The Future of Early Years: Challenges, Change and Hope

The early years sector has always been a place of dedication, creativity and resilience. Yet today, it is also a place of mounting challenges. Funding shortfalls, staff shortages and the pressure of delivering ‘free hours’ continue to stretch providers across the UK. At the same time, expectations on settings remain as high as ever, with little recognition of the daily realities faced by those leading nurseries and preschools. 

 

Ahead of the Early Years Breakfast Summit at Childcare & Education Expo, we spoke to nursery directors, CEOs and managers to hear their reflections on both the current landscape and the future they hope to see. Their words paint a picture of a sector at a crossroads, facing immense pressure but also holding a powerful vision for what comes next. 

Nursery leaders told us openly that “the sector remains under-resourced, under-valued, and the workforce underpaid for their vital contribution to children’s lives.” Many said recruitment and retention are becoming increasingly difficult, with funding increases failing to match rising wages and costs. For those responsible for balancing the books, this is more than a headline, it’s a daily struggle to keep settings sustainable while supporting staff wellbeing. 

Inspection frameworks add another layer of stress, with one director warning that “without careful implementation, long-term commitment and sufficient investment, the sector’s ability to deliver high-quality care and education will remain at risk.” For owners and managers, this often means working late into the evening on paperwork, compliance and training, while trying to keep morale high among staff teams. 

Concerns also extend to wider policy, from sustainability demands to the basics of children’s nutrition. As one provider put it, “hungry children and badly fed children will struggle to learn and will fall further behind, with a huge cost to society in the future.” 

 

Despite the challenges, many leaders we spoke to are still deeply ambitious for their settings and their staff. They remain passionate about play, creativity and inclusivity, calling on decision makers to ensure that “positive, playful, and attentive experiences” are valued far more highly in early years policy. 

In practice, this means giving practitioners the trust and freedom to do what they do best, creating nurturing environments where children thrive. As one attendee explained,“by embracing every child’s unique way of thinking, learning, and communicating, we can create truly inclusive spaces where differences are celebrated, and a lifelong love of learning can flourish.” 

 

For owners and directors, this passion can also be a reminder: even when the pressure mounts, the work happening in nurseries every day is transformative. Staff need to hear that message too valuing their creativity and professionalism is as important as fighting for better funding. 

 

It was also clear that nursery leaders want to look beyond survival and think about how early years evolves in a changing world. As one setting shared: “At Little Adventures Nursery, we’re not just preparing children for school, we’re preparing them for life in a changing world… We’re building a generation ready not just to cope with change, but to shape it.” 

 

For directors, this raises big questions: how do we adapt curricula, spaces and training so that children are equipped for a digital-first, fast-changing society, without losing the heart of play-based learning? Many are already experimenting with approaches that blend Montessori-inspired practice, outdoor learning and thoughtful use of technology, showing that innovation is possible even in difficult times. 

What emerges from these conversations is a clear message: the future of early years depends on both urgent action and long-term vision. Investment, fairness and genuine recognition of the workforce are essential. But so too is trust, trust in practitioners to create learning environments that give children the time, space and freedom to flourish. 

As one leader concluded, “all children under seven deserve the time and opportunity to thrive, develop at their own pace, and succeed academically, personally, and socially.” 

 

For nursery owners and directors, the road ahead will not be easy. But you are not alone. Conversations like these show that the sector is full of leaders pushing for change, sharing ideas and holding on to hope. By coming together at summits, events and networks, there is strength in numbers, and a louder voice to influence the future. 

 

The challenges are real, but the passion is stronger still. The future of early years may be uncertain, but if these voices are anything to go by, it is also full of possibility. 

If you’re navigating these challenges as an owner, director or manager, here are three practical ways to take the conversation forward: 

Change may be slow, but by working collectively, the early years community can continue to shape a future that works for children, families and those who dedicate their lives to giving them the best start.