This framework sets out Ofsted’s inspection principles and the main judgements that inspectors make.

In this update, Ofsted have amended and added information on the inspection process, including:

• expectations for conduct during inspections
• how Ofsted judge safeguarding, including a definition of an open and positive culture of safeguarding
• what inspectors should consider when deciding if a provider has the capacity to improve
• who the inspection outcome may be shared with
• the link between the provider’s curriculum and the behaviours and attitudes of the children at the setting
• who can be present during meetings that take place on inspection
• an amendment in the quality of education judgement to refer to how practitioners and leaders use assessment to plan suitable activities

Toyin Luwa (Free Entitlement Funding Officer) has now left the Early Years Funding team. Please email earlyyearsandchildcare@hounslow.gov.uk with any queries related to funding claims.

Rupa Chandegra (Childcare Sufficiency and Early Years Funding Officer) has now returned from her maternity leave and her working days will be Monday to Thursday effective from 11 September. Rupa may contact you in relation to funding claims.

Here are some ideas to support children at your setting with English as an additional language. These ideas have been taken from our recent booklet ‘Supporting children with English as an additional language in the EYFS’. If you would like a copy, you can find these on the Family Services Directory website under Learning and Development.

This poster can be printed and displayed at your setting to give practitioners some ideas to support children with EAL.

The Family Hubs team have published the Start for Life Offer, which includes information to help families access relevant services and support such as:

• details of the services and which organisation runs them
• appropriate contact details
• link to the service website with addresses and availability information

The support and services in the offer are free. Please circulate to your parents. 

View the website here 

Hounslow Council are looking for young people’s views on air quality as part of their ongoing Air Quality Action Plan 2023 – 2028 consultation.

They have produced a short survey for young people (age up to 18) to give their thoughts on air quality in the borough as part of the ongoing consultation. Poor air quality especially affects vulnerable groups including young people.

The survey only takes 5 minutes to complete and will close on 30 September. If you're interested in filling the survey in, either as a young person or the parent of a young person, please find a link to the survey here.

The Air Quality Action Plan Consultation is still open to all who live, work or visit Hounslow until 13 September. You can find a link to the full document and consultation here: https://hounslow.gov.uk/aqap

Please share this information with your parents.

Colleagues at the NHS Whittington Health Trust have provided information for you to display in your settings to support parents with finding an NHS dentist, as well as tips for keeping teeth healthy.

Please print and display or share with parents the below information.

If you have any staff who would like to attend Oral Health Training, the Oral Health Promotion Team at Whittington Health NHS, Community Dental Services invite you to join them for an interactive and informative training session on Oral health on Microsoft teams Tuesday, 12 September 2023 from 6.30-8.00pm. Staff will be certified for 2 hours CPD please email kendra.blinco@nhs.net or  amanpreet.sidhu@nhs.net  with your setting contact details, and they will then forward the link.

Implementing evidence-informed practice in early years – communication and language

The Foundation Years have released a new vodcast which hears from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and two practitioners from the Ideal Federation in Plymouth, about how you can use EEF tools to support your work with young children. They talk through twelve questions and answers to help stimulate discussion points. View the vodcast here

Foundation Years have released a vodcast to share information on the three changes being made to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) from 4 September 2023.

Jade Gilks (Head of the Early Years Qualifications Unit at the Department for Education) and Wendy Ratcliff (HMI, Principal Officer for Early Years Education at Ofsted) also answer some frequently asked questions about what the changes mean in practice for settings.

You can watch the vodcast here and download the slide pack here. 

This blog extract helps to explain the ratio requirements in early years settings. Please remember when planning staff deployment, it is important to understand the impact on your children and staffing teams. If for example you are using the building ratios, please make sure the children’s needs are always met and that staff are not placed in a stressful situation where they feel uncomfortable or under increased stress. The Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage confirms that you must have at least one qualified level three member of staff working with children under two at all times. 3.32 Pg 29.  

Please remember that you need to always ensure quality of care and safety.

The Department for Education has launched a free online Early Years child development training course aimed at childminders, nursery practitioners and nursery managers.

The flexible online training has been developed in consultation with early years experts and provides a greater understanding of child development.

The training

• gives practical advice for supporting children in early years settings
• includes opportunities to reflect on your practice
• reinforces your understanding through learning check questions and tests
• allows you to pause and restart the training at any time
• offers the chance to download certificates of achievement for each module

The first 5 modules of the training are available now. Further modules will be added throughout 2023.