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Bulletin 322

9 September 2024

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 – Provider Portal

Portal closing date for autumn data is Friday 27 September. Please continue to add any new children by this date.

Free Early Education Entitlement - Eligibility Codes

We have found that some parents/carers have been issued initially with a temporary code starting with 11. We are finding that the temporary codes are not working once codes have been reconfirmed by parents/carers and replaced with a 50… code. Please ensure you have the latest code when entering data into the portal.

Primary School Admission Applications Open

Applications are now open for children starting primary school. If you are a parent, with a child born between 1^st September 2020 and 31^st August 2021, your child will be due to start primary school in September 2025. Parents are strongly advised to apply for three preferences.

Applications must be submitted to the child’s home local authority by:

• 15 January 2025 for pupils starting primary in September 2025.

Parents still need to apply even if the child has a brother or sister already at the school or the child is attending a nursery/preschool attached to the school. Some faith schools may also require parents and carers to submit a supplementary information form/confirmation of baptism. Further information about this will be available on the school’s website.

Parents should consider how their child will travel to school when making preferences. Parents can find out about school transport at Free and subsidised school transport (cheshireeast.gov.uk)

To apply online and for further information please go to Application process for starting school in September (cheshireeast.gov.uk)  or call 0300 123 5012.

For up to date information please direct parents to follow our twitter @CE_Admissions and follow The Family Information Service – @FISCheshireEast or FacebookFamily Information Service (Cheshire East Council) | Facebook

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

Cheshire East model Safeguarding policy

The model safeguarding policies for Childminders and group-based settings have been updated and are available on our website.

Household Support Fund Extension – September 2024 to April 2025 

An extension to the Household Support Fund (HSF) was announced by the UK government in the Budget on 02 September 2024. This fund will cover the period from September 2024 to April 2025. 

Cheshire East are awaiting grant condition from the Department for Work and Pensions before confirming what the next delivery of the programme will look like. The grant will continue to have the purpose of providing crisis support to financially vulnerable households most in need. The fund will also be available to support those who are struggling to afford household basics including food, energy, and wider essentials.

As soon as the HSF team have further information they will send out further communications to update you.

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Focus on...

Providers must have a procedure, which must be discussed with parents and/or carers, for taking appropriate action if children are ill or infectious. This procedure must also cover the necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection.

National updates

Removal of Ofsted Single Word Judgements

The Department for Education have announced that Schools in England will no longer receive Ofsted single headline grades, also known as single word judgements, from 2 September 2024. Early years provision in state schools and academies for children aged 2 and above, and Maintained Nursery Schools, will be included in the removal of headline grades for schools.

All other Early Years settings will continue to receive headline grades.

The DfE are committed to removing headline grades for other settings inspected by Ofsted, including independent schools, early years settings, colleges, children’s social care providers, and initial teacher training. They will be working over the next year with students, families and educators across these areas to ensure alternative reporting arrangements provide a clear picture of how education providers are performing.

Ofsted Early Years FAQ Videos

Ofsted have added four new videos to the Early years FAQs for providers and practitioners playlist on YouTube. These new videos cover ratios, how inspectors get the views of parents and how Ofsted give feedback on inspection. 

Ofsted 'Big Listen' Consultation Response

Ofsted has published a detailed response to its ‘Big Listen’ consultation, setting out how the inspectorate will reset its relationship with the sectors it inspects and regulates, while continuing to raise standards for children and learners. To read the response please use the link below.

EYFS Learning and Development

To contact BookTrust, please see the contact details below:

Frances Lennon, BookTrust Coordinator - 07827 954086

Sarah Harrison, BookTrust Administrator - 07827 877966

bookstart@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk

SEND

EHCP Autumn Reviews

We hope you have all had a lovely first week welcoming your children back.

As the new term gets underway, The SEND Transition Team would like to encourage all settings to plan for their autumn term EHCP annual reviews in Nursery two, Year 6 and Year 11. Part of the feedback regarding transitions has supported the need for EHCP reviews in these key phases to be carried out in autumn to help support settings, children and their families for a smoother transition and timely consultations. It gives time for better planning and you are encouraged (where possible) to invite their next settings to the EHCP review meetings.

As always, please get in touch if you require any support from the SEND Transition Team using the details below.

Cheshire East SEND Transition Team contact details:

Rachael Pickles – Transition Team Manager:
rachael.pickles2@cheshireeast.gov.uk 07816 144386

Loren Whiteside – Transition Adviser:
loren.whiteside2@cheshireeast.gov.uk 07557 801258

Free Nasen Training

Nasen supports those working with, and for, children and young people with SEND and learning differences by having an influential voice at national level through partner networks, developing useful resources and delivering effective CPD.

Please click the button below to access.

Cheshire East Chatters

Family Hubs

Childminder Drop-In's – Updated Flyer

Continuous Professional Development

Post-Training Evaluation Reminder

Please can we ask that you complete the post-training evaluation at the end of each training course. We rely on your feedback, it is vital to ensure we can continue to offer these courses to you for free.

Autumn Term Training now available on the Early Years Training Hub

The ChESS Early Years Training Hub has been updated with lots of training opportunities for the Autumn term, please take a look and book on now!

Upcoming training next week:

Ofsted - Preparing for your Inspection - 17th September 2024 10:00 - 11:30 or 18:30 - 20:00 (Microsoft Teams)

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from HM Ofsted Inspectors who will deliver invaluable inspection feedback and address some key challenges faced in Early Years, in order to help you to prepare for your inspection.

Role of the DSL - 18th September 2024 09:30 - 15:30 (Oakenclough Family Hub)

This one day training course provides information and guidance to practitioners new to the role of the DSL or those wishing to refresh their knowledge. The training includes safer recruitment and induction of new staff members, liaising with staff members and other agencies, recording of safeguarding information, escalation of concerns, online safety, allegations against staff, the role of the LADO and policy and procedure development.

Enhanced Safeguarding Awareness - 19th September 2024 09:30 - 11:30 (Microsoft Teams)

This session expands on the Basic Safeguarding Awareness training session. The session covers the local safeguarding referral process, Risk Assessments and Health and Safety, Local Safeguarding Practice Reviews, CESCP information, Safer sleep, choking, Emotional Neglect and the Role of Family Hubs.

Progress Check and Integrated Review at 2 - 20th September 2024 09:30 - 11:30 (Microsoft Teams)

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 the integrated review which brings together the Early years Progress check at age 2 and the Health development check. Consider the requirements of writing a quality progress check and working to embed partnerships with parents and link health professionals.