 We are delighted to introduce and warmly welcome six new members to the Caerphilly Early Years Team:
Anne Jones, Gemma Morgan, Kay-d Heaver, Roisin DeSouza, Stephanie Hooper, and Zoe Davies-Percy.
Joining us as Inclusion Officers, they bring a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to their new roles. Their work will focus on helping to upskill childcare setting staff across the borough, supporting practitioners to support children’s developmental needs, modelling strategies, promoting inclusive, high-quality provision for all children as well as work with settings to increase attendance rates.
We’re excited to share an update on the Flying Start expansion. Families in the newly added postcodes will be able to apply from Monday the 1st of September 2025, with placements starting in January 2026. Eligible families who have registered with us, will all receive a text message from us, encouraging them to apply via the website.
We’ll be sharing promotional materials and more information soon, so keep an eye out! Thanks as always for your support in helping us spread the word and get families ready to apply.
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Following a review of rates, financial plans, and provider feedback, we’re pleased to announce that from September, the rate for a 2.5-hour session will increase to £20 (£100 per week for 5 sessions). This should help cover additional costs linked to Flying Start childcare, such as:
- all Flying Start children have their own one page profile
- childcare staff attend inset training (5 x CPD sessions)
- transition of paperwork for all children to their Early Years Education placement
- childcare providers work with families and other professionals to improve attendance towards 100%
- all children are supported to improve their speech, language, and communication (COMIT toolkit), as well as other developmental skills
Thank you to everyone who attended the workshops. We'll arrange another session in September/October for those who missed it previously, to discuss Flying Start childcare and Phase 3 expansion.
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 During the Summer term, children in our Flying Start settings watched caterpillars grow and turn into butterflies. They released them in memory of our wonderful colleague and friend Kerry-Anne Lewton, who will always be in our hearts.
Our staff would like to share the following poem in memory of her:
In life's garden you were a vibrant bloom,
A radiant butterfly, dispelling our gloom,
A tender touch, a gentle heart,
Oh, how we cherish the love you'd impart.
Each flutter, a reminder of your grace,
A loving embrace, your warm solace,
Through stormy skies and sunny days,
A beacon of hope, guiding our ways.
We'll treasure the moments, the laughter, the tears,
A kaleidoscope of memories, transcending the years,
A butterfly's dance, a symbol of love,
Now you fly free, in heavens above.
 Play in the Park has kicked off with sessions at Morgan Jones Park on 6th August to celebrate National Play Day with special guest Cllr Carol Andrews. If you missed it, don't worry, there are seven more sessions still to come that you can get involved with.
Next stop: Abertridwr Playground 📅 Wednesday 13th August, 11am–2pm
Click here for full details
 We’re pleased to announce that Hanen training courses have been scheduled for the coming months. Please see the details below:
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Course
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Start Date
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Deadline for enrolment
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Learning Language and Loving It
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15 September
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12 September
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Teacher Talk
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22 September
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12 September
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Teacher Talk
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3 November
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22 October
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Full course details and booking information are available on the website.
The application window for the School Essentials Grant is now open! Please encourage any families you are working with to check their eligibility and apply.
If a child already gets Free School Meals, there could be more financial help available through the School Essentials Grant.
This support can help with essentials like school uniform and equipment to make sure the child is ready for the school day. Parents can check their child’s eligibility and apply at https://www.gov.wales/get-help-school-costs.
The Food and Fun 2025 summer programme officially launched on 22 July in Caerphilly, with a special visit from the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle MS.
The launch marks the beginning of another year of impactful holiday provision for children and families across the county borough.
Read more: https://bit.ly/3IBpXFh
To book a space on one of the following 2 workshops, or subscribe to the workshop mailing list for updates on all future workshops, visit https://forms.office.com/e/DfqfWSd0kK
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Monday 15 September, 10am-12noon - introduction to sleep - Ideas will be shared about how to manage common sleep difficulties in children and young people. Book by Midday on Monday 8th September.
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Wednesday 22 October, 10am-12noon - Transitions & separations - Ideas will be shared about supporting children and young people with transitions and separations. Book by Midday on Wednesday 15th October
Also, Monday 18, August, 10:00- 12:00 am - Supporting Communication - A workshop delivered jointly with a Speech and Language Therapist. To book this workshop visit https://forms.office.com/e/qpyjEJLPtN
The workshop aims to help you to:
- Understand how communication develops in children and means of communication
- Explore why some children develop communication difficulties
- Explore the related challenges that can develop alongside communication difficulties
- Think about different means to support your children to communicate
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 The National Autistic Society Cymru is a vital resource for autistic individuals and their families across Wales.
They offer a wide range of services, including:
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Advice and Guidance: Covering topics such as diagnosis, communication, education, and mental health.
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Support Services: Including helplines, residential centres, and volunteer-led local branches that provide social activities and peer support.
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Training and Education: Helping schools, workplaces, and public services become more autism-friendly.
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Campaigning: Working to influence policy and improve services for autistic people in Wales.
As professionals working with families, it’s important to be familiar with the support available. Please take some time to explore the website and consider how you might use it in your work to support families you are working with.
They have produced a useful guide: Sensory differences - a guide for all audiences - This guide explains how autistic people experience sensory differences and offers practical advice to help staff understand and support these needs, creating more comfortable and welcoming environments. This information was shared with you following your visit to the Autism Reality Experience.
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