There was significant growth in the children's nurseries market last year, according to the 2014 report from market analysts LaingBuisson.
Nursery World looks at the pledges from the main political parties ahead of next month's general election.
A campaign group started on Facebook is taking on Kent County Council in a battle over proposals to close 23 of the county's 97 children's centres.
The next government is being urged to provide an emergency financial rescue package for early years settings at risk of imminent closure due to financial pressures.
Expansion of state-funded childcare settings is driving up rates of pay for nursery workers in the private, voluntary and independent sector, reports Mary Evans The average annual pay of childcare...
Effective management remains key to tackling the sector's ongoing challenge of recruiting and retaining enthusiastic and capable early years practitioners Acorn Early Years Training * The effective...
A raft of high level apprenticeship standards covering leadership, quality improvement, equality and wellbeing are being developed.
Nurseries can now have more assurance about the standards and quality of groups running activities thanks to a new sector accreditation.
Winner - Chris Pascal, Professor of Early Childhood