The early years landscape is shifting rapidly. With the government’s ambitious focus on an expanded childcare offer and the recent launch of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) market study (as of 1 July 2026), our profession is once again under the national spotlight.
Whether you are a childminder working from home, a leader in a private nursery, or part of a school-based setting, this is a pivotal moment for us all. It is time to look beyond the headlines and consider what these developments mean for our daily practice and the families we support.
The Big Picture: Why is the CMA Looking at Us?
The CMA has officially launched a market study to assess if the sector is working well for families, providers, and the wider economy. This is not just a "nursery" issue; it encompasses all childcare from birth until children start school.
The investigation is exploring four critical areas:
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Accessibility: Is high-quality childcare available in all areas, or are there "childcare deserts" where families are left without options?
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Affordability & Funding: The study is digging into how cost drivers—for both government and providers—impact the fees parents pay.
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Information & Choice: Are parents empowered to make informed decisions, or is the "market" too complex and opaque?
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Market Dynamics: With the sector seeing a decline in childminders and a shift toward larger, private-equity-backed models, the CMA wants to understand how these ownership structures affect the quality and cost of care.
More Than a Market: The Educator’s Perspective
While the CMA focuses on the "mechanics" of the market, we know that the early years sector is a public service and a pedagogical foundation. The government’s Best Start in Life vision reminds us that we are the architects of a child’s future.
As professionals, we need to ensure that the voice of the sector is heard during this study. We are not just "service providers"—we are agents of social change, champions of inclusion, and the facilitators of lifelong learning.
Key Issues Impacting Your Setting Right Now
Beyond the CMA probe, there are several other pressures shaping our work this summer:
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The Inclusion Mandate: With the new Inclusive Early Years Fund allocations being confirmed throughout July, settings are being challenged to adopt "inclusive by design" practices. This shifts the focus from reactive, child-specific funding to proactive, whole-setting support for children with SEND.
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The Workforce Challenge: Recruitment and retention remain the sector's biggest hurdle. As we look to expand capacity, the quality of our workforce is the only way to ensure that "more places" doesn't mean "lower quality."
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Integration with Family Hubs: The shift toward integrated services—where health, social care, and education work as a single ecosystem—is moving from policy to practice. For many of you, this means building new, closer partnerships with multidisciplinary teams in your local community.
Your Voice Matters: Get Involved
The CMA has opened a "Call for Views" which remains open until 26 July 2026. This is a direct opportunity for professionals to provide evidence. If you feel the current funding models are unsustainable, or if you have insights into the barriers preventing you from offering more inclusive or flexible care, now is the time to share your perspective.
Looking Ahead
The coming year will be defined by these systemic reviews. While change can feel unsettling, it also offers a chance to reset the narrative. We have the opportunity to prove that the early years sector is a professional, essential, and highly skilled industry that deserves the stability and investment to thrive.
How are you navigating these changes in your setting? Are you feeling the impact of these policy shifts, or are you focused on maintaining your unique pedagogical approach?
For more information on the CMA study, or to submit your own views, you can visit the official GOV.UK portal for the Early Years Market Study.