beautiful cards and hand delivered them...

Press release from: Tops Day Nurseries Tops Day Nurseries, an award-winning sustainability driven nursery chain, have spent the last month promoting the importance of reading in the Early Years by taking part in a number of events and activities...

Press release from: Milton Hall Montessori Nursery School A very special guest from Buckingham Palace paid a visit to Milton Hall Montessori Nursery School in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. All the Children at Milton Hall...