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Bulletin 274

5 June 2023

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

Business Support

Free Early Education Entitlement – FEEE Briefing

There will be 2 FEEE Briefings via Microsoft Teams on Thursday 15 June 2023. The sessions will be held at 10am or 6.30pm.

These Briefings are aimed at both new providers and those providers who would like a refresher. They are due to last around 1 hour and will give you the opportunity to meet the Team as well as to ask any questions you may have. We would recommend that at least 2 people, where possible, join so that there is back-up in case of illness when adding data to the Portal.

To book onto one of these sessions, please go to the Online Shop below to book your place. These Briefings are free of charge.

Update - Household Support Fund summer voucher rollout

Thank you for your support in helping to distribute the recent April 2023 Household Support Fund supermarket vouchers to those children and families who were in receipt of 2-year-old funding or Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).

The next voucher rollout will take place in advance of the summer school holidays, with an estimated distribution during the first week of July 2023.  

We have had some partners who have requested guidance on how to explain the change in the delivery timeframe from previous years. It may therefore be helpful to note that the HSF programme is tasked with targeting the funding to support the highest periods of vulnerability and financial need. Academic research shows the longer the holiday period, the larger the increase in holiday learning loss and food poverty - therefore, we have followed this evidence and focussed on the periods of the highest need. Please note that eligible children and family groups are still receiving the same amount of financial support over the 12-month period – that of £160.00 worth of supermarket vouchers. Further information is available about the rollout time frames with the associated amounts of vouchers to be distributed on the following webpage - Household Support Fund (cheshireeast.gov.uk).

In addition to the automatic rollout of supermarket vouchers, additional support is available throughout the year via completion of the professional enquiry form. Professionals can email HSFFamily@cheshireeast.gov.uk for the link to this enquiry form. On this webpage guidance is given on who professionals can refer, what information will be needed and what the process will involve.

For further information and updates on the Household Support Fund please refer to the public facing webpage Household Support Fund (cheshireeast.gov.uk).

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

Department for Education Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Consultation

The Department for Education has launched a consultation on the EYFS to offer providers increased flexibility and alleviate known burdens, exploring giving providers more choice over how they operate and making it easier for them to deliver the EYFS. It is their intention that these changes will support settings to deliver the new entitlements announced at the Spring Budget.  

They hope to hear from many people and organisations before the deadline on 26 July, so they can gather a broad range of views to help them reach well-informed decisions. The Department for Education and Foundation Years are also planning some engagement events for stakeholders, so please look out for this.  

To note, this consultation builds on the measures consulted on in Summer 2022. The changes to 2 year old staff to child ratios and supervision whilst eating are due to come into force in September 2023, subject to parliamentary procedure.

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Focus on...

Providers must carry the appropriate insurance (e.g. public liability insurance) to cover all premises from which they provide childcare or childminding.

Operation Encompass

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling schools and settings to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse. You may receive a contact from the Police even if you haven't yet signed up for Operation Encompass. Please contact earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk for further information on signing up to this project.

Latest Safeguarding Scenario

The latest safeguarding scenario is now available on our webpage.

Ofsted

Latest Ofsted Early Years Blog

Ofsted have published their latest blog about their early years curriculum roadshows on the education inspection framework (EIF). You can still book on to the roadshows - further information below.

Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF) curriculum roadshows

Ofsted is running a series of Education Inspection Framework (EIF) curriculum roadshows for Early Years settings, including childminders. These events will be held in the Summer Term 2023, in seven locations across the country. Please note, there is a separate session for maintained nursery schools.

These half-day events will offer the opportunity to learn more about how we look at language and communication at inspection and what we have learnt about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two representatives from your setting are welcome to attend. Each person attending will need to register separately.

Current Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) are asked not to attend this event, as specific training is provided for inspectors separately.

Please note, this is a repeat of the roadshows delivered in Summer 2022 & Spring 2023, therefore please do not register if you've already attended. There is no charge for attending one of these events and spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Please find below the date/s, session times and links for registration for the curriculum roadshow closest to your setting:

If you have any other queries, you can contact Ofsted at events@ofsted.gov.uk

EYFS Learning and Development

Department for Education free child development training

The Department for Education has free, online child development training. This training provides an overview of child development and practical advice for supporting children in your setting. They have recently added a new module on ‘Supporting physical development in the early years’. 

BookTrust: Pride Month 1st - 30th June

Bookstart Star Packs for children with additional needs

SEND

Cheshire East Chatters

Cheshire East Chatters Talking Walk-ins

Please share the information below with parents. The Talking Walk-in's are opportunities for parents to speak with a Speech and Language Therapist to receive advice and guidance to support their child at home.

Parenting Journey

Continuous Professional Development

Owners and Managers briefing

22nd June 23 9.15am-12pm Oakenclough Children Centre or 30th June 23 12.45-3.30pm Canalside Conference Centre, Middlewich

As some of you may know the early years team have had some changes recently as we transform our services to operate within the family hubs model. Our new Head of Service for Early Year Family help & prevention Danielle Holdcroft and the rest of our newly structured leadership team would like to meet with you as owners and managers to share some of these changes and consult with you on how we work in collaboration in the future to improve outcomes for our early years children and families as part of the family hubs model. We hope to see as many of you as possible.

Reserve your place by logging onto the Early Years Hub now : Chess Early Years Training Hub (sla-portals.co.uk)

Progress Check at 2 training

Upcoming CPD Opportunities

Find out about the range of development opportunities available by logging onto the new Early Years Training Hub via the Provider Login Button on our Training web page: 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.

Safeguarding Basic Awareness 6th June 2023 3.30-5.30pm - Online

**This training course is free of charge to attend for all Cheshire East Early Years providers**

It will provide basic information and understanding about safeguarding children. It has been specifically written to address safeguarding in Early Years and Childcare Settings and covers practice and procedures used within Cheshire East. It will help you to develop an awareness of, and the ability to act on, concerns about the safety and welfare of children and young people. It will enable you to understand your safeguarding role, be able to define, identify, understand and respond appropriately to signs of possible abuse and neglect and identify safer caring practices.

Learning Language in the Outdoors 8th June 23 6.30-8pm – Online

How does being outdoors make you feel? discuss the research behind learning in the outdoor environment and you will be introduced to the new Cheshire East Chatters activities booklet containing lots of exciting, practical activities to support children's communication skills in your outdoor space. 

Role of the SENCo 9th June 23 Oak Tree Children Centre, Crewe 9.30am-3pm

Or

Role of the SENCo 30th June 23 9.30-3pm Oakenclough Children Centre 9.30am-3pm

This course has been written for those new to the role of the SENCO and those wishing to refresh their knowledge. If you need information on Cheshire East’s graduated approach, Cheshire East’s SEND Toolkit, up to date and relevant paperwork, external advice systems and processes, then this is the course for you. You will hear about useful ideas and strategies, the roles and responsibilities of the Early Years SENCO and there will be time to discuss any questions with other professionals.

Explore the EYFS 12th June 2023 9.30-11am - Online

Explore Part 1 ‘The Learning and Development requirements’ and Part 2 ‘Assessment’ of the Statutory Framework. Look 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.

Understanding the EIF and the Learning Walk 13th June 2023 9.30-11.30am – Online

An opportunity to consider Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework in the light of the new Early Years Foundation Stage framework. Curriculum is discussed and consideration is given to how to integrate Intent, Implementation and Impact into your setting. The Learning Walk is unpicked and Ofsted’s ‘Golden Thread’ is looked at in more detail.

Supporting Speech Sounds 13th June 23 Macclesfield Library 1-4pm

This course has been written to help you support children’s communication and language development. Discuss typical speech sound development in the early years and get some practical ideas for strategies to implement in your setting.

Progress Check and Integrated Review at 2, 13th June 2023 6.30-8.30pm or 14^th June 1.30-3.30pm – Online

**This training course is free of charge to attend for all Cheshire East Early Years providers**

Consider the requirements of writing a quality progress check to fulfil the statutory requirements of the EYFS and how this links in with integrated review and the Health development check.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Cluster 14-Jun-23, 6.30pm - 8.30pm or 15-Jun-23, 9.30am - 11.30am

An opportunity to develop your DSL's understanding, knowledge and skills. There will be discussion with other leads and sharing of effective practice/materials plus updates on new legislation/initiatives. The Local Authority Designated Officer will be looking at procedures to follow when there is an allegation against a member of staff and discussing our local processes.

Early Years Training Hub – reminder to sign up

Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to the new Early Years Training Hub. If you haven’t yet signed up, please do so now.  You can sign up by accessing this link:

Chess Early Years Training Hub (sla-portals.co.uk)

Then click on the SIGN UP link on the top right hand side of the login page.

The Provider Login button on our Early Years and Childcare Training Resources (cheshireeast.gov.uk) webpage will also give you access to the new Early Years training 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:  however you will need to request personal login details by signing up to the Hub.

Please note: 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.

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