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Bulletin 360

8 September 2025

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

Business Support

Administering the Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE)

Childcare providers can access various information, including the link to the new establishment portal, via our website.

The webpage also includes the Establishment Portal user guide as well as FEEE deadlines for submitting estimate and headcount data and payment dates for 2025/26 and 2026/27.

Free Early Education Entitlement – Headcount data

Childcare providers who submitted autumn term data via the previous provider portal received an interim payment based on that data in mid-August.

The data was migrated to the new system and is available to view on the Live Register within the new establishment portal.

Link: https://establishmentportal.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Please check that details of all the children attending your setting are included on the Live Register with the correct number of hours to be claimed during autumn term. Please add / amend child records as required.

Free Early Education Entitlement – Disability Access Funding (DAF)

If, when submitting your autumn term data via the previous provider portal, you ticked ‘Nominated for DAF’ (Disability Access Funding) for a child, please upload a copy of the child’s Disability Living Allowance (DLA) evidence via the child’s record on the new establishment portal.

Link: https://establishmentportal.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Thank you to those providers who have already submitted DLA evidence via the new portal. Without the uploaded DLA evidence, the DAF payment of £938 cannot be processed.

Free Early Education Entitlement – new system training

If you haven’t already, please book onto one of the training sessions on the new establishment portal. The sessions are delivered via Microsoft Teams on the following dates:

• Tuesday 9th September 2025 18:30 - 20:00

(Bookings for this session have closed on the training hub – please email earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk to request a place)

• Monday 15th September 2025 10:00 - 11:30
• Wednesday 24th September 18:30 - 20:00

Places can be booked via the ChESS Early Years Training Hub.

Please feel free to attend more than one session if that would be helpful.

Flexible working in early years settings free webinar

As part of the DfE funded flexible working programme, there will be a free webinar taking place focused on flexible working in an early years setting on 8th October at 10am. It will be delivered by one of the ambassador schools’ headteacher and a teacher in a large inner-city nursery. The webinar aims to explore staff retention in early years education and will draw on successful flexible working practices.

Click on the button below to book onto the webinar.

Safeguarding

NSPCC why language matters: the importance of including babies in the language of safeguarding

NSPCC Learning has published a blog in the Why language matters series. The blog explores the ‘baby blind spot’ and the importance of including babies in the language of safeguarding. It discusses how not including ‘babies’ when talking about ‘children and young people’ can lead professionals to overlook the needs and experiences of babies in safeguarding policy, practice and service provision. It also outlines the importance of acknowledging the early years and what professionals can do to keep babies in mind.

Click on the button below to read the blog.

Supporting Providers to have Courageous Conversations

Courageous conversations are essential for maintaining a healthy and transparent environment in childcare settings. They help address issues promptly and build trust among staff and parents.

Childcare works have created a recording which discusses how providers can conduct difficult discussions openly and constructively, so we enhance relationships with parents and staff.

Click the button below to watch the recording.

National Updates

Schools Based Nurseries (SBN) Phase 2 - Autumn 2025 - Expression of interest

Phase 2 of the School-based Nursery (SBN) Capital Grant for 2025 to 2026 is available for eligible state-funded primary-phase schools and maintained nursery schools to apply to the DfE for up to £150,000 of capital funding to create or expand a school-based nursery. These nurseries can be school-run or delivered by private and voluntary providers or childminders on the school’s site. They can also cater for any early years age group, providing there is local demand.  

Schools should register their expression of interest with Cheshire East prior to submitting an application to the DfE to assess the need for nursery provision in the area and future statutory education needs.

Please complete the following form and you will be contacted by members of the School Organisation and Capital Team and Early Years and Childcare Team.

https://forms.office.com/e/iRpUHEEj1r

Please see the DfE website for further information:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-based-nursery-capital-grant-2025-to-2026

Ofsted Early Years Blog - Understanding outcome summaries

Ofsted has published a blog explaining outcome summaries, when they publish one, and how to raise a concern about an outcome summary.

Click on the button below to read the blog.

Ofsted Early Years Blog - Nannies: What you need to know

In July, Ofsted published a blog clarifying the role of nannies and the requirements for proper registration. It outlines key points including: 

• What is a nanny? 
• Caring for children from multiple families 
• Choosing to register as a nanny 
• Letting Ofsted know where you’re working 
• Existing childminders can also work as nannies   

Click on the button below to read the blog.

Starting school – free toilet training posters and handouts for early years settings and parents

With the new school year, now is a good time to ensure children can confidently use the toilet on their own, to make their transition to reception easier.

These downloadable posters and handouts aim to help parents with toilet training and help educators prepare children for using the toilet when they get to school.

The resources include:

• A child checklist for using the toilet
• A ‘toilet story for school’
• A handout for parents

Free early years wellbeing activities for children aged 3-5 years old

Supporting young children's emotional and social development is at the heart of early years education. Partnership for Children provide a collection of free play-based activities designed specifically for early years practitioners and families to help children build resilience, express emotions, and develop social skills.

These engaging resources, based on the Skills for Life programmes, offer practical strategies to support children's transition into nursery or school. The activities are easy to implement, play based and provide clear guidance for practitioners and parents to share with their children.

From interactive games to storytelling prompts, these tools empower children to explore feelings and relationships in an engaging, structured way. Download the free early years activity cards today and enhance your approach to social-emotional learning.

Click the button below to explore the resources at Partnership for Children.

SEND

Early Years Forum – Autumn term dates

Please see below the dates for early years forum in autumn term.

As a guide the north covers Holmes Chapel, Congleton, Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Poynton and Knutsford. The south covers Sandbach, Crewe, Alsager, Middlewich and Nantwich. If you are unsure of your locality, please contact your Portage Quality and Inclusion Practitioner for clarification or email Early Years Forum.

Earlyyearsforum@cheshireeast.gov.uk

For more information, click on the button below.

Cheshire East Chatters

Family Hubs

Bookstart Baby Pack

All children in Cheshire East are eligible for a free Bookstart Baby pack which will be given out by the health visitor at the eight week postnatal check.  Early reading has a postive impact on a baby's brain development, not to mention giving parents and carers time to connect with their baby in a calm and relaxed activity.  If a baby in your setting has not received their pack, please email bookstartcoordinator@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Continuous Professional Development

Cheshire East Educational Psychology Service

‘Using Psychology to shape positive change within our communities through connection, curiosity and compassion. Starts with Psychology, ends with compassion’.

Cheshire East Educational Psychology Team are committed to supporting schools, early years settings and post 16 providers in the implementation of evidence-based practice, to promote positive outcomes for children and young people (CYP).

We are excited to be delivering Early Years Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) training to a number of schools and settings next month. ELSA intervention is designed to enhance a settings capacity to support the emotional wellbeing of their children. By training support staff to create and deliver tailored emotional literacy interventions, settings can better identify and meet the needs of the children using their own resources. The EP Team is excited to welcome more ELSAs to the 164 we have already trained across Cheshire East schools and we look forward to seeing the further positive impact this initiative will have on Cheshire East CYP!

Join us this Autumn Term starting from 16/10/2025.

To secure your EY ELSA training place, please book through the ChESS Early Years Training Hub.

We offer a range of training packages to enhance schools and settings’ level of support. For more information please contact our Traded team on: Traded.epservice@cheshireeast.gov.uk

EP traded service training funded by Virtual School

If you have children on a Child in Need Plan (CIN) or Child Protection Plan (CP), Virtual School can provide funding for a member of staff from your setting to attend training delivered by the EP traded service. For example, Early Years ELSA training.

If your setting meet this criteria, you will need to complete a form and email it to Virtual School. This request will then be reviewed and responded to as to whether it has been approved or not.

To request a form and the contact details for Virtual School, please email earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk

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!

Training back by popular demand this term:

Role of the DSL (part 1 and part 2)

• Thursday 18th September 2025 18:30 - 21:00 (Microsoft Teams)
• Tuesday 30th September 2025 18:30 - 21:00 (Microsoft Teams)

Role of the DSL (part 1 and 2) will be delivered over 2 evening sessions. You must be available to attend the dates for both part 1 and part 2 of the training to receive a certificate and the slides. This 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.

Out of School Club Network

• Wednesday 8th October 2025 10:00 - 11:30 (Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School and Sixth Form College Training and Conference Centre)

This network session is for Out of School Club providers. The Out of School Club Network will include up to date information on the wraparound programme and breakfast clubs’ schemes and provide an opportunity to network with other providers.

Preschool Network

• Wednesday 8th October 2025 18:00 - 19:30 (Oakenclough Family Hub)

This network session is for Preschool providers. This Preschool network is an opportunity for preschool managers, committee chairs and business managers to meet together, make new connections and share experiences. There’s no agenda. Please feel free to come along, network and ask questions. The Childcare Development Team will be facilitating the network.

Staff Wellbeing Workshop

• Thursday 6th November 2025 18:30 - 20:30 (Microsoft Teams)

Join us to explore staff wellbeing, delivered by an Educational Psychologist. Join our interactive online workshop designed to enhance wellbeing and empower you with practical strategies to support the healthy development of wellbeing practices. This session will suggest ways to manage stress effectively while fostering a positive and resilient mindset. Together, we will explore ways to create a supportive environment that prioritises wellbeing. Don't miss this opportunity to focus on your wellbeing and promote a culture of self-care and balance.

Digital Harms

• Wednesday 19th November 2025 10:00 - 12:00 (Microsoft Teams)
• Wednesday 19th November 2025 18:30 - 20:30 (Microsoft Teams)

Join Alistair Barfield from Deflect and Protect for a session on Digital Harms. Deflect and Protect training sessions focus on the greater issues surrounding digital harms with young people, particularly the relationship between generation alpha and content. Young people spend tremendous periods of time online, engaging with friends, watching content and learning about themselves through the internet. This is an incredibly useful tool but does also present some difficulties particularly when looking at issues surrounding Grooming, Radicalism/extreme beliefs and child gambling. These issues are prevalent for all young people but can be amplified when looking at the neurodivergent community. Over the course of the session, we will bridge the gap between young people, (particularly neurodivergent young people) how society views and treats the community as well as the harms that they may encounter online.