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Bulletin 233

3 May 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 Chatters Key Messages - Supporting children with EAL

Please find information below about this months key message.

Covid-19

Latest Cheshire East Covid figures

Using data from 24 April 2022, there have been:

• 1007 cases in the previous 7 days
• 1365 cases in the prior 7 days (up to 17 April)
• 260 cases per 100,000 population in the previous 7 days
• 189 cases in England per 100,000 in the previous 7 days 

Business Support

National Children's Bureau survey

On behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) the NCB have launched a survey on all things Foundation Years!

The NCB want to make the information they provide as useful as possible to the early years community, so  want to hear from all those who subscribe to the newsletter, visit the website and social media pages, and more. 

The survey will be open until Monday 16 May and they'd love to hear from as many of you as possible. Please feel free to share the survey with your colleagues in the early years community.

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

Ofsted

EYFS Learning and Development

Quality Improvement and the Early Years Reforms – part 5

This week we are going to be considering how to support:

… “the voice of a child in the light of links to EYFS and assessment”

Intent – Effective feature 5: Assessment

“Effective assessment requires practitioners to understand child development. Practitioners also need to be clear about what they want children to know and be able to do ” (Julian Grenier, 2021:43)

Implementation – Key messages

“Listening is an integral part of communication and a key way in which children are expected to absorb information. So, given its importance, it is worth thinking about how young children learn to listen.” Penny Tassoni (2003)

Why do we listen to children?     

• “A baby’s voice is evident from the beginning. Babies use their bodies, facial expressions, gestures, sounds and movements to seek connections and respond to those around them. Young children depend on back-and-forth interactions with responsive others to develop confidence as effective communicators and language users.” (Communication and Language – Birth to 5 matters, 2021:44)
• “The need to ensure that children have a voice (verbal and nonverbal), are listened to and able to participate.” EYFS 2021
• “Language development is central to self-regulation: children use language to guide their actions and plans. Pretend play gives many opportunities for children to focus their thinking, persist and plan ahead.” Julian Grenier
• “Watch, listen and respond to children.” (Ofsted 2021)

How do we listen to children?

• Putting the child’s previous experiences at the centre of our thinking
• Offering small groups will help children think their thoughts out loud.
• By being a good listener – consider who has to listen the most in your setting, children or adults?

Impact 

• What difference has it made for the children in your setting?
• How do you know?

Tools to support

• Staff supervision support – discuss key worker children’s next steps
• Practitioners CPD – Child development
• Resources – Development Matters and Birth to 5 Matters
• Partnerships with parents
• EYFS Communication and language - Listening & Understanding - Bing video

BookTrust

SEND

Cheshire East Speech, Language and Communication Needs 0-5 Pathway

We received some very useful and positive feedback following the Cheshire East Speech, Language and Communication Needs 0-5 Pathway briefing sessions and we are now ready to share the final pathway with everyone.

The Cheshire East Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) 0-5 Pathway is a tool to help parents, carers and professionals support the speech, language and communications needs of all children.

The pathway was developed following a prolonged period of work with the EYSEND Partnership and with the specialist support of advisers from The Communication Trust and ICAN, The Children’s Communication Charity.

Please look out for emails that will contain:

• The Introduction
• The Levels of Need
• The individual pathways for all partners and parents and carers
• The glossary and further information

They will be attached as PDFs and they will soon be accessible online via the Communication and Language (cheshireeast.gov.uk) webpage.

Cheshire East Chatters Key Message

The key messages for this month from Cheshire East Chatters are about supporting children with English as an Additional Language.

Please find below a link to the webpage where you can download this months poster 'Top tips for parents' and supporting resources to display and use in your setting. 

NB: Dual language books are available through your local library. Please contact Frances Lennon, your local Bookstart representative to access dual language books frances.lennon@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Continuous Professional Development

Early Years Foundation Stage Profile - For the attention of Maintained and Academy schools

As part of ongoing LA support we will be hosting an online training session with Jan Dubiel on 12^th May 9.30-11.00am. This will include a discussion about the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile and an opportunity to explore the following ELGs for PSED, Literacy and Maths. This aim of this training is to support Early Years Leaders and Teachers as they prepare to assess children at the end of the Reception year against the Early Learning Goals.

You can book your place at this session via the Chess Hub using the following link:

12^th May 9.30-11.00am SLA Online (sla-online.co.uk)

Early Years Assessment Conversations for schools

Prior to the submission of the EYFSP data to the LA we are also offering EY Leaders in maintained and academy settings the opportunity to explore the Principles of EYFSP statutory assessment process for 2022, explore the DFE exemplification materials and how they can be used to support Early Years Assessment discussions in schools, network with other Early Years colleagues about children’s attainment across all 7 Areas of Learning in the EYFS and discuss the impact of assessments and implications for transition to Year 1 Curriculum. These professional dialogue opportunities will be held on 26^th May 9.30-11.30am and 1.30-3.30pm at Holmes Chapel Community Centre.

You can book your place at any of these sessions via the Chess Hub using the following links:

26^th May 9.30-11.30am SLA Online (sla-online.co.uk)

26^th May 1.30-3.30pm SLA Online (sla-online.co.uk)

Latest training courses

Our upcoming online training courses include:

Understanding the Education Inspection Framework – 11^th May 9.30-11.30am

Delivering Small Groups – 18^th May 9.30am-12.30pm

Let’s Talk Twos network ‘The rhythm is gonna get you!’ – 24^th May 9.30-11.00am or 25^th May 1.30-3.00pm

We are also now very pleased to offer some face to face training including:

Wellcomm – 6^th May 9.30am-3.30pm at Oakenclough Children’s Centre

Effective Interactions – 12^th May 9.30am-3.30pm at Oakenclough Children’s Centre

New to the role of the SENCO – 16^th May 9.30am-3.30pm at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School

Safeguarding Basic Awareness – 19^th May 9.30am-12.30pm at Oakenclough Children’s Centre

Attachment and Communication – 20^th May 9.30-3.30pm at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School

To book your place, please log onto the Early Years Online Shop below.

Onsite or online dedicated training

We are also able to deliver any of our courses or some bespoke training either onsite or online dedicated to your setting. This type of course may be more attractive for settings wanting a number of their practitioners to attend training as we can schedule it for a date and time that best suits e.g. during a team meeting, in the evening or on a training day and we can tailor the training to suit your specific needs. Dependent on numbers this can be a more cost effective option for you. For more information or to discuss this further please email us at earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Don't Forget!

Operation Encompass

Don't forget to sign up for the Operation Encompass briefings - Wednesday 4 May or Friday 6 May.