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Bulletin 341

24 February 2025

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

Business Support

Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance Update

In the autumn, Ministers announced the DfE’s intention to review the charging section of the statutory guidance, to ensure the funded hours remain accessible and affordable for families who need them. The DfE has now updated the statutory guidance that can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-and-childcare--2/early-education-and-childcare-applies-from-1-april-2024

The changes made aim to protect parents from reported instances of very high additional charges or ‘top-up fees’ on top of their entitlement, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds where it makes the biggest difference. The updates should also help ensure greater clarity and consistency for parents, providers and local authorities.

A key emphasis is transparency in how the entitlements are passed on to parents, including that all costs should be clear to parents upfront and a greater clarification of what are considered 'consumables’. The guidance also reaffirms, in line with a recent High Court judgment, that whilst providers can charge for some extras these charges must not be mandatory.

The DfE has also updated the statutory guidance to reflect the changes to Ofsted inspection judgements and clarified that some children may be eligible for both the 15-hour entitlement for families of 2-year-olds in receipt of additional forms of support and the working parent entitlement. In those circumstances, local authorities must provide the 15 hours for families in receipt of additional support first before providing any working parent hours. From September 2025, this will mean that a child must be recorded as using the 15 hours for families in receipt of additional support first and then any additional hours (up to a maximum of 30 overall) should be recorded under the working parent entitlement.

A revised funding agreement for 2025/26 will be issued in March for implementation from April 2025.

Guidance on the changes will be provided shortly.

EYFS and Ofsted Changes Briefing – book on now!

We are running a briefing session to explore the EYFS and Ofsted Changes on Wednesday 19th March 2025 12:30 - 13:30 on Microsoft Teams.

This briefing will look at the suggested changes to the EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements due in September 2025 and what needs to happen to put those changes in to place. It will also look briefly at the Ofsted consultation on changes to the inspection framework.

For anyone that can’t attend, we will be recording the session and will share this via email.

Please click the button below to book on through the Early Years Training Hub.

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Focus on...

Group and school-based providers Providers must ensure that people looking after children are suitable; they must have the relevant qualifications, training and have passed any required checks to fulfil their roles. Providers must take appropriate steps to verify qualifications, including in cases where physical evidence cannot be produced. Providers must also ensure that any person who may have regular contact with children (for example, someone living or working on the same premises the early years provision is provided), is suitable. Childminders Childminders and any assistants must be deemed suitable by Ofsted or their CMA; they must have the relevant training and have passed any required checks to fulfil their roles. Childminders must also ensure any person who may have regular contact with children (for example, someone living or working on the same premises where the childminding is being provided), must also be suitable.

Early Years Section 11 Safeguarding Audit

If you have not already done so, please complete the audit in full by Friday 28 February 2025.

School managed or governor run provision do not need to complete this audit as schools complete separate Safeguarding Audits.  

If you have started the audit but can not get back in, please email us and we can send you a link back to your partial audit.

If you have not received the audit email please contact: earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Safer Sleep Week 2025 is round the corner

Safer sleep advice is life-saving but only when it reaches families. Help to spread safer sleep advice during Safer Sleep Week 2025 (10 - 16 March), and play your part in keeping babies safe and empowering parents with expert advice. The Lullaby Trusts annual campaign is a great opportunity to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and more importantly, how to reduce the risks. For more information about this year's campaign, including the theme and how you can get involved, click the button below to take a look at The Lullaby Trust website.

Child Accident Prevention Trust – staying safe at bath time

Shocking data on child deaths exposes the risk of young children drowning at home. Findings show that in the last four years:

• one child a month drowned at home, usually in the bath
• 70% of babies who drowned in the bath were using a bath seat

It only takes a few centimetres of water, happens surprisingly quickly and there’s no noise or struggle to alert a parent who may have stepped out just for a second. That’s why the Child Accident Prevention Trust have created two brand-new posters for you to download, print and display to help families stay safe at bath time.

Many parents and carers are lulled into a false sense of security that a bath seat will keep their baby safe. This is not true. Babies have drowned in bath seats when parents mistakenly believed it was safe to step out of the room for a moment. A baby or small child can’t be safely left alone in one even for a moment. They can easily wriggle or slip out, or the seat can tip over and immerse the baby in the water. The only way to keep babies and small children safe in the bath is to stay with them and keep them in arms reach.

Click the button below to view the posters and top tips to share with parents and carers to keep babies and toddlers safe at bath time. 

National updates

Ofsted Consultation

Ofsted have launched a major consultation, seeking the views of parents, carers, professionals and children, on a new approach to inspecting and reporting on education providers, including early years providers.

The consultation sets out a series of proposals that aim to serve the interests of the parents and children Ofsted works for, while strengthening the trust and cooperation of professionals working in the services Ofsted inspect and regulate. 

For further information and to respond to the consultation please click on the button below.

Ofsted Early Years Blog: When do you need to notify Ofsted?

A new post, “When do you need to notify Ofsted?” has just been published on the Ofsted: early years blog.

This blog sets out the types of information Ofsted need to know about to help you understand when it is appropriate to notify them.

This includes what you must tell Ofsted and what they do when they receive a notification. 

Click on the button below to read the blog.

Early years qualification requirements and standards

The Department for Education (DfE) updated Early years qualification requirements and standards document will come into force 3 March 2025 subject to parliamentary procedure. This update allows for the introduction of the experience-based route for early years. It also clarifies the qualification requirements for staff counting in the level 6 staff:child ratios in early years settings and references to the early years qualifications list.

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

2025 SEND Survey Now Open

The Cheshire East 0-25 SEND Partnership is conducting a survey to hear from professionals, families, parent carers, children, young people, educational settings and anyone who contributes to 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.

Settings can complete the survey online at https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/SEND_Survey_2025_Educational_Setting/ before the deadline of 5 March 2025.

Thank you for your help and taking the time to complete this survey.

SEND Drop-In session

The Portage, Quality and Inclusion Team are running SEND drop-in sessions for our Early Years settings the first Monday of every month. The first half hour will provide an overview of a current SEND topic. The next session is as follows: Monday 3rd March – Forum Guidance The second half hour is an open opportunity to ask questions regarding any area of practice and support, share good practice and ideas with other settings and develop links. Each will be held 17:00 – 18:00 on Microsoft Teams. Please join us for an informal session designed to support you and work as a team. If you haven't already received the link, please email: earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk to request the Microsoft Teams link if you are available to attend.

Cheshire East Chatters

Family Hubs

Continuous Professional Development

EYPDP Celebratory Event

Congratulations to all practitioners who have completed the Early Years Professional Development Programme!

All practitioners who have completed the EYPDP will have received an email inviting them to attend our EYPDP Celebratory Event on Wednesday 26 March 2025, where we will celebrate your achievements.

For childminders the email has been sent to your personal email address or your childminding business email address. For practitioners working in nurseries, preschools and primary schools, the email has been sent to your setting manager or school office with a request to forward on. If you haven't received this, please check with them first before emailing earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk if you need the email invitation to be resent.

The email includes a link to a form to RSVP. An RSVP from each practitioner is mandatory to ensure our numbers are accurate so we can cater for everyone who would like to attend.

Thank you to those who have completed the form to RSVP. If you haven't yet provided an RSVP, please complete the form by Wednesday 26 February 2025.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Spring Term Training available on the Early Years Training Hub

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

Upcoming training next week:

Understanding the EIF and the Learning Walk – 3rd March 2025 9:30 - 11:30 (Microsoft Teams)

This two-hour online session will give providers an opportunity to consider Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework in the light of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework. The 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 and is made relatable to you and your provision.

What is my behaviour trying to tell you? – 4th March 2025 10:00 - 12:00 (Oakenclough Family Hub)

This training 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. This session will explore how we can be curious about behaviours and what might be affecting the child at that given time and build a supportive, appropriate curriculum using the EYFS and development matters as a guide. We will also consider current strategies and approaches to ensure they meet the needs of all children, embed behaviour conversations in your practice and develop a whole setting approach to supporting children’s behaviour.

Step Inside the Preschool Room – 5th March 2025 10:00 - 12:00 (Microsoft Teams)

This session is part of a series focussing on supporting the three different age groups of children within the Early Years. This training will look at practice and provision in the preschool room, consideration will be given to providing an enabling preschool environment and to reflect upon your preschool curriculum.

DSL Cluster – 5th March 2025 18:30 - 20:30 or 6th March 9:30 - 11:30 (Microsoft Teams)

These virtual sessions are intended to further develop your DSL's understanding, knowledge and skills. Childminders are the DSL for their setting. At these meetings there will be opportunities for discussion with other leads, networking, sharing of effective practice/materials, input from other agencies and updates on new legislation/initiatives. Attendance at each termly cluster is highly recommended to keep your safeguarding knowledge up to date.

Learning Language in the Outdoors – 6th March 2025 14:30 - 16:00 (Microsoft Teams)

How does being outdoors make you feel? In this session Cheshire East Chatters discuss the research behind learning in the outdoor environment and introduce their group activities booklet containing lots of exciting, practical activities to support children's communication skills in your outdoor space.

Designing and Implementing your EYFS Curriculum – 7th March 2025 9:30 - 12:30 (Oakenclough Family Hub)

Join Jan Dubiel for a session on Designing and Implementing your EYFS Curriculum. This session will provide an overview of what we mean by ‘Curriculum’ in the EYFS. It will explore how we use our knowledge of the children we work with to ensure that it enables them to develop and make progress by focussing on what they need to learn. It will also provide a practical approach to designing how our curriculum supports the uniqueness of all learners. This will also involve how this enables us to both ensure that our provision delivers this for children and empowers practitioners to be able to understand and describe this.