Childcare Provider Bulletin - December 2024

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Childcare Provider Bulletin December 2024🎄

Welcome to our latest e-bulletin, designed to keep you regularly informed of latest news, information and training relevant to the childcare sector.

We would appreciate your feedback on the e-bulletin and if there is anything you would like us to include or clarify then please let us know by completing our short survey. 

Please note: You will receive this bulletin in Welsh in a separate email.

Thank you and Merry Christmas

🎄Thank you & Merry Christmas!🎄

From all of us at Early Years we want to say thank you!! Your contributions have been essential to supporting the good work that we do and making a real impact in the community.

"This year has been filled with both highs and lows. We received outstanding feedback from our Estyn inspection, which recognised the dedication and hard work of all our teams across early years. We also had to say goodbye to some much-loved colleagues.

Thank you to everyone for being part of our journey and for supporting our families. Take time to enjoy the Christmas holidays with your loved ones and make the most of any break you can take. See you in 2025."

 

Sarah Mutch
Early Years And Partnerships Manager


Christmas closures – The Hub Closure

Closed for Christmas

Please be advised that The Hub in Parc Y Felin will be closed from 12 noon on the 24th December 2024, and reopen on the 2nd January 2025. We kindly ask that you plan accordingly during the Christmas period and contact us in advance should you require any assistance before the closure. 


Welsh Government Announces: Permanent Business Rates Relief for Childcare Providers in Wales!

Elklan

The Welsh government has announced a permanent non-domestic rates relief for childcare premises in Wales, set to save the sector £3.4 million annually. Since 2019, childcare providers, such as day nurseries, have benefited from the small business rates relief scheme, which has helped them manage rising costs. This continued support allows providers to invest in staff, create new jobs, and reduce fee increases for parents, ensuring the sustainability of childcare services.

Find out more Here: Huge boost for childcare sector in Wales as small business rates relief made permanent | GOV.WALES


Understanding the Curriculum for Nursery Education: A Guide for Parents and Carers

Welsh Gov Guide

The Curriculum for Wales has released a helpful guide to help parents and carers understand the nursery education curriculum for 3 and 4-year-olds. This guide is a valuable resource for both parents and early years providers, offering clear insights into the learning experiences and expectations for young children. We encourage everyone to take a look through it to better understand the curriculum and how it supports children's development.

Heres the Link: Nursery education for 3 and 4 year olds: A guide for parents and carers


Childcare Offer Update: Wales Rate Review

Childcare Offer

The Welsh government has agreed to move to annual reviews of the hourly rate paid to childcare providers in Wales, responding to requests from providers, representative bodies, and the Senedd’s Equalities and Social Justice Committee. This change will follow the completion of the current three-year review and aims to support sector growth, improve sustainability, and help providers with long-term planning.


Whiterose Primary EOI- Extended to January 2025 New opportunity!

EOI

The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the childcare provision at Whiterose Primary School has been extended to 13th January 2025. 

White Rose Primary School - Invite to Expressions of Interest

Expressions of Interest should be addressed to Kathryn Thompson Head Teacher by email to WhiteRosePrimary@sch.caerphilly.gov.uk and arrive no later than 3pm on Monday 13th January 2025.


Polite Reminder: Attendance Register Submission

Flying Start

If you are providing Flying Start childcare, Assisted Places, or Early Years Education, please remember to submit your attendance registers by Friday each week:

Monitoring attendance of childcare placements is important, and when a child is absent or was not brought, this should be recorded accurately, and any concerns raised in accordance with the Admission, Attendance and Transition Policy. There is also a requirement of the funding that we provide attendance figures to the Welsh Government.

Our Early Staff frequently review childcare placement attendance data for the families they support, and it is crucial that this information is current to identify and address any concerns as early as possible. Failure to submit your registers makes this process very difficult. Click here for funded placement register guidance. 


SALT Message of the Month- Sing me a rhyme at any time!

SALT

Songs and rhymes can help little ones learn to read in the future. Sometimes children have a favorite rhyme and want you to sing it over and over, that’s ok! Why not make it extra fun by:

  • Adding actions so they can join in
  • Pause at the exciting part to see if they get excited, for example merrily merrily merrily merrily, don’t forget to………..’.
  • Sit facing each other when you sing so you can see each other’s faces and show your little one the words and actions clearly.
  • You can find this strategy in the 10 tips to help me learn to talk booklet

For more information on interacting with young children, visit GOV.WALES Talk with me


Healthy Food and Nutrition for Early Years Survey

Healthy Eating

 In Gwent, organizations have been meeting to share ideas about how to improve access to healthy food for our youngest children. As part of this we are carrying out this survey with childcare workers and managers to better understand the challenges, support needs and level of knowledge and skills around food and nutrition within the sector.

We would very much appreciate you spending a few minutes to respond to this short survey. Thank you for your time.

https://forms.office.com/e/q0GUbYzMnc


Upcoming Changes to Our Online Forms

We wanted to inform you that the council will be updating its online forms system starting January 21. This update will affect the following forms:

  • Flying Start Childcare Application Form
  • Individual Child Placement Form
  • Requests for Support Form
  • Training Request Form
  • Training Payment Form
  • Antenatal and Early Years Registration Form
  • Elklan Let’s Talk with Your Baby

What Does This Mean for You?

While the appearance of the forms will change, the content will remain the same. We anticipate that our processes will also stay the same. If there are any changes, we will keep you updated in the new year.


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