 Party food doesn’t have to be cake, chocolate, sweets, crisps and biscuits. It can still be fun, tasty and count towards your children’s 5 a day and physical activity.
- Cheese & crackers - Use a shape cutter to make different shapes/characters
- Use fruit and veg to make characters - remember to avoid using chocolate and maybe use a breadstick for brooms. Cheese could be used for teeth.
- Allow children to make choices with regards to shape cutters. Children will be more likely to eat their food if they have helped prepare it.
- Plain popcorn is an alternative to crisps.
Creating colourful food displays can encourage children to try new food!
 The Caerphilly Quality Standard (CQS) is a quality assurance tool that ensures settings are providing a service that is over and above the requirements as set out by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and the National Minimum Standards (NMS). A new ‘Caerphilly Quality Standard (CQS) plus’ has been developed to support settings to further raise quality and inspire own practice. Until recently Childminders were able to work towards the ‘Advanced Childminder Status’ which includes elements of the Caerphilly Quality Standard (CQS). Moving forward the Advanced Childminder Status will cease and the CQS Plus Status will take its place. If you are interested in undertaking the CQS plus, please contact your Childcare Officer.
Did you know that Social Care Wales offers a number of training events for Managers and Practitioners. The majority of the events are free and addresses a range of topics such as Child Development, Health and Wellbeing, the new curriculum, The All Wales Induction framework and much more. Click here to view all the events:
Early years and childcare information and… | Social Care Wales
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Diversity and Anti-Racist Professional Learning - DARPL Senior Leaders Series for Childcare, Play and Early Years:
DARPL have released two further series for Senior Leaders within Childcare, Play and Early Years.
The series in 2024 will be held on:
- 16.01.2024
- 29.01.2024
- 21.03.2024
All from 3:30 pm - 5pm
For more information and to reserve a space click here.
Welsh Government are aware of concerns in respect of the November 2023 timescale set within the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare (NMS) for childminder assistants to meet the qualification requirement.
They intend to extend this deadline and will provide further information as soon as they can.
Play is a fundamental right for all children. They have a strong intrinsic need to play. Through play and playful experiences, children find ways to explore a range of emotions and learn about the world they inhabit with others.
The below materials have been developed to assist practitioners in the role of play and play based learning. Welsh Government have also included a link to a video developed by Play Wales as a helpful reminder on the importance of play.
Below is a case study demonstrating how a setting used the winter of well-being grant to support creative learning in settings within Carmarthenshire.
Repository - Hwb (gov.wales)
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An ‘ages and stages’ table can support you to understand the development of early speech, language and communication skills.
The Welsh Government have created an ‘ages and stages’ table which relates to development for children. These may differ for children with additional learning needs. Knowledge of this table can support important adults in the child’s life to choose appropriate games and activities that aid development.
You can access the ages and stages table here:
WG42231 ICAN key issues A1 poster English (gov.wales)
For more information on interacting with young children, visit https://gov.wales/talk-with-me
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All children aged 2 and 3 years (age on 31 August 2023) are eligible for a free flu vaccination in the form of a LAIV nasal spray. However, not all parents are aware of this or take up the offer.
Flu can be very serious for children. Please help to raise awareness of the importance of flu vaccination by talking to the parents you work with. Parents can talk to their Health Visitor, GP or practice nurse for information.
You can print our poster to display at your setting or hand out to parents.
More info: https://phw.nhs.wales/fluvaccine
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 Don’t forget to celebrate Diwrnod Shwmae Sumae 15th of October and Halloween 31st of October 2023!
Use your pumpkins in various recipes in order for the children to taste them. For inspiration, visit: Rysáit cawl pwmpen | Pumpkin Soup Recipe - YouTube
Why not start every conversation in Welsh with ‘shwmae’ or ‘sumae’ and use some Welsh phrases and greetings throughout the day?
Bore da - Good morning
Prynhawn da - Good afternoon
Hwyl fawr - Goodbye
Diolch – Thank you
Sut wyt ti? - How are you?
Croeso - Welcome
The Welsh Government has commissioned Alma Economics, an independent research company, to gather insights from individuals working in registered settings within the childcare and playwork sector.
They are seeking participation from childcare practitioners, childminders, playworkers, and setting managers for online focus groups and interviews. Your participation will contribute to the development of policies that will support and shape the childcare and playwork workforce in Wales over the next five years.
To register your interest in taking part, review the privacy notice and complete the Expression of Interest form, and the Alma Economics Research Team will be in touch.
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