If 2025 was the year the early years and childcare system was tipped upside down and given a good shake, then 2026 is the year we find out what’s fallen out of the pockets.

Last year’s reforms came thick and fast, charging rules, statutory guidance, entitlement expansion, new EYFS, poverty strategy, youth strategy, school‑age childcare vision… it was a policy conveyor belt that barely paused for breath. Necessary, overdue, ambitious yes. But also exhausting for a sector already stretched.

Now the dust is settling, and the real work begins. Reform is never about the announcement; it’s about the implementation. And implementation is always messier, slower, and more human than the policy papers ever admit. Providers and local authorities are now grappling with the consequences, intended and otherwise, of a system being rebuilt while still in daily use.

The funding uplifts for 2026–2027 are welcome. The 97% pass‑through rate is a bold statement of intent. The expansion of entitlements continues to be both an opportunity and a pressure point: demand rising, workforce tightening, sufficiency wobbling in some areas and stabilising in others.

What’s striking is how interconnected everything has become. Childcare is no longer a standalone service, it’s now firmly welded to anti‑poverty strategy, youth policy, family hubs, SEND reforms, school‑age childcare, and workforce development. That’s progress. But it also means the system is only as strong as its weakest link.

So, 2026 must be the year of consolidation, coherence, and calm heads. We need to embed what’s been introduced, not rush to the next big announcement. We need to support the workforce as the linchpin of quality and sustainability. And we need to keep our eyes on the prize: better outcomes for children, stronger support for families, and a system that works in practice, not just on paper.

As ever, the sector will rise to the challenge. It always does. But this year, more than ever, it needs clarity, collaboration, and consistency. Reform is a journey, not a moment. And 2026 is the year we find out whether the foundations laid in 2025 can truly hold.