In January 2024, we sent out the Wraparound Survey with a request for completion by settings that currently provide wraparound care or would be interested in doing so. Many thanks for those who completed the survey.
If you have not completed the survey, we would be most grateful if you could complete and return by to us by Monday, 29 April 2024. This will enable us to continue to map wraparound supply, and demand across Cambridgeshire, and ensure accurate data.
The answers you give will help us understand the current level of wraparound childcare your setting provides and any potential opportunities (or barriers) for expansion as part of the national wraparound childcare programme.
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Early years practitioners and childcare professionals help shape the world for children by supporting their learning, development, and wellbeing.
We want to support you in your career and recognise your contributions to the education system. That’s why we have created the Cambridgeshire Early Childhood Careers website because we share the same mission, vision, and passion for early childhood education.
The Cambridgeshire Early Childhood Qualifications Centre (CECQC) aims to improve the quality, accessibility, and affordability of early childhood education careers. It also seeks to enhance the professional development, recognition, and reward of early years practitioners.
We invite you to visit cecqc.co.uk and share the website with your team, staff, and volunteers.
Please also reshare our campaign messages on the CambsEYC social media platforms* among your own networks, and together we can make a difference in the lives of young children and their families.
*Search @CambsEYC on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X formerly Twitter.
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ITV News Anglia is planning to produce a series of special reports looking at the challenges facing early years providers and families of preschool children looking for childcare.
They would love to hear from as many providers in the region to find out how they are coping with funding, recruitment and demand.
Their Early Years Providers (google.com) survey should only take a few minutes to answer and all information will be collated anonymously. The survey closes on Friday, 31 May 2024.
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The new Cambridgeshire Online Directory is now part of the Cambs service hub, alongside the SEND Information Hub (Local Offer) that supports children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and their families.
The hub offers everything you need to know about council services that can help support you and your family. From guides to Child and Family Centres, Childcare in your local area, valuable Targeted Support resources, and more information about organisations providing support in Cambridgeshire.
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All local areas have a SEND inspection once every five years to understand what it is like for a child or young person with SEND who lives in that area, and their families. It looks at all services across health, social care, and education and how they are improving their services to meet the needs of these children and young people.
To help us improve how we support you to support children with SEND in the early years please complete the Understanding Early Years SEND survey which we will use to analyse and improve services over the next year. This short survey should take no more than 10 minutes fill in.
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SEND Surgery telephone consultations provide an opportunity for setting SENCo’s to discuss how to support emerging needs and get advice on next steps. SENCo’s can discuss any initial concerns regarding emerging needs and get advice on what to do when you think a child may benefit from additional support. The SEND surgeries can help you to understand the Early Support Pathway and wider SEND offer.
The consultations, which are free to book, are carried out in 30-minute slots. When making your booking please outline the areas you wish to cover. Consultations can be booked by visiting Booking and Reservations for Early Years Workforce Development (BookingBug) ‘SEND Surgery.’
Please note, it is a requirement, unless parental permission is in place, that children remain anonymous.
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The Department for Education (DfE) has published a vodcast for schools on the EYFS Profile to support teachers completing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Profile.
The EYFS statutory framework requires early years providers to complete the EYFS Profile assessment for all children at the end of the academic year in which they turn five, usually reception year.
The vodcast provides an overview of the EYFS Profile, addresses potential myths, answers commonly asked questions, and signposts where you can find further resources and support on completing the assessment. The vodcast also provides the following key dates:
- Sunday, 30 June 2024, the cut-off point for schools to compete the EYFS Profile for each child and submit the data to their local authority
- Wednesday, 31 July 2024, the cut-off point for local authorities to return EYFS Profile data to DfE.
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April is Stress Awareness Month which provides an ideal opportunity to have open conversations on the impact of stress and to share helpful tips for combatting stress with our loved ones.
Managing stress effectively is not about becoming totally stress-free, but focussing on making manageable adjustments to your daily routine. Remember, it is okay to take a break. It is okay to ask for help, and it is okay to prioritise your mental health.
Let's use this month to start embedding strategies to manage stress, such as:
- Exercising regularly to help reduce stress levels and improve your mood,
- Eating a healthier diet as nutritious food can counteract the impact of stress on your body,
- Getting enough sleep, make sure you are getting enough rest as lack of sleep can contribute to stress, and
- Spend time connecting with others, friends and family can help you get through stressful times.
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Mental Health Awareness Week, runs from Monday, 13 to Sunday, 19 May 2024, on the theme of ‘movement: moving more for our mental health’. Physical activity has many proven benefits for mental health. However, many people are not meeting the NHS recommended physical activity guidelines, but with your help, we can raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity for the mind and body.
The Be active for your mental health - Every Mind Matters website provides a range of free, NHS-evidenced support:
The Better Health Every Mind Matters Campaign Resource Centre has a wealth of assets to help support and amplify the campaign on social media, including posters, web banners and infographics.
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Anglia Ruskin University’s (ARU) research hub for Empowerment and Social Justice are offering a two-day Qualitative Research Methods CPD course at ARU’s Cambridge campus from Wednesday, 5 June 2024.
The course involves interactive and taught content from members of the research hub, who are experts in a range of research areas including mental health services, communication in health and social care, masculinities, cancer services, political communication, social media and body image.
Attending the course can enhance skills for conducting research and evaluation projects. They also offer an add-on package consisting of three one-hour online sessions, held months after the course. This is for anyone requiring one-to-one consultations and dedicated support on specific projects. In addition to taught content and one-to-one consultations, you will have the opportunity to network with other academics and attendees.
For more information and to book, please contact the course leader mick.finlay@aru.ac.uk.
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Speech and Language UK's Early Talk practitioner training is aimed at family-facing early years practitioners including childminders, staff from Child and Family Centre, setting practitioners, and representatives from Talking Together in Cambridgeshire-funded groups who want to increase their knowledge of typical early communication and language development.
The course which is part of the Speech and Language UK Early Talk birth to five years modular programme runs on Friday, 26 April 2024 from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm at Sunley House, Papworth Everard.
More details including course costs and how to book a place can be found in the Communication, Language, and Literacy section of the Professional Development Programme on the Learn Together website.
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The National Deaf Children's Society offer a free e-learning course aimed at supporting children with suspected hearing loss in the early years.
The course has been developed for all mainstream early years practitioners. No previous experience of deafness is needed. You will learn to recognise the signs of hearing loss, provide support and improve the listening environment in your setting.
The course has four modules, each taking approximately 15 minutes to complete. Learners are welcome to work through the modules at their own pace and revisit them anytime in the future.
If you have any questions about the course, or registering to begin the first module, please email training@ndcs.org.uk.
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Start for Life’s ‘If They Could Tell You…’ campaign focuses on promoting the importance and benefits of strong parent-infant relationships, and the importance of bonding with your baby.
The first years of a baby's life, from pregnancy and the first two years, are so important for their healthy development and this campaign aims to highlight the importance of building a strong connection during this time which helps babies develop into happy and healthy children, able to manage their emotions, develop confidence and learn new things.
Please share the support and free resources, including tips and learning materials available on the Start for Life website with your families.
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The National Literacy Trust's Early Words Matter campaign aims to support children's early literacy, communication and language skills they need to thrive.
The campaign includes a five-year plan to support 250,000 children through flagship programs and local community outreach, particularly in areas affected by poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.
They are calling on stakeholders from across the business community and all political and professional backgrounds to commit to working together to provide better early years support for families in disadvantaged communities and to drive evidence-based change.
To find out how you can be part of making a difference, please email pledge@literacytrust.org.uk.
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The Books Together programme, led by Coram Family and Childcare and Coram Beanstalk, is a literacy initiative for families with young children. Funded by the Mercers’ Company, it encourages parents and children to read together, enhancing children’s literacy skills.
The programme stands out with its parent-led approach. Parents co-design and co-deliver reading courses, ensuring the solutions are tailored to the needs of families. This approach helps reach those who stand to benefit the most, fostering a love for reading.
Books Together promises to improve school readiness, increase literacy and language skills, and encourage the use of services like libraries. For more information about the programme and its benefits, read the power of storytelling: Introducing Books Together.
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Looking for fun, educational, and low-cost activities for your young children in Cambridgeshire?
Explore the new 50 Things to Do Local Events listings page and discover fantastic and experiences in your community.
From indoor games to outdoor adventures, these activities are designed to help your child develop confidence, language, and vocabulary, and support them in being ready for the next stage in their education.
These events are designed for young children and their families, with costs ranging from free to a small fee, and many offer self-weigh facilities for babies. Childminders have specific pricing, and booking details are provided for each event.
Join in together with your children to make lasting memories and establish healthy habits that can last a lifetime.
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The Cambridgeshire Fostering Service provide free, virtual, information sessions, once a month, to explain everything you need to know about becoming a foster carer, through an informal presentation. These events are perfect for prospective foster carers to learn more about fostering from experienced foster carers, along with fostering recruitment officers, and social workers.
You can book your free place through the Fostering Service Me Learning portal. The few next information sessions take place on:
- Monday, 13 May 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm
- Thursday, 13 June 12 noon to 1 pm
- Thursday, 11 July 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm
For more dates and details, please email fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, or telephone 0800 052 0078.
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Enhance your forest school toolkit with our new CPD course designed for Forest School Assistants, Leaders, and trainees on Monday, 20 May 2024 at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, Huntingdon.
Join us for a day of refreshing core skills, exploring inclusive practices, and sharing experiences. We will look at the challenges we face at forest school, refresh our tool work and practical skills, learn new ways to ensure we are being inclusive and spend time sharing practice whilst cooking over the fire.
Prices are £58.50 for members, and £97.50 for non-members.
To book your place, please visit Booking and Reservations for Early Years Workforce Development (BookingBug) ‘Forest Schools.’
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Your Belly Bugs the inside story
An innovative approach to tackle obesity and promote healthy eating among students has recently been successfully trialled and is now available for trial in other schools.
The cross-curricular pilot programme, based on Belly Bugs (gut microbes) is an eight-lesson course designed for Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. The programme covers a range of topics including fibre, colourful food, and sustainability.
The aim is to get students excited about healthy eating by introducing them to the concept of gut microbes - the ‘little helpers’ inside them that keep them healthy and happy. During the pilot, students discovered the importance of these ‘little helpers’ and how they contribute to their overall well-being. The programme was met with enthusiasm, with students showing a keen interest in learning about their gut health.
One of the most significant outcomes of the pilot was the reported increase in the uptake of vegetables and salad by the students. School cooks noted this positive change during the pilot, highlighting the programme’s potential in promoting healthier eating habits among students.
With obesity being a major concern in today’s society, initiatives like Belly Bugs are crucial in instilling healthy eating habits in children from a young age. The Belly Bugs programme is a unique and engaging way to educate students about the importance of a balanced diet and the role of gut microbes in our health. By making learning about gut health fun and engaging, Belly Bugs is helping to shape a healthier future for our children.
Schools interested in trialling the programme can contact zoe@bellybugs.co.uk.
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