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Bulletin 386

27 April 2026

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

Liquidlogic

Free Early Education Entitlement team

We would like to introduce our new member of the team – Rachael Blackhurst, Early Years Business Support Assistant. We’re very pleased to have her with us as extra support for childcare providers and families.

Rachael along with Emma, Hasibullah and Karolina are here to help and support and can be contacted via FEEE@cheshireeast.gov.uk or 01270 685888.

Headcount Submission Summer Term

The portal is open to submit your headcount for the summer term until Friday 1st May.

Thank you to everyone who has already submitted.

If we do not receive a headcount, we will not be able to calculate a balancing payment for the summer term.  

Please note, if a working family code has expired and was not been reconfirmed by 31st March, the hours will not be able to be submitted on your headcount.

Business Support

Safeguarding

Safer Recruitment training – Saturday 10th October 2026

We are hosting Safer Recruitment training on Saturday 10th October 2026, from 10:00am to 4:00pm in Holmes Chapel, specifically for group-based and childminding settings.

This training session is designed for anyone who is unable to attend the mid-week Safer Recruitment training. If you have already completed this training recently, you do not need to attend. 

This session will cover the full Safer Recruitment training programme, and all attendees will receive a certificate of attendance. Complimentary tea, coffee, and a buffet lunch will be provided. There is no charge for this session.

Please book your place via the ChESS Early Years Training Hub: Safer Recruitment - 10th October 2026 | Chess Early Years Training Hub.

National Updates

Further advice on safer sleep from the Department for Education

The DfE have published guidance to help you create and maintain safer sleep environments for babies and young children in your care.

This guidance has been developed in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust and supports planned updates to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, expected to come into effect from September 2026.

It includes information on:

• how to provide an appropriate sleep space for babies and children
• safe use of cots, mattresses, bedding and sleep bags, including relevant British Standards
• how to supervise children while they are sleeping
• what to do when babies and children fall asleep while travelling, managing temperature, positioning and the use of comforters

By following this guidance, you can help keep children safe and meet EYFS requirements, while supporting consistent practice across early years settings.

The DfE has also published answers to frequently asked questions to help early years providers prepare for the planned updates.

Further information is available through NHS guidance on sudden infant death syndrome and from The Lullaby Trust.

SEND

Early Years Forum – summer term dates

Please see below the dates for early years forum in summer 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.

Early years forum – information for practitioners

Early Years SEN inclusion funding – summer term dates

Please see below the dates for SENIF in summer term.

All requests for Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding (SENIF) must have a completed provision map to support the application. The provision map template is available on the application link SEND Inclusion Funding (cheshireeast.gov.uk) and should be used in conjunction with the SENIF policy documents. The provision map is essential when applying for support provided over and above ordinarily available inclusive provision. SENIF is to support children accessing the Early Education Entitlement hours only.

You will receive an email confirmation for all documents submitted to EarlyYearsSenHelpline@cheshireeast.gov.uk. If you do not receive confirmation, please contact 01625 374170.

0 – 25 SEND Partnership Surveys now Live

The Cheshire East 0-25 SEND Partnership is inviting education settings, families, and young people to take part in an important survey about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services for children and young people aged 0-25. We want to hear about what is working well and what we could do better to improve experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

Your views really do matter. The feedback we receive will be used to help shape and improve SEND support and services across Cheshire East.

Please complete the education setting survey online by Monday 4th May 2026:

https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/SEND_Survey_2026_Educational_Setting/ 

We are also asking for your help to share with and support families to complete their survey via the link below.

Parent and carer survey:

https://surveys.cheshireeast.gov.uk/s/SEND_Survey_2026_Parent_Carers/

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

DfE SEND Consultation

On Monday 23 February, the Department for Education’s Secretary of State published the Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving alongside a consultation on SEND reform (Putting Children and Young People First). There has also been a series of guidance documents published.  

The changes announced aim to create an inclusive system where support is embedded from the very start of a child’s life. The Department for Education is committed to developing a locally integrated system, bringing education, health and care together so children’s needs are identified early and families receive effective, evidence-based support from the outset. They would like you to get involved by accessing the consultation at: SEND reform: putting children and young people first - Department for Education - Citizen Space and to take part with events that will be taking place throughout the consultation period. The consultation closes on Monday 18th May 2026.

Family Hubs

Bookstart Dual Language Allocation 2026/27 – Ordering Information

We are pleased to confirm our Bookstart Dual Language allocation for 2026/27.

What are Bookstart Dual Language packs?

Bookstart Dual Language packs are designed for babies and toddlers who are growing up in families where English is an additional language. The packs include a dual language book that supports early communication, language development and sharing books at home in both the home language and English.

When should you request a pack?

You should request a Bookstart Dual Language pack when:

• A baby or toddler in your setting has English as an additional language
• The family would benefit from sharing a book in their home language
• The family has not already received a Bookstart Dual Language book

Please speak with parents or carers before placing a request to check the language required and confirm they would like to receive a pack.

What languages are available?

BookTrust provides dual language books in over 30 community languages. Please request a language that is relevant to the child and family.

How to order a pack

To request a Bookstart Dual Language pack, please email the Bookstart Coordinator with the following information:

• Child’s age (baby or toddler)
• Requested language
• Name and address of your nursery setting
• Name, role and contact details of the requesting practitioner

Requests should be sent to: bookstartcoordinator@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Important information

• Packs are free of charge but stock is limited, so please only request packs where there is a clear need
• Please request one dual language book per child
• Packs should be shared with families alongside encouragement and guidance on enjoying books together at home

If you have any questions or are unsure whether a pack should be requested, please contact the Bookstart Coordinator using the email address above.

Thank you for your continued support in promoting early language, literacy and a love of books for young children.

Training

Summer 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 summer term, please take a look and book on now!

Upcoming training next week:

Learning Language in the Outdoors - 5th May 2026 18:30 - 20:00 (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.

Step Inside the Preschool Room - 7th May 2026 18:30 - 20:30 (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.