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Bulletin 279
10 July 2023
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NEW Parental Declaration Form from Autumn 2023
A new parental declaration form is available is here. The new form is to ensure that children with a stretched entitlement do not over claim their funded hours. Please ensure that the hours claimed each term accurately match the hours attended. Hours cannot be ‘banked’ for future use.
For autumn term, please use the new parental declaration form for any children who are claiming the free early education entitlement (FEEE) for the first time at your setting and for those children who are continuing to claim FEEE at your setting where their details have changed e.g., new address or increase/decrease in the number of funded hours to be claimed. For children where their details and claim remain the same, please ask parents to sign the continuation sheet of their current parental declaration for autumn term.
Free Early Education Entitlement – Autumn Term Data
The portal is now open for you to add your autumn term data. It will remain open until Friday, 28 July. Any data entered later than 28 July may result in the delay of your interim payment.
Please continue to email any additions/adjustments for the summer term to the FEEE Team at FEEE@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Reminder to reconfirm 30 hours entitlement
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Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements |
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Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Focus on...
At least one person who has a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when children are present, and must accompany children on outings. Providers should take into account the number of children, staff and layout of premises to ensure that a paediatric first aider is able to respond to emergencies quickly.
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Working Together to Safeguard Children: changes to statutory guidance
The Department for Education have launched a consultation on Working Together 2018 which proposes a number of key changes to the existing multi-agency safeguarding arrangements (MASA) framework, such as exploring changing the title to reflect the early help that is provide to families, how to make Education the 4th Safeguarding Partner, introducing Multi-Agency Practice Standards, Partnership Chairing arrangements and a discussion about funding. The Consultation opened last week and closes on 6th September 2023 and it is the DfE's intention to bring the changes in before Christmas.
There is an online consultation survey to complete and a variety of consultation events that you can book on to on the link below.
RLNI Float to Live - 5 Steps
It is important to teach children to spot and keep away from the dangers of open water:
Despite warm temperatures above the water, below the surface it can remain extremely cold. The cold-water shock of falling into the open water may cause panic and, if clothed, the weight of a person's clothes will make it more difficult for them to swim
- The depth of the water can be unpredictable and there may be hidden currents
- It can be difficult to get out of open water with steep and slimy and uneven banks
- It can be deep with hidden shelves and sharp drop-offs close to the bank's edge
- There may be hidden objects and hazards below the water surface
- There may be no lifeguards or lifesaving aids nearby
- The water may be polluted and may make you ill.
Statement from CW&C Cabinet Member for Homes, Planning and Safer Communities, Councillor Christine Warner said:
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 In the last five years, 39 per cent of all UK drownings occurred in June, July and August.
Further Resources for Schools, Parents and Professionals available from:
Royal Life Saving Society The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)
Royal National Lifeboat Institution RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution - Saving Lives at Sea
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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.
Last chance to register for the Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP)
The Early Years Professional Development Programme is funded by the Department for Education and offers a comprehensive package of professional development that is based on current early years pedagogy. It will help to build upon practitioners’ skills and knowledge to improve the quality of adult-child interactions. It offers the opportunity to:
- Improve skills to identify children at risk of speech, language and communication needs
- Provide an understanding of the theory of child development in early mathematics
- Develop skills to support children’s self-confidence, relationships, and self-awareness through expertly developed Personal, Social and Emotional Development training
- Improve engagement with parents and carers to support the home learning environment
Registration is closing soon for the September 2023 cohort and so if you are interested in participating in the Early Years Professional Development Programme, don’t miss out, apply here now:
Early Years Professional Development Programme – Currently registering interest for September 2023 starts (earlyyearspdp.com)
Skilled Early Years leaders share their experience of the NPQ in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) in DfE’s blog
After just a few months on the NPQEYL, Vicki, Rachel and Jude are enjoying getting back into studying and are already implementing what they’re learning. Take a look to see if the NPQEYL might be the right course for you.
The NPQEYL is free, flexible and designed by sector experts to help professional leaders like you across the EY sector develop their career. It is a comprehensive programme to strengthen your leadership. It also trains you to support children impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as helping you to lead effectively through:
- creating and implementing a vision and policies
- improving staff recruitment, development, management and appraisal
- marketing your setting
- working in partnership with parents and carers.
Registrations are now open to start this October. Read the blog to find out how the NPQEYL might benefit you and apply today on GOV.UK.
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EYFS Learning and Development |
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Bookstart Summer Reading Challenge
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SEND Consultations
If you would like to book an SEND consultation, please email earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk
You will be sent paperwork to complete, once that is completed and returned you will be offered an SEND consultation slot.
Continuation of SEN/EHCP funding Autumn Term
All contracts issued for Summer Term are due for reissue for Autumn Term where children are expected to continue attending your setting. You do not need to reapply for SEN funding; we will contact you if an application is required. Please contact us if a child is leaving your setting to attend another early years provider in Autumn Term. Please contact us if you are already aware of any children who are deferring school entry until September 2024. Please contact 01625 374170 if you have any questions.
SEN funding application deadline
The deadline for Early Years SEN Forum is Tuesday 18th July. All applications must be submitted to the portal. If you are uploading a document to the portal, please ensure that you do not have the document open; if you are advised that the document size is too large, please save it in pdf format.
The list of mandatory supporting documents has changed. Please send the SEN Support Plan with all pages complete (include all pages of reviewed and current targets), an observation by the setting SENCO and the Child Centred Planning Meeting minutes. There is no Forum in August.
SEND Survey - deadline 11 August 2023
The The 0-25 SEND Partnership (cheshireeast.gov.uk) is conducting a survey to hear from professionals, families, parent carers, children, young people, educational settings and anyone who contributes in the delivery of SEND services for children and young people aged 0 – 25.
The partnership is interested to hear about what is working well and what we could do better to improve the experiences and the outcomes of our children and young people with SEND.
You can complete the survey online at Cheshire East SEND Partnership Survey: Educational Setting before the deadline of Friday 11 August 2023.
We are also asking for your help to share with and support our families, children and young people to complete their surveys via the links below.
Children and young people survey:
Cheshire East SEND Partnership Survey: Young People’s Views
Parent and carer survey:
Cheshire East SEND Partnership Survey: Parent Carer Views
The feedback we receive will remain strictly confidential and will be used to help us to identify what needs to be improved.
Thank you for your help and taking the time to complete this survey.
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Cheshire East Chatters Best Practice - Calling all Early Years settings!
Do you set up fun and creative messy play and sensory activities to support children’s communication skills?
Would you be willing to share your ideas with parents and other settings across Cheshire East?
Our focus over the summer holidays will be 'Don't mind the mess, it's how I learn best!'
We would like to share daily sensory activity ideas on the Cheshire East Chatters Facebook page to give parents some inspiration.
If you want us to showcase one of your amazing sensory activities all you need to do is send us a photo and one short sentence describing the activity. We will then post your photo to our Facebook page and tag your setting – a great way to promote your nursery as communication friendly!
To participate, please contact us via -
Facebook: Cheshire East Chatters | Facebook
Email: cechatters@mcht.nhs.uk
We would really appreciate your input and look forward to hearing from you!
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Family Hubs
Cheshire East is delighted to be working with partners to develop family hubs. Family hubs support children and young people from birth until they reach the age of 19 (25 for young people with SEND). They bring council, health and community services together so that families can access the right support at the right time.
Help us to celebrate our journey so far and join us on:
- 13th July - Oaktree Family Hub - 11:00 – 2:00
- 14th July - Oakenclough Family Hub - 11:00 – 2:00
Drop in and see how we are developing our plans to bring family hubs to Cheshire East.
Visit Developing family hubs (cheshireeast.gov.uk) to find out more
Sign up to our Cheshire East Council - Cheshire East Family Hubs Newsletter (govdelivery.com) to follow the development of our Family Hubs.
Children’s Centre Newsletters
Our Children’s Centres send out monthly newsletters to everyone who is registered with them. They share lots of information from Health and what’s available in the Children’s Centres. The main focus is to promote home learning, so they have an activity for each of the age ranges - baby, toddler and preschool; and they also have an activity for the whole family from the 50 things to do together before you 5. This month’s newsletter is all about pirates to inspire some fun adventure play. Activities are chosen which can be easily done in the home with signposting to relevant organisations such as BBC Tiny Happy People, Hungry Little Minds etc.
You can subscribe to our newsletters or view them online.
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Children, Young People and Family Activity Day 10th August 11-3pm
To celebrate International Youth Day and the launch of the new Family Hubs, the Children and Young People's Trust Board and Early Help Services are hosting an activity day for children, young people (0-19 or 25 if SEND or Care Leaver) and their families.
Come along to have fun, try something new and tell professionals what they can do to improve the services and support that you receive.
Venue: Oakenclough Family Hub, Colshaw Drive, Wilmslow, SK9 2PZ
Date: 10th August 2023
Time: 11pm-3pm
A light lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Activities for all ages include:
Sports, arts and crafts, bushcraft, mocktails and much more
Please book your space using the QR code on the poster or clicking this link: Children, Young People & Families Activity Day Tickets, Thu 10 Aug 2023 at 11:00 | Eventbrite
For more information please contact: participation@cheshireeast.gov.uk.
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Continuous Professional Development |
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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.
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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
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