The Department for Education have published new information and guidance on supporting babies and young children with their mental health.

.The guidance:
• explains how we all have mental health just as we have physical health, and this includes babies and young children
• explains how practitioners can support positive mental health in early years children
• includes emotional and behavioural support strategies to use in early years settings
• links to further reading and resources

For more guidance on supporting children in the early years, visit the Help for Early Years Providers website

Ofsted has published its response to a recent consultation on how the inspectorate handles complaints about its work.

It has confirmed plans to proceed with the following proposals:

* Asking inspectors to check whether providers have any queries or concerns during the pre-inspection notification call or when an inspector arrives on site; at end-of-day meetings; and at the final feedback session

* Introducing a new opportunity for providers to contact Ofsted on the day after the end of an inspection visit to discuss any unresolved issues

* Introducing two new routes that providers can go down when they receive their draft inspection report from Ofsted: a) highlighting minor points of clarity or factual accuracy, which Ofsted will consider before finalising the provider's inspection report, or (b) submitting a formal complaint if providers want to seek a review of the inspection findings and judgements.

* Allowing unresolved complaints to be escalated directly to the Independent Complaints Adjudication Service for Ofsted (ICASO) rather than requiring an Ofsted internal review

* Adding a periodic review of closed complaints using external representatives from the sectors Ofsted inspects

The full consultation response is available here.

There have been a number reports on social media and in the press about a recent incident involving silicone feeding bowls. Please visit this link for more information.

This Stronger Practice Hub was designated by the Department for Education (DfE) to provide specific support, to early years settings in Yorkshire and Humberside, focussing on areas most affected by Covid -19. You can find out more information here.

They would also really like to hear from you and what you feel are the development needs for your setting.  You can complete this through this link.

First Steps Forward (FSF) is an exciting new project built around strengthening our deprived communities, with particular emphasis on the experiences of young children up to the age of 5, and their wider families. The aim is to help tackle the broad inequalities that some families face which significantly impact on the future life chances of children, and perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of deprivation.

At this time the service will be restricted to the Scunthorpe communities, because this is where the highest level of inequalities sit, though it is hoped the project will reach wider in the future.

For more information about referring a family, please read this leaflet and visit their website.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has published top tips on data protection for early years setting, to help you get started with data protection compliance.

You can read their advice here.

Dingley's Promise have launched a manifesto highlighting their vision for a more inclusive early years. The manifesto is backed by some big Early Years names, such as Coram and Early Years Alliance and you can find it here.

Early Excellence have developed a range of resources which aim to make Science, Technology and Maths more accessible and fascinating to everyone.

If you are considering how to elevate these areas of provision to inspire the scientists and engineers of the future, why not take a look at Continuous Provision Inside Out.

They also highlight their extensive range of resources to support Science, Maths and Technology in EYFS for you to explore – and a great starting point will be to explore the STEM Provision Audit Tool 3-5yrs in the Ideas & Inspiration section on their website

Kirsty Page, from the Literacy Launchpad, has updated her Universal CPD Index with the following recordings.

Using Interactions to Support SLCD

This session is aimed at EYFS Leaders and Practitioners including those who work with younger children. We talk through interaction strategies & principles that support different types of Speech, Language & Communication skill gaps. We use the analogy of having a Toolkit of strategies which we can utilise with different children at different times, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach to SLC support & Language Enrichment. The focus is definitely on embedding interventions into Quality Interactions.

https://youtu.be/eIa5JbF2BPg

Using the Learning Environment to Support Skill Development

This session is aimed at EYFS Leaders and Practitioners including those who work with younger children. It builds on the Interaction Session above but it can be viewed as a stand-alone session. In this session we talk about using our Learning Environment & Daily Routines in a really targeted way to embed interventions and to close SLC and other developmental skill gaps. Even if you deliver an isolated intervention programme, this CPD will support you to look at your wider practice which, in my opinion, is essential.

https://youtu.be/tKDhfg-ezcE

North Lincolnshire Council has launched funding designed to assist micro and small businesses in employing apprentices aged between 19 to 25 through UKSPF. In doing so, this initiative aims to support businesses by upskilling this specific age group, fostering a pathway to sustained economic growth.

It's worth noting that while the government currently provides a £1000 young apprenticeship grant exclusively for apprentices aged 16–18, our proposed scheme extends its support to ensure financial assistance continues until the age of 25.

Investment from the Apprenticeship grant (up to £1000 per applicant) can only be used for the employment of new L2 or above apprentices aged between 19 and 25 years old. Notably, funding existing members of staff aged between 19 and 25 years old to undertake an apprenticeship is eligible.

To read the full guidance, eligibility criteria, and to apply, please click here.

The Directory of training and CPD opportunities for the Spring Term 2024 will be sent out by the end of this week. Please share it with all your staff members.  

Bi-borough Early Education and Childcare Service are holding a Virtual Early Years Conference: ‘Embracing inclusivity in Early Years for all early years settings, schools, childminders and other professionals who work within early years.

This is being held on Friday 23 February 2024 from 9.15am to 1.05pm on ZOOM webinar. The cost is £35.

For more information and to book a place click here.

Please share the link to the recent NL Family (previously Families Direct)