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Early Years and Childcare Service Newsletter
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This newsletter contains the following items:
- New to Leadership - next cohort
- Events for families at Boston Manor Park
- Hounslow School Readiness Conference
- Using the experience based route in your setting
- Cybersecurity - a recent warning for schools and nurseries
- Help keep families safe this bonfire night
- Healthy Eating Policy
- SEND Inclusion Funding Panels - Thank you
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Are you a new Manager or an aspiring Deputy? Our New to Early Years Leadership Network will commence again in January 2026!
Sessions will include input from our first cohort. Please email earlyyearsadvisory@hounslow.gov.uk to register your interest.
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There are lots of fun activities running at Boston Manor Park throughout the winter for all ages, from little ones to adults. From holiday clubs to bat walks, from cycling to Christmas crafting, there is something for everyone. Please share the information with your families. The timetable can be accessed via the button below.
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Our first ever School Readiness Conference was a huge success with over 60 delegates in attendance. The key note speakers delivered presentations to offer advice on a range of approaches that can be taken to help prepare children for the transition into educational settings.
Think Equal founder Leslee Udwin joined us remotely to talk about her worldwide initiative to support social and emotional learning. The Think Equal sessions are now being offered in many of our school Reception and Nursery classes, as well as an increasing number of PVI settings.
Delegates were able to network with a range of market place holders during lunch, to gain access to various channels of support from services, before taking part in a variety of workshops, including oral health, emotional regulation, transitions and settling systems and building routines. The day was a great opportunity for colleagues to come together and network, and the feedback received showed how much they enjoyed the Hounslow School Readiness Conference.
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The DfE have updated their published information about using the experience based route early years settings. This allows for suitable and experienced staff, who do not hold full and relevant qualifications, to be included in the staff:child ratios at level 3 following a period of supervised practice. Please click here to view the updated guidance. |
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The cyber-attack on a UK nursery has highlighted the growing risks faced by educational settings. Sensitive information about young children and their families has been stolen and posted online, showing just how vulnerable schools and nurseries can be to digital threats.
This incident underlines three important lessons. First, no organisation is too small to be a target, criminals deliberately target settings where security may be weaker. Second, the impact goes beyond systems, directly affecting children, families, and staff. Finally, prevention and preparedness are essential: relying on “it won’t happen to us” is no longer safe.
It is a timely reminder that schools should take proactive steps to strengthen their cyber security, from staff awareness training to technical protections.
For further information please click here.
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Colleagues in Public Health have created an updated Healthy Eating Policy for you to use and adapt. This policy is inline with the new requirement in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for providers to have regard to the new nutrition guidance. You can view the policy by clicking the button below. |
Thank you to everyone involved in our revised model of SEND Inclusion Fund panel meetings. The quality of the SENCO presentations was outstanding, clear, reflective, and full of impact. Your professionalism and commitment to inclusive practice truly shone through. These sessions highlighted the strength of collaboration across our sector and our shared dedication to improving outcomes for children. |
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Thank you for subscribing to our Early Education newsletter. If you'd like to subscribe to more newsletters on a variety of topics from Hounslow Council, please click here. For a full list of current job opportunities please visit our website. |
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