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Bulletin 375

19 January 2026

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

Liquidlogic

Spring term headcount submission

The headcount window opens on 15 January and closes on 31 January. Thank you to those providers who have already logged onto the establishment portal and viewed their submission and provided feedback.

Some providers have experienced issues with their headcount e.g., not all records on the Live Register are appearing on the headcount submission.

To resolve this issue, please recheck a child’s eligibility for the entitlements via their record on the Live Register (including a 2-year-old funding check if prompted). Once a new check has been completed, the child will appear on the headcount submission.

Funding is dependent on the headcount submission. It is therefore vital that all providers check that the total number of children on the Live Register matches the total number of children on the headcount submission.

Business Support

Indicative Funding Formula from 1 April 2026 (to be confirmed by 28 February 2026)

The DfE has confirmed the funding allocation for 2026-27. Following consultation with the Early Years Reference Group, the following increases will be presented to Committee for approval. These are INDICATIVE ONLY at this stage and SUBJECT TO COMMITTEE APPROVAL in February. The agreed rates will be CONFIRMED BY 28 FEBRUARY 2026.

Indicative Funding Formula from 1 April 2026 (to be confirmed by 28 February 2026):

Jobcentre Plus Support for Employers

Jobcentre Plus' network of local Employer Advisers can help you to find the right people for your jobs. They will work with you to fill your vacancies using the most suitable recruitment solution, including: help with job descriptions speeding up your recruitment process promoting your vacancies in local Jobcentres and on their social media use of Jobcentre Plus offices for interviews (where available) and local recruitment events planning future recruitments find a job - a free online jobs site Contact your local Jobcentre Plus Employer Adviser on crewe.lmra1@dwp.gov.uk to advertise and promote your vacancies. Please note: this email address applies to all Jobcentre Plus' in Cheshire East.

Safeguarding

CESCP Neglect Strategy: Training on Tools and Best Practice

Final roll out of Neglect Strategy training - don't miss out book your place now!

Sessions are limited to a maximum of 25 people, so please book quickly using the links below to ensure your place. If the session you would like to attend is fully booked, please email CESCPtraining@cheshireeast.gov.uk to be added to the waiting list.

Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day is on Tuesday 10th February. The UK Safer Internet Centre has a range of resources available to help you to cover this year's official theme:
Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI.

About the education resources

These free resources are designed for use with 3-7, 7-11, 11-14 and 14-18 year olds, with each resource pack containing presentation slides, activities and also an assembly for the whole school.

Top tips, quizzes and more

Alongside these resources, there are also top tips for parents, carers, and young people. These tips cover the key things each age group need to know about using AI safely and responsibly.

You can also test your AI knowledge with this year's Safer Internet Day quizzes! These quizzes are designed for 7-11 and 11-14 year olds, and can be a great way to see how much the young people you work with have learned about AI and how they would handle different online situations and scenarios.

What you can do this week! 

There are lots of things you can do to get ready for Safer Internet Day! These include:

1. Register as a Safer Internet Day Supporter here, and join the hundreds of organisations across the UK celebrating this year!
2. Download the free, official Education Resources
3. Test your knowledge about AI with the quizzes

Read the top tips for young people, as well as parents and carers

National Updates

New training to help every child and young person thrive

On Friday 16 January, the Secretary of State for Education announced a £200 million investment to upskill staff in every early years setting, school and college – the most comprehensive training package on SEND and inclusion the English education system has ever seen.

This investment will support more children and young people with SEND to thrive at their local nursery, childminder, school or college. With access to new tools and training, inclusive practice will become the standard, with excellent practice shared across the county.

Click on the link below to read the Secretary of State for Education's announcement. 

SEND

Early Years Forum and Early Years SENIF applications

We have been experiencing significant technical issues with our systems, which are impacting our ability to process requests, create documents and access documentation.

Please be assured that we are working urgently with our IT colleagues to resolve these issues. In the meantime, this may cause delays.

We understand how important these processes are and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Family Hubs

Cheshire East Family Hubs Local Plan Collaborative Events 2026

We are delighted to invite you to join us for a co-production event following the Department for Education’s recent Best Start in Life announcement.

The government’s Plan for Change sets an ambitious mission: to ensure every child has the best start in life and is ready to learn by the time they start school. By 2028, the aim is for a record 75% of children to reach a good level of development by the end of reception.

This event is an opportunity for schools, early years settings, and partners to come together to:

• Explore what the Best Start in Life mission means for our local area.
• Share ideas and expertise to shape how we deliver support for families and children.
• Strengthen collaboration between education, health, and community services.

Your input is vital in helping us break down barriers to opportunity and ensure every child can grow, play, learn, and thrive.

Our Local Plan will mirror our locality structure in Cheshire East, so please book onto the event which is taking place in your area:

N1 – Wilmslow and Knutsford/Congleton and Holmes Chapel

Tuesday 24th February, 1pm-3pm, Oakenclough Family Hub

N2 – Macclesfield North/Macclesfield South

Tuesday 10th February, 10am-12pm, Macclesfield Town Hall

S1 – Nantwich and Rural/Crewe South

Monday 9th February, 10am-12pm, Crewe Alexandra Football Club

S2 – Sandbach, Middlewich and Alsager/Crewe North

Monday 2nd March, 10am-12pm, Middlewich Canalside Conference Centre

This event for our colleagues from schools and settings is tailored towards Headteachers, Deputy or Assistant Headteachers and EYFS Leads.

To book your place please complete the form at: Cheshire East Family Hubs Local Plan Collaborative Events 2026 – Fill in form

2026: The National Year of Reading – Start Their Journey Today!

This year is the National Year of Reading, and there’s no better time to introduce your child to the joy of books and stories.

Join our Preschool Activity Sessions Encourage language development in a relaxed, friendly setting.

BookStart Bear Club Preschoolers can join the BookStart Bear Club and earn certificates for visiting the library and sharing stories with their parents – a fun way to celebrate reading together!

Make it a Family Experience!

• Build together in LEGO® Groups
• Challenge minds in Chess Clubs
• Enjoy School Holiday Activities
• Or simply choose and share books together

Free to Join – Free to Borrow Your library membership opens the door to endless adventures!

Visit your local library today and start the journey!

Training

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:

Delivering Small Groups - 27th January 2026 18:30 - 20:30 (Microsoft Teams)

Together with our specialist Speech and Language Therapists you will explore ways to set up small groups focussing on the development of attention and listening skills as well as language skills and vocabulary. You will learn more about how to identify children for the groups as well as sharing thoughts and ideas around using a total communication approach to support children to engage with the activities. Attention and Listening and Vocabulary session planning booklets are included with this training as well as lists of necessary equipment.

Early Years Leaders Network - 29th January 2026 18:30 - 20:00 (Microsoft Teams)

*Please note: this network was previously titled 'Owners, Managers and Childminders'*

The Early Years Leaders Network is for owners, managers, leaders and childminders of Early Years and Childcare settings. These networks are an opportunity to hear the latest updates from the Early Years Team, ask questions and network with other professionals.

The Graduated Approach and Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP) - 30th January 2026 14:00 - 15:00 (Microsoft Teams)

Gary Aubin, from SEND Matters UK is a national speaker who leads on a SEND School Improvement programme with Whole Education. He is also the Education Endowment Foundation’s SEND Associate and has recently sat on the government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review panel. This training will look at the role of Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP) in supporting every setting and every practitioner to deliver the best provision possible for children who have, or may have, SEND. Gary will look at how settings embed an inclusive culture, including through strategies that can support children in the EYFS.