The Talking Together in Cambridgeshire (TTiC) Festival of Stories will run from Wednesday, 21 February 2024 to Wednesday, 28 February 2024.
Families of children from birth to five are invited to join the festival to experience magical tales, learn how to help take better care of our planet, and join in with activities that will help nature thrive.
We want to work together with families across our communities to make a difference, and so throughout our festival, we are going to focus on three Rs of sustainability:
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RECONNECT: We are going to be encouraging everyone to explore nature and learn about different mini-beasts and wildlife. By helping our little ones learn the names for different creatures, we are helping them to take their first steps in caring for other species which share our world with us.
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REUSE: We are going to show families lots of diverse ways to reuse their household waste. Some of our ideas include creating bug homes, bird feeders, seedling pots, or puppets, games, and toys which parents and their little ones can make together.
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RECYCLE: We are going to encourage parents to take part in litter picks around their garden, and the local area, so they can show their little ones how they can help wildlife thrive. We are also going to learn how to sort out rubbish that we cannot reuse, so it is ready for the bin workers to take away.
To preview plans for the festival, follow the TTiC Facebook.
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The Cambridgeshire Families Information Service (FIS) provide information, advice and guidance to families across Cambridgeshire.
They manage the Cambridgeshire Childcare Directory and offer one-to-one support for families with children and young people aged 0 to 25.
Their advice is free, confidential, and impartial.
They can help with finding childcare, understanding childcare funding options, childcare for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and the SEND Local Offer SEND Local Offer.
Find information on childcare and early learning and on Facebook - please like, follow and share the FIS page.
The FIS team are:
- Lisa Watson - Families Information Coordinator
- Bryonie Swift - Families Information Coordinator
- Tracey-Ann Grant - Childcare Brokerage Adviser - SEND
Email fis@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Telephone 0345 045 1360
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Applications for the new childcare entitlement for working families with a two-year-old are open for children (born up to 31 December 2021) to take up places from April 2024.
Parents wishing to establish eligibility should be signposted to Childcare Choices website childcarechoices.gov.uk.
For parents of two-year-olds to access 15 hours of free childcare, it is recommended that those eligible apply between mid-January and the end of February so that parents will not need to reconfirm eligibility before taking up a place.
Existing two-year-old entitlement linked to benefits or currently/previously in local authority care (targeted families) still need to apply online via cambridgeshire.gov.uk/free2s.
If a parent needs further assistance understanding the different planned funding streams, please signpost the parent to the Cambridgeshire Families Information Service who can talk through the options further, with the parent.
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To support you with your planning, Cambridgeshire County Council are publishing the indicative early years funding rates for 2024-25.
Please note, that the proposed two-year-old rate is slightly less than the current rate (paid since September 2023). This is because there is a new requirement to create an SEN Inclusion Fund (SENIF) for eligible two-year-olds with special educational needs. Any eligible funded child will be able to receive Early Years Pupil Premium, which is paid at an extra 68p per hour. Additionally, settings caring for children who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance can claim Disability Access Fund (DAF) at a fixed rate of £910 per year.
Age
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April 2023 Cambs rate/hour
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Current Cambs rate/hour
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Proposed 2024-25 Cambs rate/hour
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Three- and four-year-olds
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£4.63
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£5.14
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£5.40
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Funded twos
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£6.12
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£8.12
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£8.00
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New two-year-olds of working parents
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£8.00
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nine-months – two years (from September 2024)
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£10.70
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There will be an opportunity to join a webinar about the new funding rates and arrangements from Monday, 1 April 2024. This will cover our pass-through rates to providers, which includes the deprivation supplement and SENIF, and which we calculate at 97-98% of allocated funding.
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Changes to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework came into effect on Thursday, 4 January 2024.
A summary of changes for group and school-based providers can be found on the Department for Education (DfE) website, and on the Foundation Years Blog: EYFS changes.
New document setting out the early years qualification requirements and standards* for qualifications in the EYFS can also be found on the DfE website.
*[Size: 416 KB File format: pdf]
The learning and development requirements are in Section 1, the assessment requirements are in Section 2, and the safeguarding and welfare requirements are in Section 3 of the framework. The framework uses the word “must” where the requirement is mandatory. Some of the items in the framework provide information that providers “should” consider when delivering the requirements and should not ignore them without a good reason.
The DfE has also published new statutory guidance for local authorities on the provision of early education and childcare.
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The qualification entry requirements within the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework for group and school based has now changed.
What does, mean?
When applying for the level 3 Diploma Early Years Educator qualifications, applicants do not need to have achieved maths GCSE Grade C/4 or higher to be counted in the level 3 ratios. However, practitioners considering career progression to management or higher will need to have maths. It is still a statutory requirement for learners to have achieved a suitable level 2 qualification in English when qualifying on or after the 1 September 2014 literature to at least grade 4 (or grade C).
Suitable English level 2 qualifications are:
- Functional skills qualification in English at level 2
- GCSE or International GCSE qualification in English language and/or
- Key skills qualification in communication at level 2
- A Level or AS Level qualification in English language and/or English literature to at least grade E
- O Level qualification in English to at least grade C
- CSE grade 1 English (language)
- Basic skills certificate L2 – certificate in adult literacy
- British Sign Language (BSL) for people who use BSL as their primary language.
Suitable Maths level 2 qualifications are:
- Functional skills qualification in maths at level 2
- GCSE or International GCSE qualification in maths to at least grade 4 (or grade C)
- Key skills qualification in application of number at level 2
- A Level or AS Level qualification in maths or pure maths and/or further maths to at least grade E
- O Level qualification in maths to at least grade C
- CSE grade 1 maths
- Basic skills certificate L2 – certificate in adult numeracy.
The DfE have a useful tool to check early years qualifications on their website.
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The Cambridgeshire Early Childhood Qualifications Centre (CECQC) have some upcoming courses and qualifications available for those looking to get into early childhood careers and those looking to progress and enhance their knowledge.
The CECQC NCFE/CACHE accredited centre has an expert team that deliver high-quality training, embedding best practice across all qualifications. Their tutors give current and up to date knowledge, providing practitioners with the tools and confidence to give the children of Cambridgeshire the best start in their in early childhood education.
Please see the upcoming courses below, and follow the links for more information:
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Exploring Early Childhood Careers – two-part courses:
- Tuesday, 6 February 2024, and Tuesday, 13 February 2024
- Wednesday, 6 February 2024, and Tuesday, 12 March 2024
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Level 1 Introduction to Early Years Settings - Wednesday, 22 May 2024 (applications closing Wednesday, 24 April 2024).
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Level 2 Diploma for Early Years Practitioner - Wednesday, 20 March 2024 (applications closing Thursday, 8 February 2024).
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The CECQC have an exciting opportunity for early years practitioners to share their professional journeys with others considering entering the workforce.
They would love for their learners, observers, mentors, trainees to join them to develop mini videos sharing your early years journey.
It does not matter where you are in your journey, every story is personal and is worth sharing. Please get in touch and share a little bit about your journey, email eycqualifications@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Did you qualify in 2023, or will you qualify in the coming months?
CECQC would like to celebrate their new early years educators and are looking to hold a celebration event in June 2024. If you wish to be included, please fill in this Microsoft Form.
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The DfE, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, has launch the Better Health Start for Life 'Little Moments Together' campaign.
The campaign aims to educate parents and carers about the importance of brain development in the first five years of a child's life, and the crucial role they play as parents and carers, with advice and tips available on the Better Health Start for Life website.
Also available on the website are a range of downloadable campaign resources, including a social media toolkit, posters, and digital assets.
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Speech and Language UK are offering two practitioner training courses in February:
- Early Talk - Supporting Communication and Language on Tuesday, 6 February 2024 at Sunley House, Papworth Everard from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.
- Early Talk - Working with Under Threes on Friday, 16 February at St Ives Child and Family Centre from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.
These are foundation level courses aimed at family-facing early years practitioners including childminders, Child and Family Centre staff, setting practitioners, and representatives from Talking Together in Cambridgeshire (TTiC) funded groups who want to increase their knowledge of typical early communication and language development.
For a limited period only, TTiC can to offer participating schools/settings/community groups a free module workbook and a free Early Talk Toolkit worth £100. Both resources will be available to collect from the tutor on the day of the training. Please note, schools/settings/groups can only access one free toolkit as part of this offer.
For more information about these courses, including costs and how to book a place, please see the Professional Development Programme Communication, Language, and Literacy on the Learn Together website.
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In the government’s spring budget 2023, the Chancellor announced a package of reforms to early years and childcare.
The government is supporting local authorities (LA) to work with out of school childcare providers, schools, and other stakeholders to scale-up wraparound childcare provision. The government’s intention is for all parents of primary school children who need it to access childcare in their local area from 8 am to 6 pm during the term time.
To ensure the LA have all the information needed to support schools and deliver both programmes, plan services and inform parents, they ask that primary and special schools complete this wraparound and school-run early years settings survey by Wednesday, 24 January 2024.
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The government’s draft guidance for Schools and Colleges: Gender Questioning Children was published on Tuesday, 19 December 2023 is open for consultation until Tuesday, 12 March 2024. The aim of this document is to provide guidance and practical support for schools and colleges, including:
- Supporting children who are questioning their gender
- Protecting children from bullying or abuse
- Maintaining child safety and wellbeing.
The Education Safeguarding Team is reviewing its contents alongside colleagues in the PSHE service and will be responding to the consultation in due course. Once the definitive version of the guidance is published, the LA will be updating their resources and information and sharing these widely with colleagues in schools. If any colleagues in schools would like to complete the consultation survey, or share it with parents/carers to complete, you can share your views via the online survey.
At this point in time, the LA are still awaiting the updated statutory guidance on relationships, sex, and health education (RSHE) which will be subject to a separate consultation and will share details when they are made available.
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Cambridgeshire Child and Family Centres are keen to gather information from dads and male carers in the county who do not use or know about their services.
The services on offer are for parents and carers with children under the age of five years, include baby groups, stay and play groups, self-weigh clinics, dad's group, young parents' group, and parenting courses and workshops.
If you have a child (or children) please help support the development of their offer by completing a short survey via this Form.
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Offering a child, a safe and secure family home with you can change their lives and make a real difference.
If you would like to know more about the opportunities and the benefits of Fostering in Cambridgeshire or have a friend or family member who may be interested in fostering, please email fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or telephone 0800 052 0078.
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NHS Blood and Transplant have launched their New Year campaign which runs until Friday, 16 February.
The NHS is appealing for a new generation of ‘giving types’ to sign up and regularly donate blood or plasma to provide life-saving treatments now and beyond.
A promotional video 'Donating is safe, quick and easy' has been published on YouTube highlighting how becoming a regular donor is simple way to help others.
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It is not just plants that grow and thrive in the garden, children do too. Supporting wellbeing and mental health, the 'Busy Bees in the Garden' course looks at how caring for a garden with young children, nurtures and shapes their future for a more sustainable life. Whether you are new to gardening, not sure where to start or have been gardening for a while with children in your own space.
This course welcomes everyone to engage in professional discussions to encourage the next generation to be busy bees in the garden.
The course takes place on Thursday, 29 February 2024 from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm at Hemingford Grey Pavilion.
Please bring photos of your gardening experiences with children for our show and tell table.
To book your place, please visit Booking and Reservations for Early Years Workforce Development (BookingBug) ‘Supporting Well-being and Mental Health.’
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The Woodland Trust are giving away free trees to schools and communities this January. The delivery dates will then be in March 2024.
The tree packs on offer include copse, hedgerow, working wood and many more. All ways in which to enrich your forest school space.
Applications can be made via their website, see the Free Tree Packs Application Form, and is also where you can find more information about the project.
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CambsEYC has just launched a new video promoting their Forest School offer, highlighting the importance of Forest School sessions in enhancing the curriculum, accelerating achievement and bringing learning to life.
Forest School sessions are an innovative approach to outdoor education and learning, providing children and young people opportunities to learn and develop through exploring woodlands/wild spaces, engage with the natural world and develop respect for nature.
Since September 2023, Forest School qualifications have been delivered by a new training provider, equipping individuals with the practical skills and theoretical and nature knowledge needed for a Forest School to succeed.
CambsEYC work with Cambridgeshire Skills to support the delivery of training for Level 2 and Level 3 learners.
If you are interested in undertaking a qualification, more information can be found on the Forest School Learn Together webpage and by emailing ForestSchool@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
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Have you got any old items that need fixing? Why not visit a repair café?
An experienced repairer will look at your item and will fix it on the spot or let you know the spare parts that are needed for them to fix it later.
There will be two repair cafés in the county this January:
To book your items in for repair, or to see the upcoming repair cafés near you, visit Cambridgeshire Repair Cafe Network.
There will be more repair cafés popping up throughout the county through the year, so do keep a lookout for these on the website.
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The Buy Nothing New Month campaign, run by Keep Britain Tidy, challenges people to prevent and reduce the waste they generate by buying nothing new for one month.
Instead, we are encouraged to make use of the things you already have, by repairing, upcycling, reusing, or donating things you no longer want or need. Prevent waste and reduce items that could become waste. Not only does this help the planet but it also saves money.
Get involved by registering on the Keep Britain Tidy website and signing up to receive weekly emails containing handy tips, and a digital free resources pack.
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The early years PDPS is a register of council-approved early years and childcare providers who have expressed an interest in operating from council-owned premises. It will be used to advertise all upcoming opportunities including new premises, such as early years facilities within schools.
Applications to join the PDPS can be submitted between Thursday, 1 February to Friday, 8 March 2024. Thereafter, it will open annually within the spring/summer term.
For those who are thinking about applying, there are virtual events to provide you with information about the portal and tips to support you completing the application:
If you have any questions about the process, contact placeplanningreferrals0-19@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
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A new website has been launched to enable settings to develop new and innovative ways of supporting children’s learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) based activities.
STEM encourages children to think critically and encourages children’s curiosity to investigate, discover and enjoy learning. Research shows that children who grow their knowledge and confidence in STEM develop skills to prepare for lifelong learning.
The Cambridgeshire STEM in the Early Years website has a range of ideas, resources and training suitable for all early years practitioners working in various settings such as day nurseries, pre-schools, childminders, nursery classes, reception classes and wrap-around provisions.
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National award for innovative Cambridgeshire STEM education nursery
An innovative Cambridge nursery specialising in STEM education and learning for early years children has been named as a winner of a national award.
Shelford Day Nursery, which offers a unique science, technology, engineering, and mathematics pre-school curriculum, won the New Nursery of the Year category in the National Nursery Awards, held at the ExCeL London exhibition centre.
Panash Shah, director of nursery owner STEMtacular Childcare, said: "We’re overjoyed to have won this national award, which recognises our unique curriculum, inspiring learning space and our amazing nursery team."
Shelford Day Nursery opened in March 2022 following the renovation of a former bank in Great Shelford. The building and its grounds were completely remodelled to offer indoor and outdoor spaces where interactive learning is the major focus.
Children can experiment with water features, discover properties of varied materials in sand and gravel pits and even develop their first engineering skills in a ‘construction zone’.
There is still a place for traditional childhood games, with activities like hopscotch used to develop maths skills. And children can gain first-hand experience of the force of gravity on a slide plunging from the first floor of the nursery to the outdoor learning space on the ground floor.
Inside the nursery, children have access to the latest technology, including interactive touch tables and a sensory room featuring colourful lighting and interactive fibre-optic installations.
Nursery Manager Deborah Parfitt said: "Winning this award would not have been possible without the contribution of our nursery team, who have embraced the idea of centring our curriculum around STEM and encouraging children to learn through exploration and experimentation."
The £800,000 renovation project was supported by Growth Works, the strategic economic growth programme launched by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Business Board to support businesses to accelerate and sustain their growth through consultancy and expertise, workforce skills development, and inward investment.
The award is the second national accolade for STEMtacular Childcare, which also owns wraparound childcare provider Cambridge Kids Club - recent winner of the Play Setting of the Year category in the national Out of School Club Awards.
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