Early Years Alliance

Early Years Alliance Welcome to the official Early Years Alliance page. We are the largest and most representative early years membership organisation in England.

This page will keep you up to date with early years sector news, membership offers, training opportunities and fundraising ideas to support you in your career in early years.

The revised Early Years Foundation Stage framework is now in effect. Key changes include new safer sleep requirements, c...
02/09/2026

The revised Early Years Foundation Stage framework is now in effect.

Key changes include new safer sleep requirements, changes to DBS requirements – including for supervised volunteers – and new guidance on screen time.

To make it as easy as possible for our members to meet the updated requirements, we’ve updated our key member-only benefits in line with the revised framework, including our:

* policy and procedure templates for group settings: https://tinyurl.com/44t5syta
* policy and procedure templates for childminders: https://bit.ly/4gIzt6z
* mini-guides: https://tinyurl.com/5bdj9eha
* EYA Learn online modules: https://tinyurl.com/335k34wn

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Not an Alliance member? Join today and receive regular early years policy updates: bit.ly/46iMgXb

Alternatively, if you're not a member but want to find out more about how membership can benefit you, fill in this 10-second form and we'll give you a call to answer any questions you have: bit.ly/4cLxCL8

27/08/2026

***Have you received a questionnaire from the Competition and Markets Authority?***

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has contacted a randomly-selected sample of childminders and smaller providers to take part in a questionnaire as part of its ongoing independent review of the early years sector in England.

We at the Alliance are encouraging all those who have been contacted to complete this questionnaire as we believe that it's vital that the review is informed by the firsthand experiences of providers and the day-to-day realities of running an early years setting.

We are continuing to work closely with the CMA, including discussing further opportunities for providers to contribute to the market study.

Safer sleep in the early years⭐NEW dates added⭐ Tuesday 15 September, 9.30am - 10.30am bit.ly/4gGNRNVMonday 12 October, ...
23/08/2026

Safer sleep in the early years
⭐NEW dates added⭐

Tuesday 15 September, 9.30am - 10.30am bit.ly/4gGNRNV
Monday 12 October, 9.30am - 10.30am bit.ly/4gDy8zf
Thursday 29 October, 1.30pm - 2.30pm bit.ly/4hJEHS2

This essential Insight will help you understand your responsibilities under the EYFS and confidently embed safe sleep practice across your setting.

From September 2026, Ofsted inspectors will gather evidence that settings understand and effectively implement the statutory guidance on babies’ sleeping arrangements, making safe sleep a key focus within both the welfare and wellbeing, and leadership and governance evaluation areas.

Combining clear guidance, practical strategies and the latest research, we’ll explore the science of sleep, bring safe sleep principles to life through everyday routines, and strengthen your ability to communicate confidently with parents.

Member price: £14.50, non-member price: £27.50

More dates available - just search Safer sleep on https://central.eyalliance.org.uk/

21/08/2026

Interview opportunity: Rising electricity costs

The Mirror is looking to hear from early years providers about the impact of rising electricity costs on early years settings based in the North West or the Midlands. This is part of a wider piece with campaigning organisation Electrify Britain.

If you would like to be involved please send across the following to [email protected]. The journalist will then be in touch if they would like further information, with any interviews will likely take place next week (w/b 24 August).

- Name
- Setting name and address
- Phone number and email address
- A few sentences explaining the impact of electricity costs is having on your setting. This might include detail on how much costs have risen by and what cost saving measures you have had to adopt as a result. Please note the journalist might use these sentences as a quote in their article.

Home is where the start is, our annual online Family festival celebrating the role of parents and carers as their child’...
20/08/2026

Home is where the start is, our annual online Family festival celebrating the role of parents and carers as their child’s first and most enduring educators, is back for the fourth year running! This time, the event runs over a full month, with many more opportunities to join us for fun, informative events.

October will be a month of free friendly online sessions exploring simple, playful ways to support children’s learning at home. We will share practical information, activity ideas and lots of tips to help everyone make the most of moments they share with their children.

And this year, to ensure all parents and carers can benefit from the Family festival, we'll be sending out recordings of each session to everyone who signs up. Plus, everyone who signs up will also receive our resource pack full of ideas to help families champion play in their homes!

Share this event with your families using our printable poster: bit.ly/4xNYHrb or our copy and paste social media post: bit.ly/4zsaiOd

More about the festival: bit.ly/3UISZbL

Safer sleep in the early years⭐NEW dates added due to demand⭐ Tuesday 15 September, 9.30am - 10.30am bit.ly/4gGNRNVMonda...
20/08/2026

Safer sleep in the early years
⭐NEW dates added due to demand⭐

Tuesday 15 September, 9.30am - 10.30am bit.ly/4gGNRNV
Monday 12 October, 9.30am - 10.30am bit.ly/4gDy8zf
Thursday 29 October, 1.30pm - 2.30pm bit.ly/4hJEHS2

This essential Insight will help you understand your responsibilities under the EYFS and confidently embed safe sleep practice across your setting.

From September 2026, Ofsted inspectors will gather evidence that settings understand and effectively implement the statutory guidance on babies’ sleeping arrangements, making safe sleep a key focus within both the welfare and wellbeing, and leadership and governance evaluation areas.

Combining clear guidance, practical strategies and the latest research, we’ll explore the science of sleep, bring safe sleep principles to life through everyday routines, and strengthen your ability to communicate confidently with parents.

Member price: £14.50, non-member price: £27.50

More dates available - just search Safer sleep on https://central.eyalliance.org.uk/

⭐Make sure you're meeting nutritional guidelines with the Providing healthy and nutritious meals in early years setting ...
17/08/2026

⭐Make sure you're meeting nutritional guidelines with the Providing healthy and nutritious meals in early years setting guide⭐

Making sure that the meals you provide in your setting are healthy and nutritious is an important part of caring for your children, as well as being key to meeting your EYFS requirements.

This guide covers all aspects of nutrition for different stages of young children’s development, considers different provision including full meals, snack and home-provided food, and important considerations such as special dietary requirements, allergies and food refusal.

The resource pack includes:
- access to one hour of one-to-one support from a registered nutritionist or dietitian
- food and nutrition policy template
- menu planning checklists
- sample menu
- over 60 recipes from the sample menu
- 13 Helpful guides printable tables and other information

Get your nutrition guide today! https://bit.ly/3U1eFzK
Member price £75, non-member price £215

People sometimes ask if Funding Loop replaces your existing nursery management system. The answer is no; it slots into ...
17/08/2026

People sometimes ask if Funding Loop replaces your existing nursery management system.

The answer is no; it slots into the work you already do and works alongside the systems you're already using.

Here's how:
- Your existing management system holds your child and parent/carer data. You run the Funding Loop report within your existing system and export the file.

- You upload that file into Funding Loop and the data flows straight across. Child details, parent/carer contacts, attendance patterns, funded hours - all pre-populated from information you already hold. No re-entering data you've already collected.

- From there, Funding Loop streamlines the rest of the process: sending forms to parents and carers, tracking who has and hasn't completed them, checking eligibility codes in bulk, and preparing the headcount data for your council portal submission.
The management system you're currently using manages your setting. Funding Loop manages your funding claims.

Find out more about Alliance partner Funding Loop: https://bit.ly/4gll0xz

**NOW CLOSED**⭐WIN⭐– Bambino Mio’s ‘Big Potty Reset’ Starter Pack including reusable potty training pants worth over £10...
17/08/2026

**NOW CLOSED**
⭐WIN⭐– Bambino Mio’s ‘Big Potty Reset’ Starter Pack including reusable potty training pants worth over £100!

Give your early years setting the opportunity to join ‘The Big Potty Reset’ – Bambino Mio’s new initiative designed to support earlier independence, help prepare children for the transition to school and ensure a more consistent approach to potty training between home and setting. The prize includes over £100 worth of Bambino Mio’s award-winning Elite potty training pants, available in sizes from 18 months in a range of timeless designs.

The Elite range has a pull-up design that children can manage independently, but unlike disposables, which are engineered to keep children dry, these reusable pants manage inevitable accidents without masking key sensory cues. This helps toddlers recognise when it’s time to use the potty, encourages faster learning and a more confident transition out of nappies.

The Big Potty Reset Starter Pack also includes:
• Parent information postcards with an exclusive family discount
• Setting reception display pack (posters & display materials)
• A setting onboarding call
• Access to The Big Potty Reset resources & guidance

www.bambinomio.co.uk

To win:
1. Follow the Bambino Mio page
2. Share this post
3. Comment "Done!" below

The winner will be chosen on Monday 24 August. Once selected, we will contact the winner via DM and ask for your details. We will not ask you to click any links or enter your details on any other website. Good luck!

How can early years leaders build stronger partnerships with families of children with SEND?Join this vital session at t...
13/08/2026

How can early years leaders build stronger partnerships with families of children with SEND?

Join this vital session at the SEND in Early Years Conference on 2nd October to explore effective parent engagement, the role of empathy in practice and how we can better support families to champion their child's learning and development at home.

Secure your Early Bird ticket today and save £84 before prices rise: https://bit.ly/4wgYsDP

Address

50 Featherstone Street
London
EC1Y8RT

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+442076972500

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