Early Years News Roundup | “Now Is the Time to Act” — Inside Babyzone’s Summer Event

Spotlight 🌟

Inside Babyzone’s Summer Event

Earlier in the week, Babyzone brought together leaders, funders, researchers, and practitioners from across the early years sector for an intimate evening of reflection and connection. The message was clear: now is the time to act.

🗣️ “There’s almost no one who says early years is a bad idea. But policy attention is still so disconnected. The only way to change that is to show it can be done – and that’s why initiatives like Babyzone are so crucial.”
— Joe Lane, Deputy Children’s Commissioner

🗣️ “When you look at the joy and happiness on people’s faces when they talk about Babyzone... you believe change is possible.”
— Sir Alan Wood, What Works Centre

From first-time mums to veteran sector leaders, the theme was the same: connection matters. And Babyzone is proving that when you design for inclusion, community, and trust — real change happens.

Community Insights 🌳

Princess Kate Launches Mental Health Pilot in East London Nurseries

A new pilot programme led by The Princess of Wales is embedding mental health support directly into early years settings, with over 150 families in East London already benefiting. Backed by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and delivered in partnership with Barnardo’s and Place2Be, the initiative places a strong focus on early intervention to support children’s emotional and social development.

The programme offers a promising model for integrating wellbeing into everyday practice — equipping educators with the tools to identify needs early, support families, and create emotionally nurturing environments. As conversations around mental health in early childhood gain momentum, this pilot marks a significant step toward long-term, systemic change.

Research & Insights 🔬

Supporting Children's Transition to School by Blending Play-Based Learning With Formal Instruction

Early years practitioners can support the transition to Year One by fostering environments that integrate play-based learning and formal instruction. By involving families and adopting continuous provision, educators can meet children's diverse developmental needs. This collaborative approach ensures children thrive across cognitive, social, and emotional domains, preparing them for school success.

Father's Mental Health Crucial for Children's Development, Study Indicates

New research is shedding light on the critical link between fathers’ mental health and children’s development, with evidence showing that paternal depression, anxiety, or stress can affect a child’s emotional and cognitive growth from the earliest years. While maternal wellbeing has long been a focus, these findings underscore the need to support fathers too — particularly during the early parenting period. For Early Years professionals, this adds an important dimension to family engagement and safeguarding approaches, highlighting the value of inclusive, whole-family support models that consider both parents’ wellbeing. Addressing fathers’ mental health isn't just about supporting dads — it's a key lever for improving child outcomes.

Exploring Arts' Role in Enhancing Learning at Philadelphia Preschools

Ellie Brown's two-decade study reveals that creative arts programmes in preschools significantly enhance vocabulary growth and emotional regulation. This research underscores the critical role arts education plays in early childhood development, particularly for children in low-income settings by lowering stress levels and fostering a conducive learning environment. The insights have prompted an expansion initiative, KWEST Arts, to integrate such approaches into broader educational contexts.

Global Perspectives 🌎

Young Children Benefit From Play-Based Learning in Mathare Kenya

UNICEF's initiative in Mathare promotes early childhood education through play-based learning, fostering holistic development and enhancing children's cognitive and emotional skills. Emphasising interactive, child-centred environments, the programme significantly influences educational outcomes, preparing children for future success and contributing to community vitality.

6 In 10 Children Globally Struggle With Basic Math And Reading Skills

A staggering six in ten children worldwide leave primary school without basic reading or maths skills — a clear sign of a global foundational learning crisis. While the issue is most acute in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, even high-income countries are not immune. Factors like under-resourced schools, teacher shortages, and language barriers are limiting children’s ability to build strong early foundations. This reinforces the critical importance of high-quality early education as the bedrock of lifelong learning. Investing in early years settings, equitable access, and teacher development is essential if we are to close the gap before it widens further.

Global Shifts in Early Childhood Policy with Lessons for Australia to Consider

Australia’s new universal early childhood access policy, set to roll out in 2026, marks a major shift towards more equitable and inclusive early education. Central to the plan is the Three-Day Guarantee, which ensures all Child Care Subsidy-eligible families can access at least three days of quality early education per week. Alongside this, the government is committing to better pay for early childhood educators — a move designed to attract and retain skilled staff in a sector long plagued by workforce shortages.

The policy is a direct response to growing evidence that access, affordability, and workforce quality are critical levers for improving child outcomes, particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. Inspired by global models like those in Scandinavia and Canada, Australia’s approach reflects an international push to view early years not as childcare, but as a vital public good.