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Bulletin 251

7 November 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

Government Help for Households

The government has published a website which shows the various measures available to help households with the cost of living crisis. This covers household costs, energy bills, childcare costs and finding employment.

For the attention of all FEEE Providers and Administrators

We will be holding a FEEE Briefing on 15 November 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.

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

Lunch and Learn event for Professionals

Ofsted

Recent Ofsted Inspection Feedback

One of our Providers has given feedback following their recent Ofsted inspection:

They said the manager needs to be secure in the ethos of the setting. Consistency is key, it’s important that if the manager talks about something then the staff say the same thing, as the Inspector was checking to see if practice was embedded throughout the setting.

The Inspector looked thoroughly through the Single Central Record, and wanted to know about safer recruitment and staff induction processes.

Safeguarding questions covered whistleblowing, and what staff would do if they weren’t happy with the managers response.

Curriculum sequencing was evident in every room – staff had a thorough understanding of the curriculum and could give a clear explanation of the intent.

EYFS Learning and Development

Support for early years settings from the Experts and Mentors programme

The Experts and Mentors Early Years COVID-19 Recovery Programme from the Department for Education (DfE) is focused on supporting early years practitioners and leaders to address the impact of the pandemic on the youngest children. 

The DfE are currently looking for settings who are interested in receiving support from January 2023, for the spring term (academic year 2022/23). Debbie Gillibrand, an Early Years Manager from Leyland St James Nursery, recently wrote a blog post exploring why she decided to apply to take part in the programme and her experiences of supporting settings in her region. You can read it here.

To receive support, settings must complete the application form by Friday 11 November 2022. You can apply to receive support, and find out further information on eligibility, on Pen Green's website.

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 Also included in the pack is a poster so you can create a display that your team can use to quickly and easily remind themselves of different ways to support children’s emotional health and wellbeing and to highlight the current ‘top tip’

Top Tip number 7: ‘Support me to be healthy’ “Getting a good start in life, building emotional resilience and getting maximum benefit from education are the most important markers for good health and wellbeing throughout life. Early Years settings can lay the foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing as they help children prepare for school.” [Healthy Early Years London] Top tip number 7 focuses on how to support children’s physical health in order to support their attention, behaviour, learning and mental health. Look out for next week’s bulletin Top Tip number 8 : ‘Encourage me to be sociable and kind’ To purchase the full set of Top Tip postcards for only £7.50, log onto the Online shop below.

SEND

Cheshire East Chatters key message

This half term’s key message is all about play.  Play is a foundation skill for communication and language. If a child with delayed language skills has gaps in their play skills, this may be why they are not yet talking. The renowned psychologist Vygotsky stated that everything a child knows is seen first in play. Observing a child’s play reveals their thought processes, how they are relating objects together, and their understanding not only of the world around them, but also of language. If children relate two objects together in play, this shows their 2 key word level understanding is developing for example. We know that children learn best through play, so allowing children to have hands-on play experiences, whilst hearing language modelled to them in context, is the most effective way for children to learn new words. Throw away the flashcards! Follow the child’s lead in play – join in with however they play rather than trying to ‘teach’ them to play Wait for the child to initiate communication – this may not be with words and that’s ok – look out for eye contact, facial expression, gesture etc. Add language to what the child is interested in after they have initiated communication Keep your language simple – match the child’s level – so if they are non-verbal use single words only! As well as our key message poster and leaflet, we have lots of tips and information on the importance of play on the Cheshire East Chatters Facebook page so please follow us and let your parents know about us too! https://www.facebook.com/cheshireeastchatters If you want to get in touch then please email cechatters@mcht.nhs.uk

Continuous Professional Development

JULIAN GRENIER: Leadership and Management Programme 2022/23

In September we launched our Leadership and Management programme 2022/23 which is being delivered in partnership with Dr Julian Grenier who led 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. We have 2 sessions coming up: Session 2 for Early Language Leads – 16th November 9.30-11.30am Session 3 for Lead Practitioners for 2 year olds – 30th November 9.30-11.30am Don’t miss out! To book your place on these sessions please log onto the Online shop under the ‘Quality Matters’ category.

Are you Ready for Rhyme Time?

Launching our new ‘Are you Ready for Rhyme Time?’ document and supporting training. Explore the value of using songs and rhymes to promote children’s learning across the prime areas. At each session you will receive an introduction to the whole document and then focus on a specific age range. Rhyme Time for Preschool children – 17th Nov 1pm or 3pm at Oakenclough Children’s Centre or 29th Nov 1.30pm or 4pm at Oak Tree Children’s Centre Rhyme Time for Toddlers – Ready 2 Rhyme – 12th Jan 23 1pm or 3pm at Oakenclough Children’s Centre or 17th Jan 23 1.30pm or 4pm at Oak Tree Children’s Centre Rhyme Time for Babies – fun from the beginning – 14th Feb 23 1pm or 3pm at Oakenclough CC or 16th Feb 23 1.30pm or 4pm at Oak Tree Children’s Centre 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 rollout across your setting.  You will need a copy of the document prior to each session. A discount is available if you purchase the full package which includes the document and 1 place at a Preschool, Toddlers and Babies session. For more information about each session please log onto the Online shop

Introducing 'Are you ready for Rhyme Time' for Childminders - 22nd Nov 6.30-8.30pm online only

We are holding a session especially for Childminders where we will give an overview of the full Rhyme Time document and explore the different sections for babies, 2’s, pre-schoolers. Home learning will also be discussed. You will need to have purchased a copy of the document prior to the session.

To purchase a copy of the Rhyme Time document and to book your place on this session please log onto the online shop below.

Autumn term training

Don’t miss out of any of these CPD opportunities:

SENCO network, 08-Nov-22 9.30-11am or 09-Nov-22 1.30-3pm – online

This is our termly virtual meeting to find out about key updates relating to the delivery of the EYFS. During this session we will hear about the new Family Hubs and the implications for SEND, we will discuss the new ways of working including the SEND conversations and hear about any national updates.

Attachment and Communication, 08-Nov-22, 9.30am - 3.30pm - Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School

Develop your knowledge of early attachment and the links to speech & language development, explore the areas of the communication pyramid in greater depth, discuss typical development and how to support children with speech and language needs and hear about the local speech and language therapy pathway and guidance around making referrals into the SLT NHS service.

Explore the EYFS, 10-Nov-22, 9.30am - 11am – online

This training explores section 1 ‘The Learning and Development requirements’ and section 2 ‘Assessment’ of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. It looks at the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and offers useful links and information to take back to the setting when considering curriculum, assessment and Ofsted expectations.

Progress check and Integrated Review at 2, 15-Nov-22, 1pm or 6.30pm - online

Explore the process of coordinating the Progress check within your setting to fulfil the statutory requirements of the EYFS and how this links in with integrated review which brings together the Early years Progress check at age 2 and the health development check. Look at how to write a good quality progress check and how to embed partnerships with parents and link health professionals.

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements, 17-Nov-22, 9.30am - 11.30am - online

Explore the ‘must’ and ‘should’ elements of the Statutory Framework for the EYFS. Understand your role in the broader picture of keeping children safe and gather links and useful information to take back to your setting in relation to inspections and Ofsted expectations. 

To book your place on these or any of the other courses we have available, log onto the Online Shop now.

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