View this email in a browser

Bulletin 269

24 April 2023

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

Business Support

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Focus on...

Sleeping children must be frequently checked to ensure that they are safe. Being safe includes ensuring that cots/bedding are in good condition and suited to the age of the child, and that infants are placed down to sleep safely in line with latest government safety guidance.

Ofsted

Ofsted Early Years Blog: How staff-to-child ratios work

Ofsted have published a new blog on how staff-to-child ratios work.  The Chancellor recently announced an optional change to childcare ratios from 1:4 to 1:5 for two-year-old children. This change will apply from September 2023. All other staff-to-child ratios remain the same. While the Department for Education sets the ratios, Ofsted want to make sure that the way that they work is well understood. See the link below for further information.

EYFS Learning and Development

Free Bookstart Dual Language Books

Learning through Landscapes Nature Grant

The Local Schools Nature Grants Scheme allows Early Years, Infant, Primary and Secondary school and settings in England, Scotland & Wales to apply for £500 worth of outdoor resources, and a two hour training session. Further information available on the link below.

SEND

EY EHCP funding

If you have not yet emailed to confirm the attendance of children who have an Education and Health Care plan please email earlyyearssenhelpline@cheshireeast.gov.uk and confirm their attendance.

Summer Term SEN panel information

Summer term dates are on the web page SEN and disability in the early years (cheshireeast.gov.uk)

Cheshire East Chatters

Parenting Journey

Continuous Professional Development

Early Years Training Hub

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to the new Early Years Training Hub.  We now have almost 200 settings registered and accessing the Hub. 

Through our Training and Events page you can find information about the training and CPD offer available to Early Years practitioners in Cheshire East. You can access the Hub via the link on our training web page:  Early Years and Childcare Training Resources (cheshireeast.gov.uk) however you will need to request personal login details by signing up to the Hub.

You can sign up to the Early Years Training Hub by clicking on the SIGN UP link on the top right hand side of the login page.

If you already have access to the Schools Chess Hub you do not need to sign up again however please email us to request additional access user rights to the Early Years Hub.

Upcoming CPD Opportunities

You can now book places on any of the following training courses by logging onto the new Early Years Training Hub using this link: Early Years and Childcare Training Resources (cheshireeast.gov.uk). Please login in or sign up by clicking on the link at the top right of the page.

Me, myself and I: Supporting children to develop their social skills – 27^th April 23 1-3pm – Online

The revised EYFS framework references the importance of self regulation, but how many of us know what it is, how it impacts on learning and how we support children to develop it? Ruth Swailes will reflect on audit tools and provide a range of strategies to try so that staff can support children to become successful, independent learners who are able to manage and identify their own feelings and behaviour, so that they can enjoy positive relationships and focus on learning.

What is my behaviour trying to tell you? 2^nd and 9^th May 23 9.30-11.30am  - Online

This 2 session course is suitable for all practitioners who work in early years and will provide the skills and knowledge to develop your understanding of children’s social and emotional needs. Explore how we can be curious about behaviours and what might be affecting the child at that given time, build a supportive, appropriate curriculum using the EYFS and development matters as a guide and develop a whole setting approach to supporting children’s behaviour.

Don't Forget!

FEEE – Afghan and Ukrainian children

Afghan and Ukrainian children aged 2, 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). To claim FEEE funding for children from Afghanistan or Ukraine, please add their details to the Provider Portal in the usual way. 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