 Join us for the next Early Years Termly Provider Briefing, where we'll share the latest updates, key information, and important developments affecting early years and childcare providers across Portsmouth.
The briefing is an opportunity to hear about current local and national priorities, upcoming initiatives, funding updates, training opportunities, and other essential information to support your provision throughout the autumn term.
We encourage managers, leaders, and childminders to attend and stay informed about the latest developments within the sector.
We look forward to seeing you there.
 The very first National Early Years SENCO Day is Friday 9 October. It's a new national day dedicated to recognising the incredible Early Years SENCOs who champion inclusion, support children and families, and help every child get the best possible start in life.
Nominate an Early Years SENCO
Do you know an Early Years SENCO who deserves recognition for their dedication, expertise and impact? Best Practice Network are inviting nominations across a range of award categories, celebrating both established and emerging SEND leaders. Whether they're a colleague, team member, manager, childminder or professional partner, now is the perfect opportunity to say thank you and recognise the difference they make.
Share a Thank You Message
National Early Years SENCO Day isn't just about awards. It's about celebrating every Early Years SENCO. Best Practice Network are collecting messages of appreciation from colleagues, managers, families and practitioners across the sector. On Friday 9 October, they'll share a selection of these messages on their Thank You Wall to celebrate the contribution Early Years SENCOs make every day. A simple thank you can go a long way.
 Do the children in your setting speak more than one language? CBeebies is inviting families of children aged 3 to 6 years to submit parent-recorded videos of their child speaking in their home or first language, with selected contributions potentially featured in CBeebies programming.
This community-led project is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate multilingualism and help children see that their languages, cultures and identities are valued. It sends a powerful message that children's home languages are welcomed, recognised and worthy of being heard and celebrated.
The success of this initiative depends on families getting involved, and early years settings can play an important role in helping to spread the word. We would be grateful if you could share this opportunity with families in your setting.
By encouraging participation, you'll be helping children feel proud of the languages they speak and supporting greater visibility of the rich linguistic diversity within our communities.
Let's help ensure children's languages are seen, heard and celebrated by as many people as possible.
 Big Steps for Babies & Crawlers
A brand new, free stay & play group for babies from birth until they are walking. Using the PEEP-informed learning together approach, sessions are a chance to play, sing, share stories and meet other parents and carers, while picking up simple ideas to support baby’s development at home.
Big Steps for Little People
A free, fun stay & play group for children aged 1–5 years and their parents and carers. Sessions offer simple, practical ideas to support children’s development through play, songs, stories and activities parents can try at home. This term's theme: Communication & Language.
 There are places available on the Pre-school IncredIble Years Programme, taking place at Paulsgrove Family Hub on 2 October 2026, 9.30am - 12.00pm. A creche is available if required.
The Preschool Parenting Programme 3 - 5 years, helps parents and carers build a strong, positive relationship with their child. Through friendly group sessions, learning practical ways to understand children's feelings, support their development, and respond confidently to challenging behaviour.
The programme focuses on strengthening connection, improving communication, and helping children develop important social, emotional, and language skills. Parents/carers will also explore simple ways to support their child's readiness for school, including building confidence, independence, and positive relationships with others.
They'll gain ideas and support to help their child feel safe, secure, and ready to learn and thrive.
If you have parents who you think would be interested or benefit for this friendly programme, please discuss and share the programmes details with them.
Either send the details below to the Parenting inbox parentingservice@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or parents can self-refer sending the same information.
- Child's name
- Child's date of birth
- Parent's name
- Address
- Email address
- Contact number
There are also some places available on the following sessions:
Understanding Your Child - Toddler to Teen
Learn how your child’s relationships influence their emotional wellbeing and development. Explore how children process emotions and gain a deeper understanding of your child’s behaviour, while reflecting on ways to strengthen your relationship and support their wellbeing. Due to start: 24/09/2026 - 10/12/2026, 9.30am - 11.30am
Triple P Stepping Stones 3 - 11 years
For parents and carers of children with a disability. It helps you learn simple, positive parenting strategies to support your child's development and build confidence. Date to be confirmed.
Alongside this please don’t forget that the Parenting service will continue to be offering one to one sessions for parents or carers that want to talk through what they might need.
Please email them at parentingservice@portsmouthcc.gov.uk for any more information.
 Registration is now open for the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL). The programme is designed for current and aspiring early years leaders who want to develop their leadership expertise and potential. Funding is available to managers of private, voluntary and independent nurseries (PVIs), childminders with leadership responsibilities, headteachers and leaders of school-based and maintained nurseries, alongside other early years foundation stage leaders. Whether leading provision in a nursery, pre-school, childminding setting or school-based early years provision, the NPQEYL provides evidence-based leadership training to support high-quality early education and care, effective staff leadership and continuous improvement. For the first time in recent cohorts, funding for the NPQEYL is available for all eligible participants who secure a funded place with an NPQ provider. Read more and apply on gov.uk.
 The Department for Education has launched an online version of the Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) on GOV.UK.
The EYQL helps users determine whether a qualification is recognised as ‘full and relevant’ for the purposes of working within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) staff:child ratios in England.
Access the EYQL webview here.
The new format allows users to:
- search qualification information online
- view qualification details, additional requirements and notes more easily
- access information without downloading a spreadsheet
- find full and relevant qualifications to study
For users who wish to work offline, the full EYQL remains available to download.
Early years managers and practitioners can also use the Check an Early Years Qualification (CEYQ) service to support qualification checks.
Qualifications achieved outside the UK are not included on the EYQL. Holders of non-UK qualifications should continue to contact Ecctis for qualification recognition.
 Protecting your setting's images from AI manipulation and abuse - Guidance for education settings and organisations working with children and young people.
Developed by the UK Online Harms Early Warning Working Group, this guidance shares best practice and considerations for education settings and organisations working with children and young people on the use of photos and videos of children and young people across their online platforms, to address the risk of AI image manipulation.
 As wearable technology becomes more common, early years providers should be aware of the potential safeguarding risks posed by smart glasses. Devices such as AI-enabled glasses can discreetly capture photographs, record video, livestream content, and collect audio without others being aware. Unlike a mobile phone, smart glasses can be worn naturally during conversations and interactions, making it difficult to identify when recording is taking place. This presents a significant concern in environments where young children are present and where providers have a duty to protect children's privacy and personal information.
Early years settings should consider reviewing their safeguarding, mobile phone, photography, and data protection policies to ensure that smart glasses are specifically addressed. Providers may wish to restrict or prohibit the use of smart glasses by:
- Staff members while on duty.
- Visitors entering the setting.
- Parents and carers attending events, drop-offs, pick-ups, or stay-and-play sessions.
- Contractors and external professionals visiting the premises.
Clear signage can help communicate expectations to visitors, and staff should be reminded that any device capable of recording images, videos, or audio must be used in line with the setting's safeguarding procedures. While smart glasses can offer benefits in some circumstances, protecting children’s privacy and maintaining a safe environment must remain the priority. Providers are encouraged to carry out a risk assessment and consider whether the use of smart glasses is appropriate within their setting.
Key message: If a device can record, photograph, livestream, or transmit information, providers should ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place and consider restricting its use to help protect children, families, and staff.
 Mayville High School has kindly offered 10 children's bikes free of charge to another setting. While the bikes are a little worn, they still have plenty of life left in them and would be ideal for supporting active play and physical development. The bikes are best suited for Reception-aged children and are available because the school no longer has the storage space to keep them. If your setting would be interested in giving these bikes a new home, please contact Sharon Williams directly at s.williams@mayvillehighschool.net.
This is a wonderful opportunity to enhance your outdoor provision while helping to give these resources a second life. Thank you to Sharon and the team for their generous offer.
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