 Important Updates on Childcare Rates and Flying Start Expansion
The Welsh Government has announced key changes regarding childcare rates and the expansion of funded Flying Start Childcare places.
There will be an increase in childcare funding rates from 7th April 2025 as follows:
- Flying Start Funded Placement Rate: £17 per session (this is set by the Local authority)
- Enhanced Provision Rate: Increased to cover staffing costs from April 2025
- Childcare Offer for Wales Rate: £6.40 per hour (This is set by the Welsh Government)
Please visit the Childcare Placements and Payments page of our website for the breakdown of session rate, Enhanced Provision and updated payment schedule.
We will be running a Flying Start Childcare Workshop in May/June (date TBC) to discuss:
- Expectations of delivering Flying Start Childcare
- Plans for expanding to other Flying Start areas*
- Collaboration with the sector to increase places
- Effective communication with families
* Due to the time required for planning and developing provision, we do not anticipate expanding the Flying Start areas before September 2025.
Following these funding changes and the announcement of the expansion of Flying Start funded childcare, the Assisted Places Scheme will end in April 2025. Children previously eligible for Assisted Places will instead be funded through Flying Start Outreach. If you have children to your setting who are funded by Assisted Places, we will be in contact with you shortly. This will also be discussed at the workshop.
Your Self Assessment of Service Statement (SASS) submission through CIW Online is now due.
Why this matters
Completing your SASS is a legal requirement. Failure to submit by the deadline may affect your leadership rating and inspection record.
Three simple steps - act now
- Log in to CIW Online
- Complete your SASS form
- Submit by 14 March 2025
Need a CIW Online account?
Register now at CIW Online
For account setup issues, call 0300 7900 126 (option 4)
Resources available
Don't risk missing the deadline. Get started today and ensure your service remains compliant.
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Flying Start decision emails will be sent out on Monday 10th March. These emails will outline the next steps for parents, so please ensure they are aware and remind them to check their spam folder just in case.
For any questions, contact the hub by email to earlyyearshub@caerphilly.gov.uk or  01443 863262.
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The Children and Young People Occupational Therapy Service aims to support families by providing access to occupational therapy at the right time.
Their Resource Library offers a variety of hints, tips, and strategies to help children and young people with everyday activities such as self-care, school participation, and leisure. Families are encouraged to explore these resources first.
If concerns persist after trying the suggested strategies, a new direct referral process is available through a pre-advice form. Alternatively, families can book a telephone appointment with an Occupational Therapist by calling 01633 431645. During the call, the therapist will provide guidance, signposting, or arrange follow-up assessments if needed. The service operates across Serennu, Nevill Hall, and Caerphilly Children’s Centres, supporting children up to 18 years old across Gwent.
 Innovative, hands-on training developed to give non-autistic people an experience of the difficulties faced by people with autism. The Autism Reality Experience is suitable for anyone in Social Care.
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26th March 2025
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27th March 2025
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Easter is the perfect time to model a range of words to improve children’s vocabulary. The Hanen Centre discuss the importance of modelling to children a variety of word types. It is tempting to focus on colours and shapes but children benefit from hearing different words that serve a function. Here is the Hanen article: Tips to Build Vocabulary: Repeat Words That Match Your Child's Interests (hanen.org)
Here are some examples of Christmas themed vocabulary.
- Names: Easter Bunny
- Words that describe: yummy, happy
- Action Words: singing songs, eating chocolate
- Words for feelings: happy, excited
- Location words (where things are): eggs are in the grass, look under
- Social words: hello, good morning
- Words that express belonging: my chocolate, your dinner
- Question words: why, when
For more information on interacting with young children, visit https://gov.wales/talk-with-me
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The Childminder Donna Jones from Blackwood is now a drop off point for the Toy Box Project in Bedwas.
Donna has a unit at the side of her house where members of the public can drop off any toys, games, books, fancy dress, small outdoor equipment etc. that they no longer use (used or new) and are in good working order to be donated to the project.
Donna, with the help of her after school club children, test the toys and equipment to ensure they are safe to pass on and then Donna delivers them to the unit in Bedwas.
Donna is very much involved in the project and would like to encourage people to recycle and reuse. For further information all the details are on the Toy Box Project website under Blackwood drop off point.
Getting Ready for Easter (20th April 2024)
As we prepare for these exciting celebrations, here are some simple Welsh words and phrases to use with young children this month:
📖 Welsh Words & Phrases of the Month: 🐣 Happy Easter – Pasg Hapus 🥚 Easter Eggs – Wyau Pasg 📚 Reading – Darllen 🎭 Character – Cymeriad 📖 Books – Llyfrau ✝️ Jesus – Iesu ⛪ Cross – Croes
🎉 Fun Activity Ideas: 📖 Storytime in Welsh – Listen to engaging Welsh-language stories online at BookTrust Wales.
🎭 Role Play & Dressing Up – Fill your Role Play Area with books, props, and costumes to encourage children to act out their favourite stories and characters.
🎨 Easter & Book-Themed Crafts – Create simple Easter cards with ‘Pasg Hapus’ or decorate crosses, design book character masks to bring stories to life.
These activities will help spark a love for books while making language learning fun and interactive.
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Due to low demand, the Learning Language and Loving It course due to start in early March has now been moved to start at the end of March.
This 12-session, evidence-based programme, led by Hanen-certified Speech and Language Therapists from Caerphilly Early Years, provides practical strategies to support children’s language and social development through everyday activities.
To request the training, visit our training webpage.
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Starting from March 4, 2025, unsubmitted timesheets will be permanently deleted 365 days after generation to comply with GDPR. Providers are encouraged to submit timesheets regularly (weekly or monthly). Check and submit any “started” or “not started” timesheets, especially those nearing 365 days old, as they will be deleted and unrecoverable after this period.
Ensure timesheets are only submitted for agreed and booked Childcare Offer hours to avoid incorrect funding claims. The team will recover funds for any hours incorrectly claimed.
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 With Easter just around the corner here are some links that might be useful when planning activities at your setting:
For the latest information and advice on childcare services and activities, Follow us on Instagram |
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