Government Confirms New Early Years Strategy to Be Published Later This Year
Government Confirms New Early Years Strategy to Be Published Later This Year
In a key policy update, the Department for Education has confirmed that it will be publishing a comprehensive Early Years Strategy later in 2025. This long-anticipated plan will outline the government’s vision for the future of early years education and childcare in England.
The announcement, made in late May, follows months of reform across the sector, including the introduction of expanded funded hours for children aged nine months and above, and new consultations on staffing ratios and space calculations in the EYFS framework. Ministers say the strategy will bring coherence to these changes while setting a longer-term course for improving quality, accessibility and sustainability in early education.
Although full details are yet to be released, the strategy is expected to address several key themes including:
- Workforce development and retention
- Funding distribution and sustainability for providers
- Inclusion and support for SEND
- Parental engagement and communication
- Integration of early years provision with wider education and health services
Sector leaders have broadly welcomed the announcement, while urging the government to ensure that the strategy reflects the real-world challenges faced by early years providers. There is widespread hope that the strategy will tackle persistent issues such as workforce shortages, funding inequalities, and rising operational costs.
We will be closely tracking the release of the strategy and will provide guidance to our customers on any implications for insurance, risk management, and business operations once further details emerge.