For our Childcare Survey 2026, parents told us what they value about childcare for their children: interacting with others, making friends, developing new language, motor and life skills, and being part of a community.www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/research/childcare-surve...
Posts by Coram Family and Childcare
The cost of childcare is out of reach for many families who don’t qualify for government funded entitlements, so many disadvantaged children could miss out on early education:
www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/research/chi...
#ChildcareSurvey2026
Today, we’re launching a free best practice guide and podcast on school readiness that takes a holistic approach to supporting young children & families, with practical examples from 10 years of work across A Better Start partnerships @TNLCF www.ncb.org.uk/what-we-do/p...
Our Childcare Survey 2026 shows a positive picture of the expansion roll out, with three-quarters of local authorities in England reporting enough available childcare for at least 75% of children under 2 who are eligible for the 30-hour entitlement: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/research/chi...
The expansion of the 30-hour funded childcare entitlement in England means a p/t (25 hours) childcare place for a child under two is now theoretically free for eligible families during term-time. #ChildcareSurvey2026 published today: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/research/chi...
Our Childcare Survey 2026 shows that less than half (44%) of local authorities in England report having enough childcare for at least 75% of early years children with SEND in their area, and this falls to 23% for school aged children with SEND: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/research/chi...
Gaps in availability of childcare for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is one of the most concerning and consistent findings of our Childcare Survey over the last 25 years: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/research/chi...
Disadvantaged children are being priced out of early years education. Families not eligible for childcare entitlements pay an average of £189 per week for a part-time nursery place for a child under two. #ChildcareSurvey2026 www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/research/chi...
For families eligible for the funded childcare entitlement (now 30 hours), a part-time place may now be free during term-time. But costs have risen in England for parents not eligible for the funded entitlement. Childcare Survey 2026: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/research/chi...
Our Childcare Survey 2026 shows year-on-year rise in childcare costs for under-twos in England over 25 years, until expansion of funded entitlements in 2024-25 brought the cost of p/t childcare for eligible working parents back to 2005 level: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/research/chi...
On Wednesday this week we will be publishing our Childcare Survey 2026, with a special section on what has changed in the 25 years since we first ran the survey. #Childcaresurvey2026
Do you work with babies and young children in England or Wales? Want to help shape a major research project all about creating healthy environments for children?
Join in an online workshop in April/May, and receive a £40 voucher. More info: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/healthy-envi...
Today, parents with children aged 2 to 4 are joining our Books Together family reading session at Newbury Hall Children’s Centre, Redbridge. Find out more about Books Together and take a look at our new video here: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/news/new-vid...
On World Book Day, we're sharing a new video of parents talking about how our Books Together sessions help families of children aged 2 to 4. Here, a parent in a recent session in Lambeth, talks about how it helped her daughter. #WorldBookDay
www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/news/new-vid...
Today we welcome families to their Books Together reading session in Treehouse Children’s Centre, Lambeth. Some parents in Lambeth talk about the benefits of Books Together in our new video. Take a look here: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/news/new-vid...
Our Parent Champions schemes support thousands of families. Find out how Leila and Jasmine encourage and inspire their amazing teams of Parent Champions volunteers: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/news/leila-a...
One of the many benefits that NAFIS members enjoy is our annual conference. Over 120 delegates heard from more than a dozen fantastic speakers at the NAFIS Conference 2025. Read more here:
www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/news/nafis-c...
We’re looking forward to our NAFIS webinar tomorrow with Beebot AI. This webinar will explore how AI can support the delivery of a modern Family Information Service. It is open to all NAFIS members and their LA colleagues.
Today we’re welcoming families to their Books Together reading session in Slade Children’s Centre, Greenwich. Parents/carers can explore new ways of encouraging young children to enjoy books. Books Together is open to LAs in London. More info: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/books-togeth...
Time to close the gap. In this blog, Lydia Hodges, Head of Coram Family and Childcare, reflects on recent positive steps to reduce child poverty, but says more is needed to reduce disadvantage in the early years: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/news/time-to...
To start National Storytelling Week, we welcomed families to a fun-packed Books Together session in Greenwich. Our Books together programme helps families with children aged 2 to 4 learn fun ways of enjoying stories and reading together:
www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/books-togeth...
Today we’re welcoming families to our Books Together reading session in Waterways Children’s Centre, Greenwich. Parents and carers come together to explore new ways of encouraging young children to enjoy books. Find out more: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/books-togeth...
We’re looking forward to learning more about SCARF resources which help early years settings with practical activities to nurture children’s Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) in our NAFIS webinar today with Donna Hill and Jenny Lorimer from @coramlifeeducation.bsky.social
Today we’re welcoming families to our Books Together reading session in Waterways Children’s Centre, Greenwich. Reading with children builds bonds and supports the brain and language skills from as early as two weeks old. Find out more: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/books-togeth...
Does hybrid working improve work-life balance for parents? How do they organise childcare? Do some have to juggle working and childcare? A new research programme will explore these questions. Read Dr Naomi Finch’s blog: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/news/exploring-hybrid-work-and-childcare/
The amazing volunteers in our 38 Parent Champions schemes across the country support more than 40,000 families a year. The programme is open to all local authorities: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/parent-champ...
Time to close the gap. In this blog, Lydia Hodges, Head of Coram Family and Childcare, reflects on recent positive steps to reduce child poverty, but says more is needed to reduce disadvantage in the early years: www.coramfamilyandchildcare.org.uk/news/time-to...
Toddler raises arms and smiles joyfully at the camera in a playschool sroom, while another child watches.
The government aims to increase children achieving school readiness from 68% to 75% by 2028. Our new report explores practical examples from 10 years of A Better Start & highlights approaches that recognise the vital role of families, schools and communities @tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
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