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Bulletin 227

1st March 2022

Welcome to our new style Early Years and Childcare bulletin. Previous bulletins are still available at: Cheshire East Early years and Childcare Bulletin

Look out for...

Cheshire East Early Years on Twitter

Very exciting news – we are now live on Twitter!  If you are on Twitter and want to follow its Cheshire East Early Years or @EastYears.

‘Spring into Action’ Physical Development conference

Learning Language in the Outdoors                         3rd March 9.30-11.30 or 9th March 1.00-3.00 Delivered by: Trish Doran and Beth Black, Cheshire East Chatters Specialist Speech and Language Therapists £20 per delegate How does being outdoors make you feel? In this session Cheshire East Chatters discuss the research behind learning in the outdoor environment and introduce their new group activities booklet containing lots of exciting, practical activities to support children's communication skill in your outdoor space. Trish and Beth are Speech & Language Therapists who have spent many years working in Cheshire East. They have been fundamental in setting up Cheshire East Chatters, which is an Early Years initiative passionate about supporting the workforce to close the word gap in the Early Years. Attendees at this session will receive a copy of the Cheshire East Chatters ‘Learning Language Outdoors’ document.

Moving through Stories                                            Thursday 3rd March 1.00-3.00 Delivered by: Janine Sayle & Frances Lennon, Bookstart Coordinator £10 per delegate This is your chance to look at why stories can offer a focus for PD for younger children pre more formal sport and games and how this links with rhythm and rhyme.  There will be a chance to discover how movement helps children to recall and retell stories as well as looking at how fine motor development is linked to stories and books. There will be opportunities to gather ideas about how to deliver good quality group or circle time sessions by telling stories and traditional tales and looking at story structures and how to take stories outdoors.

Covid-19

Current Early Years Covid statistics in Cheshire East

Using data from 20 February 2022, there have been:

• 1608 cases in the previous 7 days
• 2085 cases in the prior 7 days (up to 13 February)
• 416 cases per 100,000 population in the previous 7 days
• 415 cases in England per 100,000 in the previous 7 days

End of requirement for Early Years settings to report COVID-19 cases to Ofsted

It remains a legal requirement under the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework to report cases of serious illness. You should notify Ofsted as soon as practical, and in any case, within 14 days of a notifiable event happening. For information about what is classed as a notifiable event or serious incident and what to tell Ofsted, please refer to the guidance on reporting a serious childcare incident.

Business Support

For the attention of all FEEE Providers and Administrators

We will be holding a FEEE Briefing on 10 March 2022 at either 2pm or 6.30pm. This will be a virtual briefing via Microsoft Teams.

The session is aimed at those new to FEEE and anyone else who would like an update on the Free Early Education Entitlement Funding; the briefing should last for around 1 hour. There will be the opportunity to meet some of the FEEE team and to ask questions. 

Please visit the Online Shop to book your place.

2022/23 Early Education Entitlement Funding

The Department for Education has increased the funding allocation for the Early Education Entitlements from April 2022.  The hourly rates paid to providers will increase by the same percentage increase as the increased funding from the DfE.

Funding Formula from 1 April 2022:

Early Years Pupil Premium will increase from 53p to 60p per hour.

Individual indicative budgets and funding agreements for April 2022 to March 2023 will be issued to providers shortly.

Disability Access Fund (DAF), to support disabled children’s access to the entitlements for 3 and 4-year-olds, will increase to £800 per eligible child per year.

Reminder - Early Education Entitlement "Top Up" Payments

Early Education Entitlement places must be delivered completely free of charge. Providers must not charge parents “top-up” fees (any difference between a provider’s normal charge to parents and the funding they receive from the local authority to deliver free places).

Charges can be made for meals and snacks as part of a free entitlement place, for consumables such as nappies or sun cream, and for services such as trips and specialist tuition. Parents can therefore be expected to pay for these, although these charges must be voluntary for the parent. Where parents are unable or unwilling to pay for meals and consumables, providers who choose to offer the free entitlements are responsible for setting their own policy on how to respond. Providers need to be mindful of the impact of additional charges on the most disadvantaged parents.

A published admissions criteria and fee structure will ensure parents understand which hours / sessions can be taken as free provision.  All parents claiming their Free Early Education Entitlement should receive clear, transparent and itemised invoices and receipts so they can see they have received their child’s free entitlement completely free of charge and understand any fees paid for additional hours or services.

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

New to the Role of Manager Coffee and Chat

The next 'New to the Role of Manager' coffee and chat session will be on Thursday 31 March 10-11am on Microsoft Teams. These are informal sessions with the Childcare Development Officer with opportunities to meet other managers new to the role and discuss any current topics. Please email earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk for a link.

Safeguarding Scenario

Please look on our website for the latest safeguarding scenario.

EYFS Learning and Development

Parental feedback on 'What to Expect in the EYFS'

The DfE are keen to gather feedback from parents on the 'What to Expect in the EYFS' guidance and would be grateful if practitioners could assist with getting the message to parents and families you work with. If you are in a position to share this message with families, there are two questions DfE would like to ask: Could you outline your thoughts and opinions of ‘What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage: a guide for parents’? Is there any information missing from the document that would be useful to know? Parents can be directed to send their responses to the Foundation Years inbox at foundationyears@ncb.org.uk.

Quality Improvement and the Early Years Reforms – part 2

This week we are going to be considering how to support: … “the voice of a child in the light of safeguarding children with high-quality childcare” The articles will be based on the 7 Features of Effective Practice (Julian Grenier, 2021). The aim is to support managers and leaders when planning for quality improvement and to help build on practitioners’ professional knowledge and skills. Intent – Effective feature 2: High-Quality Care “Babies, toddlers and young children in the early years need consistent, warm and responsive care from the adults they spend time with.” Julian Grenier (2021:23) Implementation – Key messages NSPCC Learning Podcast / The invisible voice of children under two (audioboom.com) Why do we listen to children?      “Governments must do all they can to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and bad treatment by their parents or anyone else who looks after them.” UNICEF interpretation of Article 19, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 “Early years providers have a duty under section 40 of the Childcare Act 2006 to comply with the welfare requirements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS). Early years providers must ensure that they are alert to any issues of concern in the child’s life.” Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018:62)  How do we listen to children? Be alert to changes – such as in appearance, behaviour, alertness or appetite Be curious about children’s home life eg home visits, all about me topics, building relationships with parents. Have a clear understanding of developmental stages and how neglect can affect children reaching them. Be aware of unusual behaviour or comments - Children rarely disclose abuse and neglect directly to practitioners. Listen to other adults who speak on a child’s behalf, they may hold valuable information. Impact  What difference has it made for the children in your setting?  Tools to support Staff supervision support; – Safeguarding conversations Review partnership working opportunities – Link Health Visitor / Children’s Centre Practitioners CPD - Training / Staff meetings Resources – Safeguarding scenarios Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

SEND

Speech and Language, SEND and PSED consultations

There are a variety of dates available for Speech and Language, SEND and PSED consultations, these can be booked on via the online shop. You will be sent paperwork to complete and return before the meeting. On receipt of this you will be sent the Teams link for your appointment.

Available dates are:

PSED – 22^nd April 1pm, 10^th May 1pm

SLCN – 4^th March 3pm, 22^nd March 1pm, 22^nd March 1.30pm

SEND – 16^th March, 23^rd March – various times available. 

Renewals and new applications for SEND Inclusion Funding 2022/2023 - FAO Managers and SENCos

SEND Inclusion Funding (unless otherwise stated) ends on the 31^st March 2022.

For children with an EHCP/EHCNA – no review applications are required.

Please note:

• Children accessing their FEEE who have an EHCP in place will continue to receive their funding as per the terms of the plan.
• Children currently receiving SEND Inclusion Funding, who have a confirmed needs assessment in progress will continue to receive their funding at the existing level.
• Please contact the SEND helpline, your Targeted Support Officer or Early Years Consultant if you have a child who lives out of authority with a new EHCP, or who is in the process of a needs assessment.

SEND Inclusion Funding – new requests. Please use the most recent application form (orange top) on the website. SEN and disability in the early years (cheshireeast.gov.uk). All documents required are listed at the end of the application form, which must be signed by parent/carer after completion.

SEND Inclusion Funding – continuation requests. For children currently in receipt of Early Start SEND Inclusion Funding use the review application process (green top) which is available on the website. SEN and disability in the early years (cheshireeast.gov.uk) Fewer documents are requested and are listed at the end of the form; this must be signed by parent/carer after completion.

Deadline for new requests and renewals is 12 noon Friday 18th March 2022. All applications will be acknowledged. Please contact the helpline if you have not received an acknowledgement by 21st March 2022. Feedback will be issued by 5pm Friday 8^th April. Contact: Kim Stenning earlyyearssenhelpline@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Nasen Upcoming EYSEND Training and Seminars

Nasen have a variety of EYSEND Training and Seminars coming up within the EYSEND partnership. Be sure to sign up using the links below and booking your place. For any queries about any aspect of the EYSEND Partnership please check the website or email - EYSend@ncb.org.uk

Continuous Professional Development

Training availability during March

Cheshire East Chatters

Effective Interactions – 17^th March – Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School (*new venue)

Early Language Lead Networks – 22^nd and 23^rd March – online only

Let’s Talk Two’s

‘2’s in Action’ network meeting – focussing on supporting the physical development of 2 year olds - 14^th and 15^th March – online only

Let’s Talk 2’s, revisited. One more chance for practitioners who missed our previous 2’s network meetings to hear about the role of the practitioner, Jan-u-hear-me & ‘Listen Up!’  – 30^th March - online only

Spring Term - Early Years and Childcare Providers Network meetings – 21^st and 22^nd March

We would like to invite all Managers and Leaders of Cheshire East Early Years and Childcare settings, including childminders, to attend one of 3 virtual meetings to find out about key updates relating to the delivery of the EYFS. During this session we will launch our new SEND procedures and paperwork, which will include submitting a request for a consultation and applications for SEND Inclusion Funding. There will also be a short session delivered by Macclesfield College explaining how they can support settings with the recruitment, training and development of staff. Updates will also be provided from across the Early Start Team.

Spring Term - SENCO Network meetings – 30^th and 31^st March

We would like to invite all SENCOs of Cheshire East Early Years and Childcare settings, including childminders, to attend one of 3 virtual networks to find out about our new SEND procedures and paperwork, which will include submitting a request for a consultation, applications for SEND Inclusion Funding and monitoring and recording children’s development. There will be opportunity for meet other SENCOs and ask any questions your may have.

To book your place on any training course or at one of our network meetings please log onto the Online shop at Early Years and Childcare Training Resources (cheshireeast.gov.uk)

Speech and Language and PSED consultations

There are a variety of dates available for Speech and Language and PSED consultations, these can be booked on via the training shop. Settings will be required to complete and return some paperwork prior to the meeting and obtain parents permission to discuss their child at consultation. Upon receiving the paperwork we will then forward the Teams link to give settings access to their consultation.

Available dates are:

PSED – 22^nd April 1pm, 10^th May 1pm

SLCN – 4^th March 3pm, 22^nd March 1pm, 22^nd March 1.30pm

SEND – 16^th March, 23^rd March – various times available. 

Short courses at Cheshire South and West College

Macclesfield College Apprenticeship Careers Event

Don't Forget!

Closed and Reopening Provision and Vulnerable children

Please look on our website for information regarding procedures for closed and reopening provision and vulnerable children in the event of a covid case.