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Bulletin 369

17 November 2025

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

Liquidlogic

Establishment Portal – Spring term estimation

The estimate submission period opens on 16 November and closes on 30 November. Please add any future starters for spring term to the Live Register before using the Estimate Submission Wizard to submit your claim.

Estimates can be found in the Early Years dropdown menu.

The estimate submission period opens on 16 November and closes on 30 November. Please add any future starters for spring term to the Live Register before using the Estimate Submission Wizard to submit your claim.

Estimates can be found in the Early Years dropdown menu.

Establishment Portal – Working family entitlement eligibility codes

Children who appear on the Live Register with a grace period end date alert of 31 December 2025 may already have had their eligibility code reconfirmed.

To check / remove the ‘Alert’, click the ‘View’ button against the child record, then ‘Edit’ and click ‘Check Eligibility for Working Parent Entitlement’.

Following this process will refresh the grace period end date if the parent has reconfirmed the code.

Children who appear on the Live Register with a grace period end date alert of 31 December 2025 may already have had their eligibility code reconfirmed.

To check / remove the ‘Alert’, click the ‘View’ button against the child record, then ‘Edit’ and click ‘Check Eligibility for Working Parent Entitlement’.

Following this process will refresh the grace period end date if the parent has reconfirmed the code.

Business Support

Sign up to Tax-Free Childcare if you’re a childcare provider

Click on the button below to find out how to sign up to Tax-Free Childcare and get a childcare provider account to receive payments from parents using Tax-Free Childcare.

Safeguarding

Families First Partnership - DSL's Webinar

Families First reforms in Cheshire East are designed to strengthen the support available for children and families through more joined-up, relationship-based working. These reforms place prevention, early help, and children’s voices at the heart of everything we do.

There will be an information session on Monday 1st December 2025 - 15:45 - 16:15 on Microsoft Teams for DSL’s to update them on the upcoming implementation of these national reforms.

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

Infection, Prevention and Control recording

In spring term we had an Infection Prevention & Control Specialist Nurse from Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust deliver 3 sessions of Infection, Prevention and Control training on Microsoft Teams.

The training covered the importance of infection control, how infection can be spread and standard precautions and the strategies which are used to stop the spread of infection e.g., PPE, hand hygiene and cleaning. These sessions also provided an overview of common illnesses and your point of contact for advice and guidance.

If you missed the sessions and would like to view the recording, please email earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk to request the YouTube link.

National Updates

Ofsted explore an area

Ofsted have published their explore an area webpage where inspectors, providers and parents can explore education, childcare and local context.

SEND

EY SEN Forum and SEN Inclusion dates for Spring term

The web pages have now been updated for Spring term.

Early years forum – information for practitioners and SEND Inclusion Funding.

Please note that all referrals and applications for January must be submitted before the New Year! For reviews please check letters for funding end dates. Please ensure that all SEN Support Plans are reviewed, any changes have been made to the provision map and current Stoke Speaks Out tracking – is provided.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact earlyyearssenhelpline@cheshireeast.gov.uk or ring 01625 374170.

Preparing For Adulthood (PFA) From Early Years

It is important to consider PFA which starts from right at the beginning of a child’s journey in Early Years, continuing through primary, secondary and Post 16. This needs to be person-centred considering the stage the child/young person is currently at and the end goal/aspiration. School readiness and life skills are perfect examples of how we are supporting children to develop independence and prepare for adulthood. For example, teaching a child to use a knife and fork in early years/primary school is an example of PFA. This then continues to develop as they gain more independence to making healthy meal choices and ordering their own food at secondary school/college canteens. The National Development Team for Inclusion provide various person-centred planning resources http://www.ndti.org.uk/resources/preparing-for-adulthood-all-tools-resources.

We’re delighted to announce the second SEND Careers Fair will be taking place on Wednesday 19th November at Congleton Leisure Centre. The ‘Your Future’ event is designed to support children/young people with SEND at every stage of their PFA journey. It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore the wide range of services and support available across Cheshire East.

We encourage you to share this event across your networks and drop in on the day to discover more about the local offer and how we’re working together to support positive futures.

If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Rachael Pickles – Transition Team Manager:

Rachael.pickles2@cheshireeast.gov.uk 07816 144386

Family Hubs

Library Pre-school Activities

BookTrust Storytime is an exciting library experience for families, offering a fun, easy way to entertain under 5s at your local library. Come and enjoy free and lively activities in a space you can have fun and enjoy stories together. It is part of BookTrust’s Early Years journey which also includes the Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler programme. In Cheshire East our libraries run a range of Storytime and Rhymetime sessions for you to attend with the children in your setting.

Training

Autumn Term Training available on the Early Years Training Hub

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

Trauma and Attachment in Early Childhood – 24th November 2025 18:30 - 20:30 (Microsoft Teams)

Join us 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.

Role of the SENCO – 25th November 2025 9:30 - 15:30 (Oakenclough Family Hub)

This course has been written for those new to the role of the SENCO and those wishing to refresh their knowledge. If you need information on Cheshire East’s graduated approach, Cheshire East’s SEND Toolkit, up to date and relevant paperwork, external advice systems and processes, then this is the course for you. We will also share useful ideas and strategies, the roles and responsibilities of the Early Years SENCO and time to discuss any questions with other professionals.

Early Language Lead Network – 26th November 2025 9:30 - 11:30 (Microsoft Teams)

These sessions are delivered by Cheshire East Chatters Speech and Language Therapists. The Early Language Lead Network offers information and advice on how to support the early communication and language development of the children in your setting. These sessions are a chance for you to find out more about local and national updates around supporting children with SLCN. We often have guest speakers from the Family Hubs to share what’s happening in your local area.

SENCO Network – 26th November 2025 16:00 - 17:30 (Sandbach Library)

These network sessions are intended to further develop your understanding, knowledge and skills as SENCO. At these meetings there will be opportunities for discussion with other SENCO’s, networking, sharing of effective practice/materials, input from other agencies and updates on new legislation/initiatives. Attendance at each termly network is highly recommended to keep your SEND knowledge up to date.

Step Inside the Preschool Room – 28th November 2025 9:30 - 11:30 (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.