 This October half term, take part in 50 things to do before you're 5 in Portsmouth.
Why not take part in the following activities...
- #14 - See the Stars
- #16 - Whee, Bang, Whizz
- #17 - Hocus Pocus Potions
- #24 - Hop, Skip and Jump
- #33 - Home from Home
 Take part by scanning the QR code to visit our website and download our fantastic FREE app!
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Whatever you choose to do from our 50 things experiences, you will be supporting children's communication and language skills, building memories and having fun.
Keep an eye on our social media and please do share our posts with families to spread the word about this fantastic FREE initiative in Portsmouth.
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 If you would like to nominate members of your team to attend PEEP training to be trained as a PEEP Practitioner, please complete this booking form and send to the Business Support Manager at Home-Start Portsmouth: hannahc@hsportsmouth.org.uk.
Training will take place on 24 and 25 February 2026 at Home-Start Portsmouth HQ, PO1 4HA. Training is typically 9.30am - 4.30pm and delegates will be required to attend both days. More information, including confirmation of times will be given to delegates nearer to the training date. The deadline to submit the booking form is Friday 6 February 2026.
The PEEP Learning Together programme is about practitioners running sessions for parents to learn how to play and support their child in a range of areas supporting the EYFS. We have a number of trained PEEP practitioners in Portsmouth who will be running PEEP or PEEP informed groups in Family Hubs and through 1:1 work in family homes, e.g. Home-Start Portsmouth.
As an Early Years setting, why not join our Portsmouth PEEP community and access free 2 day training and then have the license to run your own family sessions within your setting? Take a look at the website for more information.
Once trained as a PEEP Practitioner, you will be able to access ongoing support through a Portsmouth PEEP forum and members of the Early Years team who have also been trained will be able to answer questions about how you can deliver PEEP to your families. So if one of your setting priorities is to support families to understand how to play and learn together with their children, this is the training and opportunity for you!
 To compliment the resource from Childcare Works to support childcare workforce recruitment, they have drafted a ‘provider edit’ which includes:
- Actions providers can take to support childcare workforce recruitment and retention
- A summary of the Timewise Childcare Pioneers Project with five recommendations for providers
- Practitioners’ view
- Childcare workforce background information
This is now available on the Childcare Works HUB.
 With Diwali, Halloween and Bonfire Night all quickly approaching this is one of the most exciting times of the year for children. But it can also be one of the most dangerous. Did you know that sparklers burn 16 times hotter than a kettle? Or that powerful rockets unsuited to family back gardens are on sale to parents online? Help families keep safety in mind by reading and sharing Child Accident Prevention Trusts safety advice. Including:
How to support families to avoid accidents at home
Every year far too many babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers are killed or suffer disfiguring or disabling injuries in preventable accidents in their own homes. Join Child Accident Prevention Trust on Thursday 23 October to learn how we can better support families.
 The DfE have published information about using the experience-based route in your early years setting. This route 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.
For more guidance on supporting children in the early years, visit the Help for early years providers website.
You can also contact DfE online for more information about the experience-based route. Mark your request for the attention of the early years qualification unit.
 As from 20 October 2025 the Health Visiting and School Nursing service email addresses will be changing from portsmouthhealthvisitingservice@solent.nhs.uk and portsmouthschoolnursingservice@solent.nhs.uk to the following email address:
hiowh.portsmouthhv-snservice@nhs.net
There will be an automatic re-direct for 6 months, however, please can we ask that you use the new email address from 20 October 2025.
 Take a look at this interesting article on the ABC Does website about valuing children's drawings.
 Do your families regularly walk, wheel or cycle to your setting, to reach activities, or just for fun?
Cleaner Air Portsmouth are looking for a local family to feature in a short video for their Air Quality Heroes campaign. The video will celebrate the benefits of active travel, like walking, wheeling or cycling, and how it helps improve air quality in Portsmouth.
Whether they cycle to the setting or walk to the park, their story could encourage others to travel in cleaner, healthier ways.
You can see the videos they’ve already made on the Cleaner Air Portsmouth website. Families can visit Air Quality Heroes to express their interest.
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