Early Years

Thursday

27th Nov 2025

What does the curriculum review mean for EYFS?
As the latest early years profile results are published, Julian Grenier outlines four key areas of the recent curriculum and assessment review worth interrogating
Early years toy blocks
EYFS: Rise in Reception pupils with ‘good’ development
DfE data shows an increase in the proportion of four- and five-year-olds meeting their development targets – although results are still below pre-Covid levels
EYFS

Wednesday

19th Nov 2025

How an EYFS profile tool could cut SEND referrals
The tool, developed at the University of Birmingham, is designed to identify the developmental needs of children who might otherwise go ‘under the radar’
Early years pupils in PE

Tuesday

11th Nov 2025

School-readiness target is ‘risky’, expert tells MPs
The ‘good level of development’ measure is a ‘blunt tool’ to assess children, particularly pupils with SEND, MPs have been warned
Children lining up on a start line

Friday

31st Oct 2025

Early years recruitment not boosted by DfE payments
A government pilot scheme offering £1,000 payments to attract early years staff resulted in fewer applicants than expected, a review shows
Teacher recruitment

Thursday

30th Oct 2025

Wealthiest households fuel demand for delayed school starts
The affluence of the area in which a school is located is linked to the number of summer-born children who start Reception a year later, research shows
Pupils

Thursday

9th Oct 2025

Fewer disadvantaged pupils hit phonics test standard
DfE data from the phonics screening check results also shows that the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has grown slightly
Phonics

Friday

26th Sep 2025

RBA technical problems prompt concerns over progress data
Teacher Tapp survey of KS1 and EYFS teachers finds 67 per cent faced technical issues when administering the Reception baseline assessment
EYFS Building Blocks
Exclusive

Friday

19th Sep 2025

Do we really need to teach children how to feel?
Programmes teaching early years children to manage their emotions could be having unintended consequences, warns Gemma Kirby
Two little boys

Thursday

4th Sep 2025

Early years inquiry to scrutinise staffing and school readiness
Workforce sustainability in early years will be examined by Commons Education Select Committee, as will families’ access to services and the quality of outcomes for children
Small boy playing with puzzle pieces
School nurseries: second wave of bids to open this month
Announcement comes as 189 new school-based nurseries are opening or expanding from first wave of funding
Children in a nursery school

Monday

1st Sep 2025

Early years recruitment could hamper childcare expansion
Pay and recruitment issues persist in early years workforce despite funding boosts, warns a new NFER report
Small child playing a game