England's five-year-olds have shown strong performance in this year's OECD Early Learning and Child Well-being Study. The study found that children in England were thriving, particularly excelling in a social-emotional development measure.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) study, which focuses on early years education, highlights the importance of a child's first five years. While the study is newer and uses a smaller sample size than some other assessments, its findings are seen as heartening.
In response to ongoing concerns about school readiness and the attainment gap, Health Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the extension of the Healthy Babies programme to more family hubs. This initiative is intended to help address these issues.
Ministers are also encouraged to recognise the strengths of the early years sector, which are considered a legacy of the Sure Start programme. England's early years framework is reportedly admired internationally.
Early years funding has seen significant expansion, with eligible working parents now entitled to 30 hours of weekly childcare for children from nine months until school age. The Conservative party has proposed removing the £100,000 earnings ceiling for this provision, a policy estimated at £700m.
A study into the role of private providers as childcare providers, requested by former education secretary Bridget Phillipson, is expected to investigate potential excess profits in nurseries, similar to findings by the Competition and Markets Authority in the children’s social care market. Additionally, Alan Milburn's review of young people and work is anticipated to underscore the significance of early years in preparing toddlers for school.
Safeguarding measures continue to be a focus, with the move to more frequent Ofsted inspections noted as a positive step.