Saturday 31 October 2026
Early years news
The latest news, updates and changes for nurseries and childminders, and what each one means for your setting.
Every story starts from an official source and is checked twice against it.
Inspection
Ofsted sets out how it registers childminders and group settings
New policies for childminders and group-based providers, new pages on fees and checks, and new names for some provider types are part of a restructure of Ofsted's registration guidance.
3 min read
Workforce and training
DfE sets out who can get free support from stronger practice hubs
Eligible nurseries and childminders in England can be matched with an adviser for a term, and settings can get up to 3 days of free subject support from learning leads.
2 min readAround early years
Parents and families
More than 600,000 families saved with Tax-Free Childcare, HMRC says
HM Revenue and Customs is encouraging more working parents to sign up before the half-term holidays, with the government adding £2 for every £8 they pay in.
Inspection
Early years more positive than schools about new Ofsted inspections
Independent research for Ofsted found most providers felt inspections under the renewed framework were respectful and collaborative, but workload and wellbeing remain the main challenge.
Running a setting
Competition regulator asks smaller childcare settings for information
Providers contacted by the Competition and Markets Authority are legally required to provide the information requested, as its study of the early years market moves towards a consultation expected from December.
Government and lawProposed
Conservatives propose scrapping £100,000 limit on funded childcare
Kemi Badenoch says a future Conservative government would let higher-earning working parents keep funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare, while the National Day Nurseries Association warns about underfunding.
Latest
- InspectionOfsted clarifies when it sets actions or serves welfare notices
- Running a settingCompetition watchdog confirms focus of its childcare market study
- Research and dataFunded hours expansion implemented successfully, evaluation suggests
- InspectionOfsted issues further welfare notice to Bright Horizons
- InspectionOfsted updates early years inspection guidance ahead of September
Need to knowOctober 2026
What needs your attention,
this month.
The four most urgent changes for your setting, each with the date that matters.
More stories
- Health and safetyVaccine uptake steadies at age five but falls for younger children
- Research and dataNearly a quarter of households with under-fives in food poverty
- Government and lawLucy Powell named Education Secretary in ministerial changes
- Additional needs and inclusionCouncils told their share of £47 million early years SEND fund
- InspectionOfsted received more early years notifications and complaints
- Frameworks and guidanceNew EYFS from 1 September changes safer sleep and banned dog rules
- InspectionOfsted publishes first official statistics on new early years grades
- Parents and familiesMore parents of young children rate childcare affordability as good
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