Providers should have received an email from Nicola West on Friday, 6 October with a link to the New Childcare Offers and Occupancy Autumn 2023 Survey.

As you know the early education and childcare entitlements will be expanded to children aged 2 years with working parents from April 2024. Responses to this survey will assist with the assessment of the potential:

• supply and demand for 15 hour places for eligible 2 year olds
• barriers to places being offered 

A Word version of the survey has already been shared – please do not complete the word version and send it to Nicola. Instead it should be used to see what questions are in the survey in advance of completing the online version.

Please submit your online response before Wednesday, 1 November. If you did not receive the survey link in an email, please email nicola.west@hounslow.gov.uk

Early years nutrition is a critical part of early childhood development and can impact everything from establishing healthy food habits and social behaviour to healthy weight, concentration, good oral health and general wellbeing. Early years settings can support infants and young children to be happier and healthier by nurturing a healthy and balanced diet to support their development in all these areas.

Come and hear about Westminster’s whole systems approach to supporting 0–5-year-olds. Please share this invitation any with colleagues who may be interested.

Friday, 3 November 10.00am - 11.00am

Microsoft Teams meeting

Click here to join the meeting

Children born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 will start school in Reception class in September 2024.

The closing date for applications is 15 January 2024.

Information and the link to make an application can be found via www.hounslow.gov.uk/primaryadmissions

Late applications severely reduce the chances of getting a preferred school. 

If you need help or have any queries, contact the School Admissions Team on 020 8583 2721 or admissions@hounslow.gov.uk

This year’s flu vaccination programme is underway. Children aged 2 and 3 years old (on 31 August before flu vaccination starts in the autumn) are eligible for a free flu vaccine given as a nasal spray.  Those working in the early years sector have an important role to play in raising awareness amongst parents about the annual flu vaccination programme for preschool children.  A leaflet for early years providers giving information about the programme is available and it includes details about how to order free resources to display or give to parents including translations in multiple languages.

Measles cases are rising across the country, with over 102,000 children starting primary school in England being at risk of catching the disease. Measles is highly infectious and if left unvaccinated nine out of ten children in an early years setting can catch the disease if just one child is infectious.

The Back to school MMR Guidance from the NHS includes information to share, as well as example social media posts which can be found here: NHS Vaccine Poster and NHS MMR Poster.

Please share this information to increase awareness and encourage parents to get their children vaccinated.