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Happy New Year to all our amazing childcare providers! The Early Years Childcare Service Team is excited to support you in the year ahead with news, updates, and training to help you continue making a difference in children’s lives. Here’s to a fantastic 2025!
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Please note that we have opened applications for Flying Start childcare for eligible children with a date of birth 01/01/2023 to 31/03/2023.
The preferred application window is 20/01/2025 and 07/02/2025 but applications can be made after this period.
Please encourage any eligible families you are working with to apply.
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The Minister for Children and Social Care has been issued a written statement to announce changes to the Childcare offer for Wales hourly rate effective from 7 April 2025.
To summarise:
- The Minister for Children and Social Care has announced an increase to the hourly rate from £5.00 per hour to £6.00 per hour paid to Childcare Providers who deliver the Childcare Offer for Wales. The revised rate will take effect on 7 April 2025. This is the first Monday of the new financial year.
- The Welsh Government will provide extra funding as part of the review to uplift the Nursery Education element of the Offer and to uplift the childcare element of Flying Start.
- The Minister has also announced a 20% uplift to permissible food charges which childcare providers may charge parents who access the Offer at their setting.
- The Welsh Government has engaged CWLWM members to clarify policy guidance around permissible charges. Any changes will take effect at the same time as the revised rate.
- These developments build upon the already announced 100% business rate relief for registered childcare providers and the move to review the rate payable for the Childcare Offer and Flying Start childcare on an annual basis.
You can access the Minister for Children and Social Services written statement here.
Families receiving Childcare Offer for Wales Funding will have received an email from the Welsh Government on 13 January.
This email ask them to confirm if there have been any changes to their circumstances.
Families must respond by either confirming there are no changes or following the instructions in the email to update any changes. This needs to be completed by 10 February, or their funding may be at risk.
Please ensure the families you work with are aware of this email and take action before the deadline.
For more information on Welsh Governments continued eligibility checks please visit their website, via the following link
The spring Caerphilly Early Years and Childcare training timetable is now available to view on our website.
Click the link below for details and to access the training request form here.
Please note: Two additional dates have now been added for the Paediatric First aid training on 1 February and 29 March.
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Did you know, if a child chooses the activity they are likely to stay for longer. Playing doesn’t have to involve toys. Anything your child enjoys counts as play – even if it’s a daily routines, helping with a job or bath time.
To talk and play every day, why not:
- Let your child choose what to do together
- Say the word for what your child can see or what they are doing
- Copy what they are doing with toys to help them notice you
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 https://gov.wales/talk-with-me
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Mark your calendar! SASS 2025 opens: 31 January
SASS 2025 opens on 31 January, and it’s your chance to showcase the amazing work you do while fulfilling your legal requirement as a registered childcare or play provider.
To prepare, log into your CIW Online account now to ensure your details are up to date, set a diary reminder for 31 January, and explore how your contributions shape childcare services by reviewing SASS 2024 data.
Full instructions will follow in the new year, so keep an eye on your inbox to make your submission smooth and stress-free!
Sparkle is the charity partner of , along with Serennu and Neville Hall Children Centres. Sparkle supports children and young people in Gwent with disabilities and/or developmental difficulties, along with their families. Their mission is to ensure these children are fully supported and able to participate in valued childhood experiences, with access to the same range of opportunities, life experiences, activities, and community services as any other child.
Sparkle offers a variety of , including family play events and holiday play clubs for children with additional needs, funded by Caerphilly Early Years. These events are shared in their quarterly newsletter, which staff and parents in the Caerphilly area can sign up for by emailing abb.familyliaisonwest@wales.nhs.uk.
Family Liaison Officers are the first point of contact for all families, offering guidance, support, and resources. They can also assist with form filling, such as Disability Living Allowance and Grants. If you have a child or young person diagnosed with or undergoing an assessment for a disability or developmental difficulty and live in Caerphilly County Borough, you can contact our Family Liaison Officer, Lisa, by phone at 02920 867447 or by email at
les.nhs.uk.
For more information, visit their website:Caerphilly | Sparkle, helping special children shine.
For the latest information and advice on childcare services and activities, Follow us on Facebook
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