 Most of you have completed an Individual Child Placement (ICP) Form for funded childcare placements at your setting. This currently uses a system called Caerphilly Connect.
What's changing?
Caerphilly Connect will soon be replaced with a new system. As a result, all our eforms, including the ICP form, are being rebuilt in the new system. These new forms are due to be completed and published at the end of April.
What you need to know:
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Visual changes: There is nothing to be concerned about. When you access the new form on our website, it will look visually different, but the questions and processes will remain the same; only the appearance of the forms and emails that are sent to you will change.
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The current ICP links will not work: Any links you have saved to the current ICP form will no longer work once the new form has been published. You will be able to access the new ICP form on our website here.
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Accessing forms: For the time being, you will not be required to log in to access the forms as you do now, but this may change in the future.
Stay informed:
We will post further details about the upgrade on our website, so please stay tuned for updates.
Our goal is to ensure a smooth and seamless transition for all our childcare providers. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
GOV.UK One Login
If you are providing childcare through the Childcare Offer for Wales, you will soon need to change the way you log in to the Childcare Offer platform. Instead of using the current Government Gateway, you will need to change to using GOV.UK One Login.
The Welsh Government will send you information about this by email over the coming weeks and months. Therefore, it is imperative that your setting's email address displayed under ‘Your Profile’ in the Childcare Offer platform is correct. If not, you will be missing out on the important information and your funding could be at risk - Log in to check now!
🔗 Providers sign in to your Childcare Offer for Wales account | GOV.WALES
Or call our national helpline on 03000 628 628📞
We recently visited Busy Feet in Gilfach, where Cath, Sarah, and Claire shared their experiences with the HANEN Learning Language and Loving It and HANEN Teacher Talk training programmes. Busy Feet is a great example of how these initiatives enhance children's language and social skills through everyday activities.
Hear firsthand how these programmes have made a difference in their setting.
"These courses have been incredibly beneficial for both us and the children. We've learned the importance of pausing before stepping in—allowing children to express themselves and solve their own challenges. The OWL method from The Hanen Centre, which emphasizes Observing, Waiting, and Listening, has been invaluable in supporting communication and language development. We've also gained a deeper understanding of different personality traits and how to cater to them effectively. This journey has been eye-opening, and we highly recommend these courses to every setting!"
In Caerphilly County, we’re committed to building a skilled workforce to support every child’s development. Our goal is to make Speech, Language, and Communication (SLC) everyone’s business, with families, childcare settings, and communities playing a key role.
Learn more about the Early Years Speech, Language & Communication training pathway, and book your space on the next available HANEN course. Click here for the training timetable.
Please note applications for Flying Start childcare for eligible children with a date of birth 01/04/2023 to 31/08/2023 will open on 28 April 2025.
The preferred application window is 28 April to 12 May but applications can be made after this period.
Please encourage any eligible parents you are working with to apply.
Flying Start funded childcare - Caerphilly Early Years
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Join us for free family fun from April 14th–16th, 11am–2pm!
📍 14.04.25 – Bargoed Park, Moorland Rd, Bargoed
📍 15.04.25 – Senghenydd Park
📍 16.04.25 – Waunfawr Park, Crosskeys
Enjoy arts & crafts, messy play, outdoor games, and a safe space for little ones — all designed to be inclusive for everyone!
Find out more about parks & facilities: greenspacescaerphilly.co.uk
For more info, contact the Early Years Hub Team: 01443 863232 or earlyyears@caerphilly.gov.uk.
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A quick reminder to let parents know that Reception and Junior School decision emails for September 2025 places will be sent out on 16th April.
We’ll be announcing this publicly on 17th April to give School Admissions time to manage any queries.
Please remind parents to check their inboxes — and don’t forget to mention checking spam or junk folders just in case!
Thank you for your support in helping us spread the word.
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The Parish Trust Baby Bank is a vital resource serving the entire Aneurin Bevan Health Board area and beyond. This essential service is available only through professional referrals, ensuring that families in genuine need receive the support they require.
The Baby Bank offers a wide range of items, from essentials for moms preparing for hospital stays to support for families with children up to five years old. They also provide electrical items, such as sterilisers and breast pumps, all of which have been PAT tested for safety.
Referrers are generally expected to collect the items, but in cases where a family has a baby in neonatal care, the Baby Bank will make every effort to deliver a bundle directly to them. Additionally, they strive to provide items like cots when possible, though they never distribute old mattresses. If donations allow, new mattresses are made available to families in need.
The Parish Trust Baby Bank also maintains an Amazon WishList, allowing the community to contribute by donating much-needed items.
For more information, visit their website: Baby Bank | The Parish Trust
PACEY Cymru are pleased to announce that through a generous donation from The Moondance Foundation and additional funding from Welsh Government we are able to provide a discount on funded membership for eligible members in Wales from April 2025 to March 2026.
In addition, eligible members* who renew or join PACEY from April 2025 to March 2026 will be able to apply for a small grant to support activities for children.
Quality Start
In addition to the above, we can confirm a discount of £65 for PACEY Quality Start from 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026. (the website will be updated from 1.4.25)For individuals purchasing it will be £144.99 inc. VAT (209.99 inc VAT with discount of £65 funding)Please note it is only the toolkit that has VAT added.
Any childminders joining PACEY with Quality Start will also be eligible to apply for the small grant .
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Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) is interested in hearing from those who use and rely on social care, childcare, and play services in Wales, as well as their relatives, visitors, staff, involved professionals, or friends. Your feedback is important and helps inform CIW’s inspection and enforcement processes. If you are able to provide feedback, that would be greatly appreciated. Please share the link https://careinspectorate.wales/feedback-surveys with your staff and service users so they can share their experiences anytime, not just during inspections. For any questions, contact CIW at 0300 790 0126.
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Social Care Wales is seeking early years and childcare settings to offer work experience placements for participants of their Introduction to Childcare programme. This work trial provides invaluable firsthand experience in a childcare environment.
Aimed at those new to the sector, the programme introduces key areas of early years and childcare, covering parts of the All-Wales induction framework. While not accredited, it offers a crucial first step towards gaining sector knowledge and experience.
The work trial scheme offers individuals who’ve completed the Introduction to Childcare programme the chance to gain valuable experience, with the possibility of an interview or placement in the sector.
If you can support this initiative by offering a placement, please register here.
Phonological Awareness is the awareness of the ‘sound structure’ of words. A great way to practice this is by clapping out syllables and playing sound games. Your challenge is to play these 3 games daily with your children:
- Syllable counting – Read a book. Choose a page and clap out the syllables of each word.
- Eye-Spy – Go on a walk or look out of the window. Play eye-spy and let the child know what the word starts with. Give them clues if they need more help. Make sure you say what the letter sounds like rather than the letter’s name. For example, if you saw a duck, you would say, it starts with the sound ‘duh’, rather than the letter ‘Dee’.
- Rhymes – Nursery rhymes enhance children’s phonological awareness. Sing the nursery rhyme slowly and at the child’s level, so they can clearly hear all of the words and sounds that you are making.
For more information on interacting with young children, visit https://gov.wales/talk-with-me
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Are you working in a Cylch Meithrin, day nursery, or as a childminder? The Camau Courses offer a flexible, free, self-study Work Welsh programme designed for the early years and childcare sector.
With courses at Entry, Foundation, and Intermediate levels, you’ll learn practical Welsh to use with children — from colours and numbers to commands and questions — in just 30 hours per level. Support is available from Rhian Thomas, Camau Lead Officer, to guide you through.
Want to get started or need help choosing a level? Contact camau@meithrin.cymru or register now: Camau | Learn Welsh.
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