The interim changes to the project that came info effect in September 2024 are now in place and reflected on the website.

• First Steps has been removed. Registered users can now complete Bronze immediately, but data for existing First Steps awards remain.
• The audit for the Silver award has been removed. Settings who have already achieved Silver can still view the audits they completed in their application.
• The number of required case studies for Gold is now one instead of two, but settings can still do two if they would like to capture additional work. Settings who have already achieved Gold can still view the two case studies they've submitted in their application.
• Silver and Gold awards that are due for renewal between now and September 2025 have been extended for a year to remove the renewal requirement while we update the renewal process.

For further information, or to sign up to register for the award scheme, please click here.

The Department for Education is introducing new flexibilities for childminders from 1 November to help more childminders join and stay in the profession. The new flexibilities will:

• Create a new category of childminders who work entirely from non-domestic premises
• Increase, from 3 to 4, the total number of people that can work together under a childminder’s registration (including the childminder)
• Give childminders and providers of childcare on domestic premises (CODPs) more flexibility, allowing them to spend more time operating outside of domestic premises, such as a community hall or school
• Increase the number of people needed for CODPs to operate from 4 or more, to 5 or more people providing care. Note: CODPs that were registered, or applied to register, before 1 November can continue operating with 4 or more people.

The department has published an article on the Foundation Years website to give an overview of the changes and answer main FAQs – see Newsflash – New Flexibilities for Childminders - Foundation Years.

The Reach Foundation are currently recruiting practitioners for their Level 1 Diploma in Caring for Children. The course is free to those who live in the Feltham, Hanworth and Bedfont communities.

You can find more details in the poster below, and if you have any queries, please contact jade.barham@reachfoundation.org.uk

A reminder to all settings to please inform us if you have any new children in your setting who are known to Social Care or who are vulnerable for additional support. In addition to this, please ensure you inform us if you have any Reception aged children in your setting this academic year who will need the profile to be completed next summer.

If either of the above apply, please contact your allocated advisor, or you can email earlyyearsadvisory@hounslow.gov.uk and your message will be passed to the relevant team member.