21/04/2025: Britain’s nursery problem: Parents still face ‘childcare deserts’
The promise was to “transform the lives of thousands of women” and “build a childcare system comparable to the best”.Two years on, the rollout of what’s commonly known as the “free hours” scheme in England is almost complete
17/04/2025: Almost nine in 10 teachers seeing poverty related fatigue in pupils
Teachers are reporting high levels of tiredness, hunger, physical under-development and poor hygiene in the classroom among pupils impacted by poverty.
12/04/2025: ‘I believe my son will end up killing somebody’
Parents and guardians who are being physically and mentally abused by the children in their care desperately need more help, a support service says.
06/04/2025: Family support spending recovers following years of stagnation, data shows
Annual family support spending grew by 21% in real-terms from 2020-21 from 2023-24, but remains well below expenditure on statutory social care, ahead of reforms designed to rebalance system.
31/03/2025: Support for children with family in prison goes on
Funding to support the “hidden issue” of children in Devon who have had a parent sent to prison is set to continue.
27/03/2025: ‘Systemic racism’ blights support for black and Asian kinship carers
Support for black and Asian kinship carers is being hindered by “cultural stigma” and “systemic racism”, campaigners are warning.
27/03/2025: Number of children in poverty rises by 200,000 to record level
The number of children living in poverty has increased by 200,000 to a record high of 4.5 million, government figures have revealed.
22/03/2025: ‘Society thinks you are a child abuser’
A mother whose children were taken into care says she no longer feels “shame” and has “recovered hope” after joining an art therapy support group for women in the same position.
20/03/2025: Childcare costs fall for the first time in 15 years – but nurseries are worried
Annual nursery costs for a child under two in England have fallen for the first time in 15 years, according to the children’s charity Coram.
20/03/2025: Breakfast club trials in some South West schools
More than 40 schools across the South West have been selected to trial new free breakfast clubs.