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Bulletin 246

26th September 2022

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

Covid-19

Latest Covid Figures for Cheshire East

The Covid figures are now being updated on a less frequent basis - for the latest figures see the link below.

Business Support

An update on the new Energy Bill Relief Scheme for schools, colleges and early years settings

All early years settings, schools and colleges will benefit from a new government Energy Bill Relief Scheme, providing a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers. This support will be equivalent to the Energy Price Guarantee put in place for households. Equivalent support will also be provided for non-domestic consumers who use heating oil or alternative fuels instead of gas. Further detail on this will be announced shortly.

The scheme will run for all businesses and non-domestic customers, including public sector organisations, and apply to energy usage from Saturday 1 October 2022 to Friday 31 March 2023.

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will set a Support Wholesale Price for the wholesale cost of energy, limiting the amount customers can be charged for gas and electricity. This is expected to be £211 per MWh for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas, less than half the wholesale prices anticipated this winter. The level of price reduction for each customer will vary depending on their contract type and circumstances.

As with the Energy Price Guarantee for households, customers do not need to take action or apply to the scheme to access the support. Support (in the form of a p/kWh discount) will automatically be applied to bills. The savings will be first seen in October bills, which are typically received in November.

After three months, there will be a review into the operation of the scheme, to inform decisions on further support after March 2023. This will focus on identifying the most vulnerable non-domestic customers and how the government will continue assisting them with energy costs.

Further details of the support and how it will benefit customers can be found in the press notice and GOV.UK explainer.

Free early education entitlement – new guidance

Following a number of invoicing queries from parents, new guidance is available for childcare providers including ‘dos and don’ts’ when invoicing parents as well as things to consider when updating your charging information for parents.

For further useful information on delivering the free entitlements please visit our webpage on the link below.

Free Entitlement Provider Portal – ICT Acceptable Use Agreements

Recent audits have identified that ICT Acceptable Use Agreements, enabling childcare providers to access the Provider Portal, have been signed by members of staff who no longer enter child data via the Provider Portal. New Acceptable Use Agreements will therefore be issued in the coming weeks. The agreements will be emailed to the Free Entitlement Administrator as recorded on the Staffing tab of the Provider Portal – please check this information for your setting is up to date and if necessary, submit new administrator details.  

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

ICON Week 2022

The second annual ICON week (26 to 30 September 2022) is here to raise awareness of infant crying and how to cope to support parents/carers and prevent serious injury, illness and even death of young babies as a result of Abusive Head Trauma that happens when someone shakes a baby. ICON is a programme adopted by health and social care organisations in the UK to provide information about infant crying, including how to cope, support parents/carers, and reduce stress. This year’s ICON Week is focussing on sharing ideas and best practice.  More than 15 webinars are taking place throughout the week with speakers from the military, police, primary care, parent ambassadors, health visitors, and the education section.  These are open to everyone, and the access details are available on the link below.

Virtual School, the Early Years ePEP (electronic Personal Education Plan) and you

To book on the training session contact Deborah Bradbury on VSTraining@cheshireeast.gov.uk. Closing date Tuesday 1^st November 2022.

Parenting Journey

Cheshire East Parenting Journey

The Parenting Journey is the Cheshire East universal offer for families from pre-birth to their child starting school.   It consists of 12 stops which provide relevant, timely information and support at key points along families ‘Parenting Journey’  see the attached map which provides a brief outline of each stop.  The overarching aim of the Parenting Journey is to supports parents to provide the best possible start in life for their children and to become actively involved in their child’s learning and development. Each week we will share information about the parenting Journey to help you know what is available for the families you work with.    Visit the for more information and follow us on Facebook / Instagram @CheshireEastCouncilParentingJourney

EYFS Learning and Development

Top tips to support children’s emotional health and well-being - “The things I feel inside”

The pack includes 10 postcards with a top tip on each to use to support children’s personal, social and emotional development and share with parents. Each postcard includes: I like it when you… gives ideas of things to do with children Remember…explains why children will benefit from this experience Did you know?... provides useful information about how children learn and develop Top Tip number 3 – Help me to manage my big feelings and give them names “Children are not born with self-regulation skills. They develop them as they experience warm, nurturing and loving relationships with important adults and others.” (Julian Grenier, 2021) Top tip number 3 focuses on helping children to recognise and talk about their feelings, label their emotions and develop their ability to self-regulate. Look out for next week’s bulletin Top Tip number 4 : ‘Focus on what I can do now’ To purchase the full set of Top Tip postcards, log onto the Online shop.

SEND

Requests for consultation

Please note that advice on the web page has been updated SEN and disability in the early years (cheshireeast.gov.uk)

From Monday 3^rd October all requests for SEN advice and support must be requested through the online training directory.

SEN funding requests and payments

SEN Funding requests

Please see SEN and disability in the early years (cheshireeast.gov.uk) information for SENCo’s for the new dates for SEN funding applications and feedback. All applications must be submitted via the online portal – the link is available on the web page. Contact earlyyearssenhelpline@cheshireeast.gov.uk if you have any difficulties and we will request support from the Business Intelligence team.

Payments

Payments are due to be made for SEN/EHCP funding in September where contracts have been completed. If you have any queries on payments please contact earlyyearssenhelpline@cheshireeast.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Continuous Professional Development

JULIAN GRENIER : Leadership and Management Programme 2022/23

We have launched our Leadership and Management programme 2022/23 which is being delivered in partnership with Dr Julian Grenier, Headteacher of Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre in Newham, East London, leader on the revised Development Matters 2021 and author of Working with the revised Early Years Foundation Stage: Principles into Practice. The aim of our programme is to provide a useful and effective professional development programme for leaders to help improve the quality of early years provision and improve outcomes for children. It consists of 5 sessions throughout the year, each one aimed at different leaders in the setting – Owner and/or Manager, Communication and Language Lead, Lead practitioner for 2 year olds, PSED Champions and SENCOs and will focus on putting the 7 features of effective practice into action.  For further information about what is to be covered in each session please log onto the Online shop. We would encourage that you have at least one member of your team at each session who can then cascade back what they have learnt and coordinate the implementation and consistent delivery of good practice and provision in their focus area.   Our 1st session for Owners and/or Managers is on 28th September at 9.30am and to book your place or places on any of the sessions please log onto the Online shop.

Autumn training dates

We have the following training and CPD opportunities coming up:

WellComm, 27-Sep-22, 09:30am-3pm - Holmes Chapel Comp Sch, CW4 7DX

Discuss and define terms relating to communication and how these relate to the WellComm screening tool, examine the rationale behind using WellComm to screen, track and monitor individual children, receive practical support on how to use the screen and how to integrate WellComm activities into daily best practice within the setting, try out WellComm screening and activities from the Big Book of Ideas and to discuss the practicalities of setting up targeted groups.

Understanding the EIF, 29-Sep-22, 9.30am to 11.30am - online

An opportunity to consider Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework in the light of the new Early Years Foundation Stage, discuss the curriculum and consider how to integrate Intent, Implementation and Impact in to your setting; the Learning Walk is unpicked and Ofsted’s ‘Golden Thread’ is looked at in more detail and is made relatable to you and your provision.

Standing in the shoes of a two year old, 29-Sep-22 and 6-Oct-22, 1.30pm to 3.30pm - online

Focus on the skills and knowledge needed to work with the two year old age group. Session 1 - ‘Getting to know me’ will cover Role of the Key Person / building attachments / links to child development and how children like to learn i.e. characteristics of effective learning; Session 2 - ‘Building an environment that is right for me’ looks closely at the physical and emotional environment for twos / patterns of play / supporting feelings and emotions and effective practice.

Learning Language in the Outdoors, 30-Sept-22, 1pm-2.30pm - online

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 skills in your outdoor space, all attendees will receive a copy of the booklet.

Good Autism Practice 04-Oct-22 and 11-Oct-22 9am-12pm – online

Co-delivered over 2 half-day sessions by Cheshire East Autism Team (CEAT) and the Early Start Team, this course will enable practitioners to develop their understanding of good autism practice, reflect and improve on their own practice, understand strategies they can draw on when working with autistic children and consider how to support children and their family in their development.

Safeguarding Basic Awareness 06-Oct-22 6.15-8.30pm – online

This course has been specifically written to address safeguarding in Early Years and Childcare Settings and covers practice and procedures used within Cheshire East. It will provide basic information and understanding about safeguarding children and enable you to identify, understand and respond appropriately to signs of possible abuse and neglect.

To book your place on these or any of our training courses, please log onto the Online shop.

Launching our Children’s Emotional Health & Well-Being Champion’s network

Are you passionate about children’s emotional health and well-being?

Do you want to support the personal, social and emotional development of the children in your setting?

We are looking to create a team of practitioners who want to be the champion for children’s EH&WB in their setting.

If this is you, come and be a part of the launch of our ‘the things I feel inside’ campaign. Join us on Teams on:

11st October 2022 at 3.30-5.00pm

or

13^th October 2022 at 2.00-3.30pm

Share your thoughts and ideas and play a role in developing our package of support for children’s emotional health and well-being.

 We will welcome your thoughts and ideas around

• Role of the PSED lead
• Emotional Environment
• Key Person

To book your place, log onto the Online Shop now

Free, high quality professional development opportunities for teachers and leaders in schools and early years settings

National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) are courses for teachers and leaders in schools and early years settings. They are fully funded by the government, so are completely free to take and flexible, to fit around your work and personal life.

Specialist NPQs help you develop your skills inside and out of the classroom, while leadership NPQs help you become a confident and expert school leader.

You can find out more about NPQs on the link below.

Don't Forget!

FEEE – Afghan and Ukrainian children

Afghan and Ukrainian children aged 3 and 4 years old living in Cheshire East are entitled to 15 hours early education irrespective of the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). Afghan and Ukrainian 2 year olds may also be eligible to 15 hours early education irrespective of their immigration status. To claim FEEE funding for children from Afghanistan or Ukraine, please add their details to the Provider Portal in the usual way, including the 2YO voucher code for eligible 2 year olds. Should the Provider Portal be closed, please email the FEEE Team (FEEE@cheshireeast.gov.uk) who will update your funding claim.

In addition, please also complete the short form (link below), enabling the authority to monitor take-up of the free entitlement.  Please complete this form each time an Afghan or Ukrainian child starts or leaves your setting. If any Afghan or Ukrainian children currently attend your setting, please retrospectively complete this form and continue to use the form as you have any new starters or leavers.

https://forms.office.com/r/RN5KbkKrzL