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Summer Term Adjustments
The window to submit summer term adjustments is open until Friday 26th June.
If you have any children changing their hours during the term, please amend the funding screen for them on the live register.
Select 'yes' as a midterm change, then enter the date of change and the number of weeks before and after the change.
Please note, you cannot make changes to hours in advance, they can only be changed on or after the date of the increase/decrease in hours.
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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.
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LADO Managing Allegations Training
Led by our Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), this course highlights the role of the LADO and gives you valuable insights into the work that is completed when an allegation is made against a professional. Our LADO team will carefully take you through the processes that must be undertaken and they are happy to answer non-case specific queries to enable you to feel confident to know when making a referral to the LADO service is appropriate. This course is suitable for professionals who work with and support children and their families both directly or indirectly, and we welcome all levels of practice experience.
Previous participants have shared:
• “Really informative, helped give confidence and reassurance that as a professional and a school, we are equipped to manage staff conduct & safeguarding matters effectively.”
• “I felt this training was beneficial in understanding the processes behind LADO – good in my development as a student.”
Please click on the buttons below to book a place.
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DfE announces 9,500 fully funded Early Years SENCO training places from April 2026
As part of the government’s Best Start in Life strategy, to break down barriers to opportunity and improve early identification and support for children with SEND, the Department for Education is very pleased to announce that Best Practice Network (BPN) has been selected as their delivery partner to provide an additional 9,500 Early Years SENCO training places from April 2026 until March 2028.
Training is available across England and is open to Early Years educators currently working as, or due to start working as, a Special Educational Needs Coordinator in their setting.
Early Education Minister Olivia Bailey MP said:
“Early years staff are vital to delivering high-quality support for children and making sure every child, especially those with additional needs, gets the best start in life.
That’s why we’re training 9,500 Early Years SENCOs, backing the sector with the expertise needed to identify SEND early and support children to thrive.
Best Practice Network has a strong track record of delivery, and this next phase will help us reach more settings across the country – particularly in the communities that need it most – so every child can get on and succeed.”
The first cohort of trainees commenced in April 2026 and recruitment is open for future cohorts now. For further information, including eligibility and to complete your application, please see Early Years SENCO - Level 3 | Best Practice Network.
Asbestos in consumer products information page
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) have published a page on gov.uk containing guidance for consumers and businesses on consumer products containing asbestos.
The page provides disposal guidance for both businesses and consumers, including early years settings, along with health information. Settings should review the linked list of contaminated products that are subject to recalls and where products are identified in the setting follow the guidance to ensure their safe disposal.
If you have concerns about a product that you think might contain asbestos but has not been recalled contact the Citizens Advice consumer service.
The Magic of Childminding
Last week was Childminding Week 2026. Coram PACEY has launched ‘The Magic of Childminding’, the largest report of its kind bringing together the real-life experiences, impact and voices of childminders, parents, children and sector experts that demonstrate the magic of childminding in action across England and Wales. They highlight the transformational impact childminding has on children, families and communities and the need for Governments in England and Wales to support and grow the childminding workforce.
Click the button below to read the report.
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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.
Beyond The Burnout: Wellbeing Tools For Overstretched SENCOs Webinar
The Witherslack Group have produced a webinar presented by Miriam Dybery-Tengroth, Senior Psychologist, which shares practical wellbeing tools and strategies to help SENCOs to manage stress, prevent burnout, and stay at their best.
In this webinar, Miriam shares:
- SENCO-specific wellbeing tips to use in high-pressure moments
- How to spot the early signs of burnout and what to so before is escalates
- Realistic ways to balance leadership responsibilities while supporting both staff and pupils
- Tools to build and sustain resilience, including ways to reset and recharge
To watch the webinar on YouTube click on the button below.
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Childhood Vaccination in Cheshire & Merseyside
Our Family Hub Start for Life teams are currently working with the Improving Immunisation Team to better understand and identify key issues, barriers, trends, and patterns affecting vaccine uptake across different groups, including any unique local challenges for families.
We would really appreciate your support to share a survey with families in your settings to help us in understanding barriers.
Here is a link you could share with families through your messaging platforms- or please see the poster below with a QR code that you could share or display in your settings.
Childhood Vaccination in Cheshire & Merseyside – Parent Survey – Fill in form
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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 after half term:
STEM in the Early Years - 1st June 2026 18:00 - 20:30 (Microsoft Teams)
This two-and-a-half-hour training course will introduce Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts within early years settings. It has been designed to help practitioners confidently embed STEM learning into everyday practice. This training will support you in understanding how STEM can be delivered through play-based, child-led experiences. You will explore practical activities that promote curiosity, investigation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The session will demonstrate how everyday resources and environments can be used to introduce early scientific and mathematical thinking in meaningful and engaging ways. By the end of the course, you will have a bank of ideas and strategies to integrate STEM opportunities seamlessly into your provision.
Out of School Club Network - 3rd June 2026 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.
Safe Sleep and ICON - 4th June 2026 09:30 - 11:30 (Microsoft Teams)
Join us to learn about safer sleep and ICON (Infant Crying and preventing abusive head trauma). Delivered by Charlotte Coop Specialist Health Visitor on Enhancing Families Programme, and Megan Vause Family Nurse with 12 years safeguarding midwifery experience. The training will provide information on safer sleep practices including the most up to date, evidence-based practice regarding the safest ways of babies to sleep. This session will also provide you with information regarding ICON, a national initiative to help reduce the risk of abusive head trauma, more commonly known as shaken baby syndrome.
Staff Wellbeing Workshop - 4th June 2026 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.
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