• The Attendance Matters Meeting will be on Tuesday 20 February on Microsoft Teams. During this meeting, we will explain more about our new Admissions, Attendance, and Transitions Policy and what we will need from you. Please make every effort to attend. If you need any further information, please contact your Childcare Officer or the Early Years Hub. 
• If you have not done so already, please take a look at the two grants that are available, the Childminder Assistant Qualification Grant and the Training Attendance Allowance. Find out more here. The closing date for applications is Friday 22nd March 2024.
• The new training timetable is out so please take a look on our website for details and to request your place. 

The application deadline for a place in a Nursery class in September is quickly approaching on February 23rd.

Please help to remind families who have children who will be aged 3 before 31 August 2024 to apply before the deadline. We don't want any child to miss out!

Application details are at www.caerphilly.gov.uk/schooladmissions. For help applying, parents can call the School Admissions Team on 01443 864870.

For those of you delivering funded placements through Flying Start, Assisted Places, and Play Inc you will have completed an ICP form to request funding. These are on our website here: https://www.caerphillyearlyyears.co.uk/childcare/childcare-providers/childcare-provider-forms-and-links/

To make things a bit easier for you and for us, we have decided to combine these into one ICP form. This new form will be made available on the website following the meeting on Attendance Matters meeting on 20th February. 

The Welsh Government has launched a consultation on professional registration of the childcare and playwork workforce.

The consultation is proposing that a workforce register in childcare and playwork would be mandatory for individuals who are paid to work directly with children in registered childcare and playwork settings.

Welsh Government are keen to understand the view of practitioners on some key questions including: 

• What do you think about the proposal for a workforce register?
• Do you think the childcare and playwork sector should have a workforce register?
• If so, who do you think should be included in that register?

The responses of the consultation will help shape the next steps with professional consultation and so your opinion matters.

To hear more and share your views, come along to one of the engagement events (Microsoft Teams) led by Welsh Government on:

• 6 February 6.30-7.30pm
• 19 February 6.30-7.30pm

For further information contact: ChildcareAndPlayworkConsultation@gov.wales

All children have individual needs, including children with deafness.

You can put strategies in place to support children with deafness. These include:

• Get their attention by waving in their direction or approaching from the front or side as not to startle them.
• Get face to face when playing. You may hold toys close to your face to support face to face interactions.
• Make sure the room is well lit.
• Reduce background noise where you can.

Further strategies and information can be found here: Talk with Me Deafness Factsheet – English Version (gov.wales)

For more information on interacting with young children, visit https://gov.wales/talk-with-me

Suggestions of activities:  

Why don’t you play some Welsh music in your setting for all to enjoy? 

https://cyw.cymru/en/caru-canu/ 

Why don’t you discuss the traditional Welsh costume and compare it to what’s worn by children today? 

Have a go at making traditional Welsh Cawl with the children using vegetables.  

You could read also ‘The Enormous Turnip’ by Kaytie Daynes, or ‘Y Feipen Enfawr’ via: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQJ35L5_XmA  

Don’t forget the Welsh cakes; you could make yours out of playdough if easier?! 

For the latest information and advice on childcare services and activities, Like the "Caerphilly Early Years and Childcare Service" on facebook.