- Early Years News Roundup with Babyzone
- Posts
- Early Years News Roundup | 06 February 2025
Early Years News Roundup | 06 February 2025
with Babyzone
Sophie Bruxner-Randall
February 06, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes
Welcome to The Early Years News Roundup, brought to you by Babyzone, an essential newsletter for everyone working in early years. Each week, we deliver the latest news from around the world because we believe in the power of shared learning and collaboration.
Spotlight 🌟
The Princess of Wales has underscored the lifelong impact of prioritising social and emotional skills in early childhood, positioning them as the foundation for stronger, more resilient societies.
With the launch of a new universal framework, the initiative aims to elevate early development efforts, ensuring that every child benefits from environments that foster emotional intelligence, resilience, and well-being. By embedding these skills into early learning, policymakers and educators can create a ripple effect—shaping healthier communities, reducing long-term inequalities, and driving sustainable societal progress.
This approach reinforces a simple yet powerful truth: investing in emotional development today paves the way for a more connected, thriving future.
In Case You Missed It 📇
 | This week, Babyzone welcomed the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood’s "Shaping Us" report, a game-changer for early years development in Britain. The report underscores the vital role of social and emotional growth in a child’s first five years—something Babyzone has championed across its family centres. |
Key takeaways:
Early childhood lays the foundation for lifelong success
30 essential skills for social and emotional growth
Play-based learning fosters communication & emotional regulation
Parents & communities play a crucial role in early development
Research & Insights 🔬
The UC Merced study exposes crucial cognitive declines in disadvantaged children post-COVID, highlighting disparities in early development. This underscores the transformative potential of investing in early childhood initiatives. Addressing these challenges can lead to substantial societal growth, offering fertile ground for meaningful investments in education that promise sustainable, long-term benefits.
The Kindred2 School-Readiness Survey uncovers urgent issues in children's preparedness for school, highlighting vast differences in teacher and parent assessments. With 33% of children unprepared, investment in cohesive early years support offers transformational potential, ensuring developmental readiness for all and fostering long-term societal growth.
Limited access to substitute teachers in early childhood programs jeopardises optimal staff performance, propelling burnout. Wonderschool's SubPool in Mississippi exemplifies an innovative solution, creating a robust substitute pool. Sustainable progress hinges on investing in comprehensive training, strategic vetting, and equitable compensation, ensuring a positive impact on the future of early childhood education.
Legislative Lens 🔍
The Department for Education has launched a national campaign encouraging careers in early-years education. Created by Havas London with Posterscope and Omnigov, the campaign features engaging messages like "Light up young eyes and minds".
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) emerges as a cornerstone for transformative societal growth, effectively narrowing inequalities from the outset. The OECD report underscores a blend of universal and targeted ECEC policies, robust funding strategies, and cross-sector collaboration.
The government has introduced a new Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship, aimed at enhancing opportunities for aspiring educators and increasing early years teacher numbers. This programme offers a Level 6 qualification alongside work, bolstered by significant government funding for eligible employers, and complements existing training programmes.
Community Spotlights đź’ˇ
At Manooka Valley Community Preschool in New South Wales, Australia, transformation goes beyond the classroom—it's about building a culture of growth, inclusivity, and lifelong impact. Through sustainable learning practices and a focus on joyful early development, the preschool nurtures both students and educators. Cultural celebrations foster belonging and diversity, while strong community ties reinforce meaningful support networks for families.
With the backing of Big Fat Smile, educators thrive in an environment that values personal growth and professional fulfillment. More than just a workplace, the preschool sets a benchmark for holistic early childhood education, where relationships and shared experiences leave a lasting impact on young learners and their communities.
“The experiences and celebrations we have at Manooka create an environment that is just enjoyable to be around. Celebrating the many cultures that make up our service community just makes our little world a better place. Cultural celebrations like Diwali, Tihar, and St Patrick’s Day just make all our families and staff immerse themselves in culture with such enjoyment. These are the best days and the best memories.”
The new community hub in Cambridge, established with the support of Cambridgeshire's Capital Fund, promises to elevate family support by offering educational and health services. Situated at Orchard Park Community School, this initiative embodies transformational community engagement, fostering societal growth and sustainable benefits through collaborative efforts of charities and stakeholders.
Early Years News Roundup with Babyzone is a Contentive publication in the Social Impact division