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Foundation Years December Bulletin | |
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Announcement from Minister for Early Education | |
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Since becoming Minister for Early Education in July, I have been deeply inspired by the commitment of the early education and the sector to transform children’s lives.
The importance of those formative years cannot be overstated, and it continues to be my mission to break down the barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life.
I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for the hard work you put in to ensuring that early education and childcare delivers great outcomes for children, families and parents. You have made excellent progress, and there is still a great deal of work we will do together in 2025.
I am looking forward to continue working closely with you and hope you can join us at our next round of provider roadshows. Together, we can ensure the best start in life for every child. | |
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Early Years Funding: 2025 to 2026 | |
On 10th December, we published details of local authorities’ early years entitlements funding for 2025 to 2026, including an updated operational guide, technical note, step-by-step funding tables, and easy explainer.
The operational guide covers changes to pass-through (increased to 96%), confirmation of a new 28 February deadline by which we’re asking local authorities to communicate rates to providers, and new guidance on SENIF and DAF. Early years funding: 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK
As part of this announcement, we have confirmed we will be uplifting the early years pupil premium (EYPP) by over 45%, increasing EYPP rates from 68p per hour in 2024-25 to £1 per hour in 2025-26, equivalent to up to £570 per eligible child per year.
In addition to the core funding rates, we have also announced an additional £75 million grant for 2025 to 2026 to support the sector with day-to-day and operational costs as they prepare to deliver the final phase of expanded childcare entitlements from September 2025. We will share details as soon as possible. | |
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Commissioned research on vulnerability and inclusion | |
In the Big Listen response, we committed to increasing our focus on how providers are meeting the needs of vulnerable children, learners and young people.
To support this, we commissioned the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) to conduct a research project to help us conceptualise vulnerability and inclusion. NCB are recruiting to focus groups across January for each of our remits, including early years.
They especially want to ensure that Black and global majority colleagues are included, as well as good early years representation. To find out more and/or take part in this research and support the future of our inspection and regulatory work, please circulate through your networks and use this link to request a place.
We published a blog about our Best Start in Life Curriculum roadshows, reflecting on what practitioners can take away from our Best Start in Life research and where you can hear more about it. | |
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Celebrating Practitioner Success on the Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP) | |
Since February 2023, 10,000 early years practitioners across England have enrolled in the DfE funded EYPDP, enhancing their expertise in Communication and Language, Early Mathematics, and PSED.
As the final cohort nears completion, programme providers at EDT commend participants for their dedication, stating: “Practitioners’ commitment to their development and dedication to improving life opportunities for children is truly inspiring.”
To mark this achievement, EDT has released a video featuring practitioners sharing their experiences with early years expert Jan Dubiel. The video highlights the programme’s powerful impact on practitioners and the children they support.
Watch it here.
Support and catch-up webinars remain available for Cohort 4 participants. Contact EYPDPsupport@edt.org for assistance.
For more information, visit www.earlyyearspdp.com. Please note, new registrations on this programme are no longer accepted. | |
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Digital technologies in early years settings: what does 'good' look like? | |
On 06/02/2025 Early Years Alliance are hosting a free online event discussing the use of digital technologies in early years settings.
This will be presented by the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) and will explore: - How settings can achieve an effective, safe and healthy balance of using technology to support children’s development.
- What good practice looks like.
- Some of the risks to avoid.
- How educators can work effectively with families to help keep children safer online at home.
- LGfL’s Digital Media and Online Safeguarding Policy Guide - https://eysafe.lgfl.net
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Foundation Years is funded by the Department for Education and brought to you by Begin Bright. |
Our mailing address is: foundationyears@beginbright.com | | | |
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