From Postcode to Playtime: Why Where You Live Still Determines Your Child’s Access to Care
Because a child’s opportunities shouldn’t depend on their postcode. Across the UK, thousands of children start each day in early years settings that look and feel completely different — not because of their needs, but because of where they live. One child enjoys a...
The Free Childcare Illusion: Parents Are Still Paying
When politicians promise “free childcare”, it sounds like a lifeline for parents. But behind the headlines and hashtags lies a more complicated truth, one that thousands of families are discovering the hard way.Because “free” childcare in the UK isn't really free at...
Not Just Numbers: How Underfunding Changes a Child’s Day
Because behind every statistic is a child’s story. When we hear about “budget cuts” or “funding shortages,” it can sound distant, something that happens in reports and meetings, not in the real lives of children. But the truth is, underfunding doesn’t just show up in...
Digital IDs and Child Surveillance: A Warning We Can’t Ignore
This week’s UK nursery data breach should be a wake-up call. Hackers targeted the Kido nursery chain, stealing sensitive records on over 8,000 children and families — names, addresses, photos, even safeguarding notes. Some of this data has already appeared online....
When Government Pretends to Listen: The Early Years Inquiry
It’s almost funny — if it weren’t so serious. The government has just launched its Call for Evidence on Early Years. They’re asking for viewson workforce capacity, access and affordability, and quality and outcomes. But here’s the thing: we’ve been telling them the...
The REAL Hidden Costs in Your Childcare
We hear and see it all the time in the headlines. We’re told the “official reasons”, but what are the real hidden costs in your childcare? It has become increasingly clear that, through their actions, the government in England is pushing to systematically shut down...
Childcare or Childhood? Why Convenience Isn’t Always Best
Picture this: it’s Monday morning. You’re juggling bags, lunchboxes, and two little hands. The government’s latest adverts promise a neat solution — one drop-off for both children, at the same school gate. Easy. Convenient. Done.But here’s the question no one’s...
Why school nurseries aren’t the magic fix parents are being promised
On the face of it, the government’s plan sounds brilliant: more nurseries based in schools, more “free” childcare places, more choice for parents, but if you scratch beneath the headlines, the truth is far less shiny. Expanding nurseries in schools alone won’t solve...
When State Childcare Risks Becoming Institutional
I’ve been watching with unease as the Department for Education proudly rolls out its social mediareels, showing how easy it is for parents to drop off two children at school and nursery in the sameplace. But here’s the real question: who is this setup really...
Childcare Costs: The Truth Behind the Headlines
Over the past decade, few topics have stirred as much parental frustration and political rhetoric as childcare costs. The mainstream narrative has been clear: childcare is unaffordable, underfunded, and in urgent need of government reform. But what if that...