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Issue 45 - February 2019
Ofsted consultation: “Inspecting the substance of education”
Ofsted is proposing significant changes to the framework it uses to inspect education provision, with a new judgement on the quality of education and a new inspection handbook for early years. These changes will affect all providers.
You are strongly encouraged to visit the website, view the documents and respond to the questions. In responding, please consider questions beyond the early years, and include your comments on any areas you feel are not referenced in the consultation questions.
The Early Years Service will be gathering feedback from the sector in a variety of ways, but please respond directly to the consultation.
Education Select Committee calls for new approach to tackling disadvantage in the early years
The House of Commons Education Select Committee, an all-party group of MPs, has published the findings of its inquiry into life chances, which focused heavily on the role of early years settings. In its report, the Committee argues that the Government has a “confused” approach to early years education, and policies such as 30 hours appear to be “entrenching disadvantage”.
More info here.
Boost for national mission to improve early literacy and language
Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi has appointed a new expert panel to support early learning skills, with businesses joining the round table discussion on early literacy. Parents who lack confidence with supporting their young children’s early learning at home will benefit from projects being pledged by businesses around the country. These will range from book swaps in supermarkets and author ambassadors, to special training for staff in shoe shops. More information here.
Building a child’s confidence and resilience - new resource for primary schools with early years provision
The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a new ‘Activity Passport’ for children aged 5 and upwards, to help schools introduce children to a wide variety of experiences to complement their learning. This free resource is in an editable format so it can be used flexibly, and aims to boost pupils’ confidence and curiosity, and develop skills for life.
The resource features activities that students can tick off at home or in school, and has been tailored to suit different age groups. Nearly all of the recommended activities will be available locally.
Find out more here.
Pre-School Learning Alliance (PLA) now Early Years Alliance
From Monday 18 February 2019, The Pre-School Learning Alliance has changed its name to the Early Years Alliance. The Alliance is working hard to ensure that its services and offers remain relevant to the early years community as it expands and evolves.
The new organisation will trade as the Early Years Alliance, but the registered company details, including company name, number, VAT number and bank accounts, will be unchanged.
Read more here.
200 Million Minutes Reading Challenge
On Thursday 7 March 2019, national educational charity Achievement for All will be launching the reading challenge across the globe to attempt to read 200 MILLION MINUTES!
The challenge will run from World Book Day (Thursday 7 March 2019), until Children’s Book Day (Tuesday 2 April 2019). During that time, Achievement for All will be calling on schools, settings, families, libraries, community groups, businesses and organisations from across the world to come together to achieve this never-before-reached target.
More info here.
Be part of National Children’s Day in May!
National Children's Day UK (NCDUK) is all about the importance of a healthy childhood, and how we need to protect the rights and freedoms of children in order to ensure that they can grow into happy, healthy adults.
This year, National Children’s Day UK is taking place on Sunday 12th May, and people can run any kind of event, big or small, for the week up to and including the day.
From small family outings to whole school and community events, local initiatives, talks, seminars and wider celebrations, it's an opportunity for everyone to raise awareness about the things they care about or projects they are running.
For more information please contact Sally Grindley, NCDUK Project Director, at sally.grindley@nationalchildrensdayuk.com.
Beep Beep Days!
Beep Beep! Days are a great opportunity for early years educators to introduce two- to seven-year-olds to road safety basics, with fun activities and resources provided by Brake. You can register for your free e-pack or purchase a bumper pack for just £12.60 for 50 children. The pack includes lots of fun, reusable road safety activities, including colouring sheets, posters, laminated activities, certificates, stickers and balloons! For more information click here.
Early Years and Childcare Training Centre
Our Early Years and Childcare Training Centre delivers qualifications throughout the year. If you are considering undertaking a qualification, all the information you need is here.
Please contact eycqualifications@cambridgeshire.gov.uk if you wish to enrol, or would like to discuss your options.
Level 3 Qualification UPDATE - Early Years Educator
The induction for the Level 3 EYE qualification at Littleport Academy has been postponed to 21 May 2019.
As all applications should be approved before induction, please complete the paperwork as early as possible. Application forms can be obtained from: eyctraining@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Conferences and Masterclasses
Final call for… the Early Years Annual Conference 2019
Let’s Talk…Narrowing the word gap in the Early Years
Di Chilvers and Professor Kathy Sylva will be our guest keynote speakers at this year’s conference. Due to the popularity of this conference, we offer a choice of two days, Thursday 7 OR Friday 8 March, at the Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon.
For more information click here, or to book click here.
‘How not to hit your thumb with a hammer’ - masterclass with Meynell Walter
Meynell Walter, international playwork trainer and founder of Meynell Games, will be delivering this masterclass on Friday 15 March 2019 at Hinchingbrooke Country Park in Huntingdon.
To book click here.
New dates for First Aid Training
Additional 12-hour paediatric first aid courses have now been scheduled. PVI settings can book places by clicking here.
News from the Hub
More and more practitioners have now joined our range of Knowledge Hub communities.
There is a group for everyone, as can be seen from the summary below.
Here are some of the recent items shared on the Knowledge Hub:
- Lots of new documents uploaded in Early Years SEN Coordinators, including the latest on the SEND Toolkit.
- The Playwork Quality Framework Forum has a thread on playwork setting sessions and session lengths.
- The Early Years Leaders (PVI) group has new posts with useful documents including guidance on Looked after Children.
- The Schools’ Group EYFS Leaders (Cambridgeshire) has been updated with the documents from the recent EYFS Leaders Briefings.
- Our Cambridgeshire Childminders group has a well-stocked library of useful documents on maintaining quality and updates on activity to support childminders.
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Cambridgeshire Playworkers also have their own group for general networking and information exchange.
- Our most popular group, Designated Person for Child Protection (PVI), has many useful ongoing discussion threads, and the latest safeguarding and child protection-related resources.
Practitioners are warmly invited to sign up to all groups relevant to them. Join Knowledge Hub at https://khub.net/ and then apply to join the groups you wish to be part of.
Please ensure you apply to join the correct group/s, as membership requests cannot be transferred.
The following groups are open to Cambridgeshire providers
For Quality Framework:
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Cambridgeshire County Council Early Years Quality Framework (for day nurseries and pre-schools, gives access to electronic versions of documents)
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Cambridgeshire County Council Playwork Quality Framework (for out of school clubs and holiday schemes, gives access to electronic versions of documents)
- Cambridgeshire Childminders
For general information exchange
- Cambridgeshire Early Years and Childcare: Designated Person for Child Protection (PVI)
- Cambridgeshire County Council Early Years Leaders (PVI)
- Cambridgeshire Early Years SEN Coordinators
- Cambridgeshire Playworkers
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EYFS Leaders (Cambridgeshire) – for EYFS leaders in schools
Brand new: Cambridgeshire Forest School
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