 Claire from Pineapple Tots explains how 50 things to do before you're five supports their curriculum.
"Part of our core curriculum at Pineapple Tots is that the little pineapples understand their world and are exposed to a wide range of different experiences to support cultural capital. '50 things to do before you’re five' helps us achieve our curriculum by offering activities and suggested places to visit that cost little or no money to do. We can often combine some of the activities together.
Last week we created an 'I Spy' activity on bus route 23, for activity number 28 'The Wheels on the Bus'. Under 5s are able to travel free, and they love to experience the bus, as most usually walk or travel by car. We went on an adventure to the Cumberland House Natural Museum, again another free place to visit in our city. On the bus route we talked about and ticked off other historical buildings and landmarks we could spy. These other area interests along the route opened conversations with the little pineapples and enabled us to expand their language.
Daily trips like this help teach the children how to adapt their behaviour to different social situations and environments, as well as learn about the amazing city they live in!"
Why not visit our fantastic FREE website or download the app and see how 50 things could support you in your setting? Please do promote to your families too!
 A new blog post, “When do you need to notify Ofsted?” has been published on the Ofsted: early years blog. You can read this at the button below.
 World Book Day provides a fantastic opportunity to focus on reading for pleasure, supporting children's autonomy in book choice, and embedding a habit of reading that brings a wide range of benefits. Here is some guidance on supporting reading in the EY from the National Literacy Trust.
And don’t forget now is the time to be introducing your pre-schoolers to our 15 recommended reads as part of Read With Me.
Here is our leaflet describing for parents, how they can support their child's language and literacy development, by sharing our range of picture books.
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If you are taking part in Read With Me, this year, please email ella.harbut@portsmouthcc.gov.uk so we can keep track of all our settings who are sharing their love for these fantastic high quality reads with pre-school children. Everyone who registers interest in taking part with Ella before 6 April, will go into our prize book draw to win another set of our recommended reads.
 Families with children aged 0-19 with a take-home household pay of £1,800 or less a month, could get a £50 supermarket voucher for each child. That's as long as the child is not receiving free school meals (benefits-related), because they will have already had a voucher through their school.
You can even get a voucher if someone in your household is over 20 weeks pregnant, under the same earning criteria.
Applications are open until 28 February and the scheme is also open to children attending school outside of Portsmouth, home educated children, children in early years settings and children in full time further education.
If you know anyone who would benefit from this, please do share this support offer to families.
 The Lullaby Trust have unveiled a bold new look and website. They have refreshed their brand and website to be:
- More accessible, ensuring everyone can find and understand their life-saving advice.
- Easier to navigate, so help is always within reach.
- More visible, strengthening their ability to fund their vital work.
- Reflective of all that they offer, including infection prevention and prevention of accidents.
 The government have announced changes to the funding rules for apprenticeship regarding English and Maths qualifications.
The funding rules for apprenticeship now states:
New for 11 February 2025 – Version 2 36 to 55 Policy update: Only apprentices who began their apprenticeship training when aged 16-18 will continue to be subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and maths. Apprentices who began their apprenticeship training when aged 19+ will no longer be subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and maths. However, for apprentices aged 19+, the apprentice or their employer can still choose for the apprentice to study towards an English and maths qualification. We will continue to fund those apprentices that wish to study towards an English and maths qualification. The above policy change will be effective from 11 February 2025 and will apply to new starts and existing learners on-programme.
We will need to let all our providers know by 1 April whether any apprentice no longer wishes to continue with the English and Maths qualifications. A new training plan will need to be signed to this effect.
All Local Authority Nurseries and Schools that have apprentices that were over 19+ when they started their apprenticeship and are currently studying for their English or Maths qualifications will need to decide whether to continue or drop this element. The decision is between the employer and apprentice. Any apprentice aged 16-18 will still need to complete their English and Maths qualifications if they do not hold this certificate.
If you need further discussions around this, please email the apprenticeship team to arrange a call - apprenticeships@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
There is also information relevant to all settings in the Nursery World article at the button below.
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