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Bulletin 306
18 March 2024
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Provider Portal – 2-year-old entitlements data entry
Following the system upgrade the Provider Portal opened on Thursday 14th March and child data for the 2-year-old working family entitlement can now be added. The system changes to the 2-year-old headcount are minimal and easy to navigate.
Guidance notes and screenshots of the Provider Portal are available on our webpage.
Guidance on invoicing parents
The DfE Statutory guidance for early education and childcare was updated in January 2024. Advice and guidance on invoicing parents (available on our webpage) has also been updated to reflect the changes in the statutory guidance.
Provider Portal software upgrade and summer term data submission dates
In preparation for collecting summer term data, the Provider Portal has been upgraded. Providers can now submit the details of 2-year-olds from working families who are eligible for 15 hours of childcare per week from April 2024.
The Provider Portal opened on Thursday 14 March for you to add your summer term data. The Provider Portal will then close on Sunday 24 March for interim (70%) payments to be calculated and paid by Friday 12 April. Any late data will result in a delayed interim payment.
Free Early Education Entitlement Contracts
Contracts for financial year 2024/25 will be issued electronically via DocuSign. To avoid any delays in receiving your contract, please log onto the Provider Portal and check the staff details provided. Each setting is required to provide the name and email address for the following members of staff:
- Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Free Entitlement Contract Signatory
- Free Entitlement Administrator
- Manager
- SENCo
Please follow the guidance notes to submit your staff details. Childminders, please ensure your Free Entitlement Contract Signatory email and Free Entitlement Administrator addresses are correct. This can be checked by logging onto the Provider Portal and clicking on the Staff tab from the homepage.
2-year-old eligibility codes
Working families entitlement: to apply for a code parents should go to childcarechoices.gov.uk or call Childcare Choices on 0300 123 4097.
Eligibility codes will be issued in the same format as the 30-hour codes for 3- and 4-year-olds which are 11 digits and start with ‘50...’. The same code will remain with the child until they reach school age regardless of whether they drop in and out of eligibility.
Working parents who have a tax-free childcare account may have already received their 2-year-old eligibility code. Codes with an end date of 31st March will need reconfirming to make sure they are valid for summer term 2024. Please validate codes through the Eligibility checker in the Provider Portal. Add the code, child date of birth and Parent/Carer NI number and submit. The data will not be stored at this stage but checking the end date of the code will provide assurance to providers and parents that 2-year-old working family funding will be available in summer term.
 Current entitlement: Parents of 2 year olds who are in receipt of certain benefits are able to check their eligibility for 15 hours funded childcare via our webpage, or by contacting the Family Information Service on 0300 123 5033.
Eligibility codes are 6 digits and are a mixture of letters and numbers.
Unlike the working family entitlement, parents who receive a 6-digit code will continue to be eligible for a 2-year-old place until their child turns 3 and receives 3-year-old funding.
Reminder to apply for or reconfirm 30 hours childcare funding codes
Useful information for working parents of 2-year olds
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Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements |
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Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Focus on...
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If providers have concerns about children's safety or welfare, they must immediately notify their local authority children's social care team, in line with local reporting
procedures, and, in emergencies, the police.
For further information, please click on the link below:
ChECS - Cheshire East Children's Consultation Service
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Department for Education Childminder Recruitment and Retention Consultation
The Department for Education are seeking views on proposals to support childminders and childminder agencies (CMAs) with recruitment and retention and future policy development.
The consultation is running from Friday 15 March 2024 to Friday 10 May and is available via the button below.
HAF Easter 2024 bookings are now live!
The Cheshire East Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) enables children and young people who are in receipt of income/benefits-related free school meals who live in Cheshire East or attend a Cheshire East school to attend free activities during the main school holidays, where nutritional food is also provided.
Booking an activity session is easy!
All families will have to do is visit the Cheshire East HAF programme booking platform, or alternatively, scan the QR code opposite.
They can then look through all the activities on offer (filters are available), and when they find an activity they like, select book and complete the booking information.
For more information about the programme and the full eligibility criteria visit the Cheshire East webpage: Holiday activities and food programme (HAF) (cheshireeast.gov.uk)
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Latest Ofsted Early Years blog
Ofsted have published a new blogpost on the early years. Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty's Chief Inspector, talks about his priorities for the early years sector and the EY leadership team.
My priorities for the early years sector - Ofsted: early years (blog.gov.uk)
New resource to support practitioners with Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) assessment
The Department for Education's EYFS Profile page on Foundation Years supports teachers to complete the EYFS Profile. It is updated regularly throughout the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
The most recent update provides information on completing the EYFS Profile for children who transfer schools. This page now sits under a new resource on Foundation Years that supports practitioners completing all statutory EYFS assessments. Content will be updated throughout the year.
Level 3 Early Years Educator qualifications criteria has been updated
Following a review in summer 2022 and consultation from November 2022 to January 2023, the new Early Years Educator Level 3 criteria was published in April 2023 and is effective from September 2024.
Awarding organisations and training providers are currently updating qualifications to meet the new criteria, to be assessed and approved by DfE and added to the Early Years Qualification List (EYQL) by September 2024.
DfE will be adding qualifications to the EYQL over the coming months as they become approved.
National Wraparound Programme Briefings
Engagement sessions for primary schools and childcare have been arranged to discuss how the National Wraparound Programme will be supported within Cheshire East. The briefing will include information on the application and allocation process for the available capital and revenue funding for providers of term time wraparound care. The funding is intended to create new places and not to sustain existing provision.
The briefings are on:
- 24th April 2024 10:00 - 11:30 (Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School)
- 24th April 2024 13:30 - 15:00 (Oakenclough Family Hub)
These are now available to book through the ChESS Early Years Training Hub.
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Do something Big, recruitment campaign
The ‘Do something BIG, work with small children’ early years early years campaign is now live. It aims to raise the profile of the sector and showcase the important contribution early years and childcare professionals make in preparing young children for learning in school and beyond.
Alongside this, the DfE have launched an early years careers website. This includes information on all areas of early years work, routes into the sector and real-life stories.
It also directs people to Department for Work and Pensions’ Find a Job platform to search for early years roles in their area. Watch the video tutorials to help you list any vacancies in your setting on Find a Job. Please use the term ‘early years’ in the title of your job adverts and select ‘Education jobs’ for the job category.
The DfE would be incredibly grateful if you could help to promote the campaign through your channels and use the hashtag #dosomethingbig on social media.
Useful links
YouTube playlist – 15 second and 30 second adverts on a playlist
Be part of something Big (short version) (youtube.com)
Dropbox - campaign assets https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/pfpvp5j5ncj60kg77hf8a/h?rlkey=msrd4r0maz2l8alaiaok9xe54&dl=0
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EYFS Learning and Development |
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Bookstart Dual Language Books
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SEN Inclusion Funding (SENIF) – summer term 2024
Children in receipt of SEN Inclusion Funding before 1 January 2024, when the new SENIF policy was introduced, will continue to receive funding during summer term 2024. New agreement schedules will be issued in April.
Many of these children will start school in September 2024. Children who have not yet have reached school age by September and therefore continue to access their early education entitlements will require a new SENIF application under the terms of the new policy.
Applications for SEN Inclusion Funding received after 1 January 2024 are considered under the new SENIF policy. Should SENIF be agreed, a one-off payment is made based on the tiers / bands outlined in the policy. Should more support be required, providers must submit a further application to the SENIF panel.
SEND Inclusion Funding (cheshireeast.gov.uk)
SENCO Contact Details
Please ensure that the SENCO contact details for your setting are up to date. If you have referred a child at your setting to the Early Years Forum, the outcome of Forum will be shared with SENCO's via the contact details held on the Provider Portal.
Please check the information held by the Early Years Team via the Staff section of the Provider Portal and add/delete SENCO details as required. Guidance notes are available.
SEND Consultations
If you would like to book a SEND, PSED or Communication and Language consultation, please email: earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk
You will be sent paperwork to complete, once that is finished and returned by secure email, including with a parent/carers signature, you will be offered a consultation slot.
Please note that the SLCN and SEND paperwork has been updated. Please delete any old copies that you have saved and email to request the latest forms.
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Cheshire East Chatters Talking Walk-in's
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.
Cheshire East Chatters Dummy Campaign
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PVC Banners Collection
We are providing settings (nurseries, pre-schools, schools and childminders) in Cheshire East with a PVC banner to promote Childcare Choices and the new entitlements.
These are now available to collect from the reception at either:
- Oakenclough Family Hub, Colshaw Drive, Wilmslow, SK9 2PZ
- Monks Coppenhall Family Hub, Remer Street, Crewe, CW1 4LY
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Family Help Drop In's
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Continuous Professional Development |
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Briefing for Prospective Childminders
Please share this information on your social media accounts:
Are you interested in becoming a Childminder? We are running some Childminder briefing sessions to provide information on what it means to be a Childminder and how to apply. Please click on the link below to complete the online form:
Interested in Becoming a Childminder (cheshireeast.gov.uk)
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New training opportunity! Trauma and Attachment in Early Childhood
- 16th April 2024 9:30 - 13:30 (Oakenclough Family Hub)
- 18th April 2024 9:30 - 13:30 (Apples and Pears Private Day Nursery)
Join us for a new training opportunity to explore trauma and attachment in early childhood, delivered by an Educational Psychologist. This training will cover attachment theory related to early childhood, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and what they are, the impact of trauma on young children and attachment awareness and trauma informed practice in early years settings.
Please book on through the ChESS Early Years Training Hub – spaces are limited!
Spring Term Training now available on the Hub
The ChESS Hub has been updated with lots of training opportunities for the Spring term, please take a look and book on now!
Upcoming training:
Early Language Leads Network - 21st March 2024 13:00 - 15:00
This network will consider how children with limited understanding might feel, and how adults can support them to make sense of the world, with lots of practical tips for your nursery environment. There will also be an update on the Family Hubs rollout across Cheshire East and to increase awareness of all the brilliant services they offer for children and young people.
Curriculum Training - 26th March 2024 09:30 - 11:30
This session looks at what a curriculum is, why curriculum planning is important in helping children to learn and have a better experience, and what to consider when putting the curriculum into practice. Drawing on the latest messages around curriculum from Ofsted, using the non-statutory guidance and making links to pedagogy and assessment. This session is suitable for all practitioners working in Early Years settings.
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Cheshire East Key messages regarding infections including colds, flu and Covid-19
The key underlying public health message for respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 and flu is that if someone is too unwell to attend school or work and carry out their normal activities or if they have a raised temperature, they shouldn't be in the setting. They should stay at home until they are well enough to return.
Most people no longer have access to COVID-19 tests but, if they do and they test positive for COVID-19, then the current NHS advice is to try and stay at home for five days (three days for children) after the first positive test result. After this time, they can return even if they have a positive test result, if they are well enough.
A few people may have a positive COVID-19 test but have no symptoms. It is likely that they are infectious and so can pass on the virus, especially during the early stages, so the advice would be to try to work from home for five days if possible. If they are unable to work from home, then a risk assessment should be done to explore what options are available.
Actions for settings
- Manage each infection in line with the NHS/UKHSA advice
- Contact UKHSA if necessary
- Report cases via the online form – request call back if further advice needed
- Issue parent/carer letters re measles and advice re illness
Key links and contacts
Health protection in education settings
UKHSA – candmphu@ukhsa.gov.uk or 03442250562
Cheshire East Cheshire East education settings infection reporting form
Early Years Training Hub – reminder to sign up
Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to the Early Years Training Hub. If you haven’t yet signed up, please do so now to book on to training. You can sign up by accessing this link:
Chess Early Years Training Hub (sla-portals.co.uk)
Then click on the sign up button on the top right hand side of the login page.
The ChESS Early Years Training Hub button on our Early Years and Childcare Training Resources (cheshireeast.gov.uk) webpage will also give you access to the Hub.
Through our Early Years training page, you can find information about the training and CPD offer available to Early Years practitioners in Cheshire East.
Please note: If you already have access to the ChESS Hub for schools, 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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