Morning, Monday, 15th September 2025
Online
This conference will consider next steps for early years and childcare provision in England.
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the direction of policy and practicalities for delivering the expansion of free childcare entitlements in England, with the Government committing to creating up to 100,000 new nursery places through the rollout of school-based provision by September 2025, alongside 30 hours free childcare per week for eligible working families.
Practicalities and infrastructure
Delegates will explore the infrastructure, staffing and funding frameworks needed to meet increased demand, amid calls from the sector for the Government to prioritise funding for early years in the forthcoming Spending Review, as well as in the context of the latest Early education and childcare guidance updated by DfE in February 2025 and the announcement of 300 new school-based nurseries.
They will assess implications of using primary school sites for early years provision, including practicalities of conversion, the allocation of the £15m pilot fund, alongside early indications and findings from the pilot. The balance between new provision and support for existing providers will also be discussed, especially for those in the PVI sector affected by school leasing decisions.
Delegates will also consider proposed changes to minimum indoor space requirements under the EYFS framework, as well as the potential impact on provider capacity of including outdoor free-flow space for those older than two, as the Government consults on space requirements for early years.
Workforce
Sessions in the agenda will assess immediate challenges of expanding capacity, looking at the way forward for supporting and developing the workforce, as well as ensuring consistent quality and access across the sector. Delegates will consider the rollout of the new Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship and the temporary experience-based qualification route. With pilots and implementation of these initiatives expected in late 2025, delegates will explore implications for quality assurance, consistency, and workforce preparedness.
They will also consider long-term implications for staff development, diversity, and retention, as well as the consistency and oversight of provider-led assessments under the new model. Strategies for improving professional development for the early years workforce will be discussed, following concerns raised in Ofsted’s April 2025 report regarding staff experience and qualifications and its direct impact on child development. Changes to staff-to-child ratios will also be examined, alongside revised Ofsted priorities, and support and development of best practice required to ensure quality provision against a backdrop of increased demand.
Access, inequalities and improving outcomes
Sessions will also consider strategic issues for equity and access, including the targeting of provision in underserved areas to prevent childcare deserts, looking at local authority readiness and ability to meet capacity demands, and how a fair spread of benefit can be achieved for households and families from the expanded entitlement.
We expect discussion on the role of early years education in supporting children’s development and long-term outcomes, with a focus on how quality childcare and early years education can improve early language, literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills, school readiness and outcomes. Attendees will examine evidence linking investment in early years to narrowing achievement gaps, particularly for disadvantaged children, and explore how to embed effective developmental approaches within expanded provision. Strategies to monitor and evaluate child outcomes, including the impact of funding and workforce changes on developmental progress, will also be a key focus.
Financial sustainability
Further sessions will examine what will be needed to achieve a sustainable mixed-delivery model, protect parental choice, and address pressures on providers and meet parental expectations, as the system moves to centrally-set funding rates and affordability guidance. Discussion is also expected on concerns from the PVI sector around financial viability and the potential risk of closures linked to underfunding or displacement.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from DfE; DHSC; DWP; IfATE; and Ofsted.
