Select committee: Education Committee
Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families
Open
Opened 19 May 2026
Education Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
Early years safeguarding Safeguarding in early years sector: Education Committee launches additional call for evidence The Education Committee has expanded its ongoing inquiry into the early years sector to examine how safeguarding can be strengthened in nurseries and all forms of care of young children. It follows recent high-profile cases of children being abused by nursery staff. The additional call for evidence has been extended and will now close on Friday 23 January 2025. Read the additional call for evidence The Education Committee’s ‘early years’ inquiry will examine a number of policy issues related to workforce sustainability in the sector, access and affordability of services for parents, and quality of provision and outcomes for young children in terms of their development. This inquiry follows significant reforms to the childcare sector in 2023, and the Government’s announcement in July 2025 of its Best Start in Life Strategy. The call for evidence for this inquiry closed on Friday 10 october 2025. Read the original call for evidence
Where it stands
The inquiry is open, opened 19 May 2026.
The committee has not published a report yet.
Evidence
- 6 oral evidence sessionsLatest 8 July 2026
- 22 witnesses
Recent activity
- Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families8 July 2026, Oral evidence
- Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families30 June 2026, Oral evidence
- Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families9 June 2026, Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 2026 |
Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families
Chris Armstrong-Stacey · Department for Education,
Olivia Bailey MP · Department for Education
|
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| 30 Jun 2026 |
Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families
Christine Farquharson · Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS),
Dr Samantha Callan OBE · Family Hubs Network,
Eavan Mckay · National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Child (NSPCC),
Sir David Holmes CBE · Family Action
|
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| 9 Jun 2026 |
Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families
Justine Roberts CBE · Mumsnet,
Rachel Grocott · Pregnant Then Screwed,
Sarah Ronan · Early Education and Childcare Coalition
|
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| 10 Feb 2026 |
Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families
Ann Graham · Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS),
Clare Reid · Early Years Alliance,
Clare Roberts OBE · National Partnership in Early Learning and Childcare,
Jayne Coward · Ofsted,
Mike Short · UNISON
|
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| 9 Dec 2025 |
Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families
Beatrice Merrick · Early Education,
Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges · Coram PACEY,
Neil Leitch OBE · Early Years Alliance,
Purnima Tanuku CBE · National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA)
|
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| 11 Nov 2025 |
Early Years: Improving Support for Children and Families
Dr Tammy Campbell · Education Policy Institute,
Lydia Hodges · Coram Family and Childcare,
Professor Eva Lloyd · The University of East London (UEL),
Sarah Tillotson · Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
|
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Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Graham · Director of Children's Services Haringey Council | Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) | 1 |
| Beatrice Merrick · Chief Executive | Early Education | 1 |
| Chris Armstrong-Stacey · Director for Early Years | Department for Education | 1 |
| Christine Farquharson · Associate Director | Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) | 1 |
| Clare Reid · Children’s Services Director | Early Years Alliance | 1 |
| Clare Roberts OBE · Founder and Chief Executive of Kids Planet | National Partnership in Early Learning and Childcare | 1 |
| Dr Samantha Callan OBE · Director and Co-Founder | Family Hubs Network | 1 |
| Dr Tammy Campbell · Co-Director for Early Years, Inequalities and Wellbeing | Education Policy Institute | 1 |
| Eavan Mckay · Policy and Public Affairs Manager | National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Child (NSPCC) | 1 |
| Jayne Coward · Deputy Director for Early Years Regulatory Policy and Practice | Ofsted | 1 |
| Justine Roberts CBE · founder and CEO | Mumsnet | 1 |
| Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges · Head | Coram PACEY | 1 |
| Lydia Hodges · Head | Coram Family and Childcare | 1 |
| Mike Short · Head of local government and education | UNISON | 1 |
| Neil Leitch OBE · Chief Executive | Early Years Alliance | 1 |
| Olivia Bailey MP · Minister for Early Education | Department for Education | 1 |
| Professor Eva Lloyd · Emeritus Professor of Early Childhood | The University of East London (UEL) | 1 |
| Purnima Tanuku CBE · Executive Chair | National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) | 1 |
| Rachel Grocott · CEO | Pregnant Then Screwed | 1 |
| Sarah Ronan · Executive Director | Early Education and Childcare Coalition | 1 |
| Sarah Tillotson · Early Years Lead | Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) | 1 |
| Sir David Holmes CBE · CEO | Family Action | 1 |