Early Years News Roundup | 10 April 2025

Spotlight 🌟

Babyzone’s ‘Our Community’ Week Brings Local Support to Life

From 24th March, Babyzone spaces across the country opened their doors for ‘Our Community’ Week—a celebration of connection, support, and early years development.

Each site welcomed local partners into the heart of Babyzone, giving families a relaxed and playful space to discover services, ask questions, and access support—all while children explored, played, and joined in the fun.

Here’s what happened around the network:

• Croydon: Families met local police, NHS teams, and Family Hubs—with fire engine tours and free dehumidifiers proving a hit.

• Hammersmith & Fulham: The fire brigade, oral health teams, and schools joined in, with free oral care kits and hose play as firm favourites.

• Warrington: Support from Early Help, Dad Matters, DWP, and libraries drew in families across a wide range of needs.

• Barking & Dagenham: A packed day included infant health checks, mental health support, and arts-based wellbeing sessions.

• Barnet: Alongside a visit from Happy Baby Community, families joined a high-energy Babyzone Boost session filled with music and movement.

These events are a powerful reminder of Babyzone’s role in bridging families and local services—making access easier, friendlier, and part of everyday life.

£8bn Investment Aims to Close Attainment Gaps Through Early Years Prioritisation

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has reinforced the government’s focus on early childhood education, framing it as essential to closing long-standing opportunity gaps. The proposed £8bn investment signals a systemic shift—prioritising accessible, high-quality provision as a foundation for long-term educational attainment and social mobility.

By targeting support where developmental disparities first emerge, the initiative aligns with evidence linking early intervention to improved outcomes in literacy, emotional regulation, and school readiness. For early years professionals, this policy underscores a growing recognition of their sector’s value and presents a timely opportunity to shape implementation frameworks that are equitable, workforce-sustainable, and impact-driven.

Community Spotlights 💡

North Ayrshire's Digital Strategy Empowers Youth With Essential Modern Skills

North Ayrshire Council's Digital Learning Strategy aims to enhance digital literacy among children aged 2-18 by standardising learning experiences across educational institutions. This initiative aligns with both local ambitions and Scotland's national digital strategy, fostering an environment where educators receive necessary training to fully prepare students for a digital future. Implementing this strategy from 2025-26 will aid in closing the attainment gap and ensure that young people acquire essential digital skills for future success.

In Conversation 💭

Research & Insights 🔬

Building Equitable Early Years Settings Through Evidence-Based Inclusion Frameworks

The RLO Programme outlines five strategic pillars to advance inclusive education for children with disabilities—many of which hold particular relevance for early years professionals. These include equipping educators with continuous professional development, recognising the compound effects of intersecting disadvantages, fostering community collaboration, refining inclusive communication practices, and embedding disability rights into robust policy frameworks.

For practitioners, this reinforces the need to move beyond surface-level adaptations and adopt whole-setting approaches that proactively dismantle structural and attitudinal barriers. Embedding these strategies at the foundation stage not only ensures every child has equitable access to learning but also contributes to a culture of belonging and long-term educational inclusion.

Tiney Transforms Childcare in the UK with Tech-Driven Childminding Solutions

Tiney aims to address the UK childcare crisis by modernising childminding through technology, making it a respected, better-paid career, and providing affordable, high-quality childcare. The platform supports diverse entrants into childminding, offering training and administrative assistance, thereby enhancing early education and easing parental access to care. This initiative is crucial for social change, as it enables more parents, especially mothers, to continue their careers.

Global Perspectives 🌎

Nairobi’s Early Years Success Underscores Global Case for Nurture-First Investment

New findings from early childhood initiatives in Nairobi reinforce the transformative power of nurturing care during a child’s formative years. Longitudinal data shows that when children receive responsive caregiving, nutrition, and early stimulation, they demonstrate stronger educational outcomes, improved emotional regulation, and greater social adaptability.

This serves as a compelling case study in the long-term value of holistic investment—particularly in underserved or urban communities. The Nairobi example not only highlights the societal return on early intervention but also provides a blueprint for integrating nurturing practices into local policy frameworks and frontline programme delivery, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Engage With Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework For Welcoming Early Education

The Aboriginal Cultural Safety Framework invites New South Wales ECEC services to create culturally safe learning environments for Aboriginal children, enhancing their cultural identity through a comprehensive 10-week programme. This initiative aims to enhance early childhood environments by integrating Aboriginal culture into everyday teaching, benefiting both Aboriginal children and all other attendees. By participating, services not only show commitment to inclusivity but also enrich their pedagogical practices with genuine cultural appreciation.

Head Start Advances Early Childhood Education for Young Learners Nationwide

Head Start's Week of the Young Child highlights the crucial role of early childhood education for 3 to 5-year-olds, especially for low-income families. The programme, serving 509 children in Sioux City, USA, provides comprehensive support for children's developmental readiness alongside family assistance such as health screenings and employment guidance. However, national funding challenges may impact future service delivery, as federal alterations affect regional operations, yet Sioux City's programme continues to thrive due to local support.