Early Years Bulletin

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Early years bulletin

31 October 2022

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Following their attendance at ‘Get Inspired Portsmouth’, our Quality and Sufficiency Officers have continued to attend local Careers and Jobs Fairs to promote careers in the early years and childcare sector. The QSOs have spoken to crowds of young people across the events and provided them with information about different roles and routes into the sector. They also shared your current job vacancies with job seekers interested in childcare careers.

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If you have a job vacancy, take a look at our 'Childcare vacancies in Portsmouth' webpage, for details of how to advertise with us.  


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Please note, this course is fully booked. Please book onto the waiting list to register your interest. We will run another course if there is enough demand.

Outline: The PSCP previously delivered this course on several dates during March-July 2022. However, all were delivered during the day. Following the high level of demand and interest in this topic, the PSCP are delivering this bespoke evening course for Childminders and EY professionals who were unable to attend the daytime timeslots. The course will be delivered over two evenings, both sessions must be attended to gain a certificate of attendance.

Description: This course is for Childminders and Early Years Practitioners working with our youngest children. PSCP tutors will explore what makes an infant vulnerable to abuse and share research about the risk factors to babies and infants. You will gain knowledge of the HIPS procedures and protocols for safeguarding and protecting children under the age of 3 years, and confidence to have critical conversations with parents/carers about safeguarding and caring for their baby.

Part 1: Thursday 17 November 2022, 19:00 - 21:00 via MS Teams

Part 2: Thursday 24 November 2022, 19:00 - 21:00 via MS Teams

Any problems booking please email: eyworkforce@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Book onto the waiting list

View the poster


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To recognise the immense efforts of childcare and early year's staff in the city, Teach Portsmouth is introducing a brand new category for the profession which will support wider recruitment and retention aims. The Teach Portsmouth Awards is a not-for-profit event that celebrates the contribution of early years, primary, secondary and specialist school staff in the city. The awards ceremony will be hosted at Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday 29 June 2023.

The new childcare and early year's category will celebrate the incredible efforts of staff in those settings who support young children every day. From childminders to nursery managers, this award recognises their actions, showcasing best practice and awarding top talent as a beacon of excellence.

The Teach Portsmouth team are in the process of securing sponsors for other categories and would welcome interest from organisations related to the childcare and early year's sector. You can download the Teach Portsmouth Awards sponsorship brochure here. If you would like more information or an informal chat about sponsorship, please contact TeachPortsmouth@portsmouthcc.gov.uk


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As you may be aware, the Early Help Plan and Stronger Futures Toolkit have transformed into the new Family Support Plan. The Family Support Plan is more streamlined and family friendly and a programme of training is underway with further details to follow.

  • If you are considering a request for an EHC assessment please continue to use the Stronger Futures Toolkit for now, to help you and the SEND team understand if there are wider social care needs for the family.
  • If there are not, then you have all the information you need to submit with the EHC assessment request paperwork.
  • If, following the Stronger Futures Toolkit, you and the parent/carer feel that further exploration and assessment is needed to support the wider needs of the family, we strongly recommend that you use the new Family Support Plan (FSP).
  • Health Visitors are using the FSP so you can talk with them about the approach for some advice. You can also refer to the slide set attached which gives a very clear overview. In addition, you can speak with the Early Years Inclusion Team (eyinclusion@portsmouthcc.gov.uk ) or Wendy Winter, the Early Years Link Coordinator.

If you have a specific question about the FSP you can email FSP@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

We will issue further guidance at the end of this term and advise you of training for you and your setting.

Thank-you for your continuing support.

Message sent on behalf of Sharon Willis, Interim SEND Team Manager

See initial guidance on completing a Family Support Plan


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The poster explains British health and safety laws and lists what workers and their employers should do. If you employ anyone, you must either:

  • Display the health and safety law poster where your workers can easily read it
  • Provide each worker with the equivalent health and safety law leaflet (available as a free download)

Find out more


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Home-Start Portsmouth's 12-week school readiness programme supports parents and their children to be ready for school.

The service is delivered in the family home by one of their volunteers and offers support to ensure pre-schoolers have the key skills they need to transition to school whilst helping parents establish positive routines.

Contact the team at office@hsportsmouth.org.uk to make a referral or for more information.

Download the Big Hopes Big Future leaflet

Download the Big Hopes Big Future referral form

Any questions about the content of this email? Get in touch