North Lincolnshire Council has a statutory duty to provide information on local childcare options to parents and carers.  This has been done through FIDy but will be moving over to Live Well North Lincolnshire.

A basic record has been added to the website for you in line with information already publicly available through Ofsted. To help parents and carers to make the right choice for their child, and to help you to support your own business, we would like to invite you to add extra details about the service you offer by logging in and updating your record on the directory.

You will be shortly emailed guidance to do this as soon as possible and then please make a note to regularly review and update the information. Live Well North Lincolnshire is an opportunity for you to market your childcare business simply and effectively for free.

What do birdboxes, bee hotels, fire woks and nature experts all have in common? They are all available free to early years settings*, Infant, Primary and Secondary schools as part of Learning through Landscapes Local School Nature Grants Programme, supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

The grants provide an assortment of nature equipment up to the value of £500 and a two hour training session. The packages are customisable, enabling settings to choose from a menu of items which best suit their learners and their setting.

For more information and to apply visit the nature grants website.

*early years settings must have a dedicated building and employ at least 5 members of staff.

From 17 March 2022, if someone in a childminder’s household has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms, childminders can continue to childmind at home. Childminders are advised to follow the steps below to reduce the risk of onward transmission.

• The person who has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms should avoid contact with the children being cared for in the setting.
• Where possible, use separate toilet and handwashing facilities.  If this is not possible, maintain extra cleaning and hygiene routines, particularly after the person has used the facilities.
• Notify parents and carers of the children attending the setting, and any assistants, about the person who has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms, as soon as reasonably possible and maintain open communication with them throughout.
• Consider the need to reduce the spread of COVID-19 with mitigations such as ventilation and extra cleaning and hygiene routines. They should be applied where practical and safe to do so. Additional guidance is available in Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread.
• Comply with health and safety law by reviewing your risk assessment. The risk assessment must demonstrate that the provision of childcare in your setting is safe and how you will put into place any additional but proportionate measures

Childminders can also consider using alternative places to childmind such as other childminders’ houses, where possible.

The Adult Education and Community Learning Team are holding some baby and pre-school courses after Easter.

• Baby Massage (Brigg Hub - The Angel)
• Baby Yoga (Brigg Hub - The Angel)
• Baby Play (Crosby Collective - Park Library)
• Baby Sign Language (Baysgarth Hub)
• Pre-School Let's Move Together (Crowle Hub)

Please share with parents who you feel these courses will be beneficial for including targeted families such as:

• Living in area of deprivation
• FSM/EYPP/2-year funded etc 
• On benefits/Unemployed/Low Skilled etc
• Parents who need support with their health/wellbeing/mental health/parenting
• Children showing signs of delayed speech & language, development etc

Places can be booked via the North Lincolnshire Adult Education and Community Learning