Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 15/05/25.
News: UK near bottom of child happiness and wellbeing league table – Sky News in Yahoo News
14 May 2025. The UK ranks 21 out of 36 when compared to other high-income countries for child wellbeing, with countries such as France, Spain and Portugal near the top:
Link: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/uk-near-bottom-child-happiness-024000774.html
Article: Just one in six childminders feel valued as ‘key early years professionals’, survey suggests – Nursery World
12 May 2025, Katy Morton. The vast majority of childminders feel their role is undervalued by the general public, according to a survey:
Open consultation: Space requirements in early years childcare settings in England – Department for Education
12 May 2025. Views sought on options for amending the indoor space requirements in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory frameworks. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 11 July 2025:
Article: Care providers say overseas worker crackdown ‘short-sighted’ – BBC News Online
12 May 2025, Alison Holt. Care providers have said the government is taking away the “lifeline” of overseas recruitment without fixing the problems that make it difficult to recruit UK staff:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3vyveqk2do
Article: Government plans to allow nurseries and childminders to include outdoor space in EYFS rules governing numbers in early years settings – Nursery World
12 May 2025, Catherine Gaunt. The outdoor space available to children in nursery, pre-school, school and childminding settings could be considered as part of the space requirements for children, if Government plans to bring in proposed changes to the EYFS regulations go ahead:
Policy paper: Government response to draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for online safety – Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
8 May 2025. The government’s consultation on its draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for online safety (SSP) sought views from respondents. 21 replied out of 38. The government outlines its response to comments on the SSPs:
Article: Urgent need to reform parental leave with individual rights for time off and pay for both parents, charities say – Nursery World
7 May 2025, Catherine Gaunt. A group of family charities and campaigners have joined forces to call for a comprehensive review of parental leave, amid concerns that both mothers and fathers are worried about their access to paid time off with their new babies:
Research briefing: Autism policy and services: Education – House of Commons Library
6 May 2025. Autistic people experience education inequalities. Find out about government policy and support in schools, colleges and higher education for autistic people:
Link: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10252/
News: Streeting accused of ‘betrayal’ over maternity funding plan – BBC News Online
2 May 2025, Michael Buchanan. Campaigners have questioned Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s commitment to maternity safety after his department watered down funding levels:
Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynqx77dn5o
Comment: A London school has just accidentally proved my point: giving phones to children is tantamount to abuse – The Standard
1 May 2025, Melanie McDonagh. Quelle surprise! A London sixth form college has seen its A-level results jump by an entire grade overall after it banned mobile phones entirely in the school:
Link: https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/london-school-phone-ban-child-abuse-b1225406.html