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We’re thrilled to share that the Stronger Practice Hubs have been extended for another year! As a result, we’ve developed even more free training opportunities, including Networks and Webinar Wednesdays, running from April to December 2025, with additional ad-hoc training to be announced soon.
If you’d like to attend any of these sessions, simply click the registration link, enter your details, and upon registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with the joining links.
Networks & Webinar Wednesday's
Love and Nurture Learning Circle with Tamsin Grimmer
29th April 2025 4-5.30pm
13th May 2025 4-5.30pm
25th May 2025 4-5.30pm
June 3rd 2025 4-5.30pm
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/wnk7yzw
Supporting Self-Awareness (Parent Engagement)
23rd April 2025 9.30-10.30am
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/xya6rxh
Transition Arrangement for Bilingual Children and their Parents
7th May 2025 4-5pm
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/az8hd95
Phonological Awareness Webinar
7th May 2025 9.30-10.30am
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/vtr7sph
Communication & Literacy - A Book Talk & Beyond Network
8th May 2025 4-5pm
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/qfnyk5z
Early Years Mathematics - Building Firm Foundations
14th May 2025 4-5pm
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/jykzgkx
Using EYPP Funding Effectively - EEF Guidance Document
18th June 2025 9.30-10.30am
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/r7csutr
Beyond Serve and Return; Keeping Conversations Going
2nd July 2025 9.30-10.30am
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/hbfuenk
Interactive reading an effective strategy to support CL development
20th August 2025 9.30-10.30am
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/eb66z96
EAL - Understanding EAL and SEND
16th September 2025 6.30-7.30pm
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/phznanh
Goldilocks effect - Getting it ‘just right’ for your children.
8th October 2025 9.30-10.30am
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ryjm2va
Executive Function & Metacognition - Talking about Learning
5th November 2025 9.30-10.30am
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/cytrgjr
Curating an Environment for all children where learning is inevitable
3rd December 2025 9.30-10.30am
Registration Link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/wdymjy7
Join us for a series of inspiring and practical network sessions led by Early Years expert Marie Stokes. Designed to support leaders and practitioners across all setting types, these sessions will explore how to embed effective implementation in your day-to-day practice—helping turn ideas into impact. Whether you’re refining routines, launching new approaches, or leading change, you’ll leave with actionable insights and tools to support your team and the children you care for.
Effective Implementation Part 1 Network
8th July 2025
4-5pm
Sign up here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/ntauzmh
Effective Implementation Part 2 Network
7th October 2025
4-5pm
Sign up here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/q6jbk6q
Effective Implementation Part 3 Network
3rd February 2025
4-5pm
Sign up here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/5ccbfqk
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The Celebrating SEND Connect Roadshow is an all-day event with a jam-packed schedule of fantastic early years experts, all about helping providers to ensure that their practice is inclusive and that all children attending their setting, including those with SEND, are able to thrive.
The Early Years Alliance is running an all-day in-person conference on supporting children with SEND in the early years, which is taking place on Thursday 1 May in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.
The Celebrating SEND Connect Roadshow will bring together like-minded early years professionals to discuss ways that we can promote true inclusivity in our practice to ensure that no child is left behind.
Delegates will hear from a range of inspirational keynote speakers and have the chance to find out more about supporting children with SEND. The talks will cover a wide range of topics, including responding to children’s sensory systems, challenges around feeding and mealtimes, and the neuroscience of neurodiversity, as well as discussing inclusive practice through our approaches and environments.
There are only a few spaces left at the 1 May event and sales will end on 24 April, so book now to avoid disappointment (tickets start from just £55 per person). For educators unable to make this date, the event will run again on Tuesday 16 October in Bristol.
Book your place at bit.ly/SENDRoadshow1May.
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DfE’s research team is now running another round of research to better understand Early Years educators’ experiences with qualifications. We are inviting educators to complete a short survey to share their views and help shape future improvements.
We would appreciate your support in sharing the survey link with educators in your setting or wider networks:
Educator survey form
A downloadable poster is also available, which includes more details and a QR code to access the survey.
Thank you for helping us gather valuable insights from the sector. If you have any questions, please contact: research.early-years-quals@education.gov.uk.
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Following the recent BBC program focusing on the manslaughter of Genevieve Meehan in Stockport in May 2022, parents may need some additional support and reassurance around their children sleeping, here are a number of posters relating to Babies Sleep Patterns: Baby Sleep Patterns poster, Safe Sleeping Positions New_Easy Read Card, Quick reference safer sleeping Easy Read Card_Digital and some true and false cards to use with staff as a reminder. It may also be a good time to review your settings procedures and remind staff of the expectations around safer sleeping.
The early years foundation stage (EYFS) sets out the requirements you must meet for learning, development and care. It is a statutory requirement that you notify Ofsted or your childminder agency of:
- any changes to your registration
- a failure to meet the EYFS requirements
- any significant events and/or serious childcare incidents
What you must tell us about
If you are an Ofsted-registered provider, you must notify us of any serious childcare incident within 14 days. This includes:
- a child’s serious accident, injury or illness while being looked after
- the death of a child while in your care
- any significant event that may affect someone’s suitability to look after or be in regular contact with children
- any allegations of serious harm and abuse by anyone living, working or looking after children on the premises
Our guidance gives more detail on the types of incidents you must tell us about and how to report them.
What is a significant event?
A significant event is any change or incident that affects the suitability of the registered person, or anyone connected with your registration, to care for or be in regular contact with children.
Changes to your registration
We also need to know about any changes to your registration details. This includes informing us of changes to your name, address or telephone number, the address where childcare is provided, working hours and the number of children you look after. You also need to contact us regarding any change to the legal entity of your registered body. You can do this by emailing enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk from the email address you have registered with us and giving your URN. You must also let us know about changes to people connected to your childcare. If you are registered on the Early Years Register, the relevant EYFS sets out the full list of changes that you must notify us about. Providers registered on the Childcare Register must follow the relevant Childcare Register requirements.
Changes to health
A significant event may include a change to the health of the registered provider or those connected to your registration. We only need to know about changes that could impact on a person’s ability to care for or be in regular contact with children. This includes any long-term condition that affects their ability to walk, balance, bend, kneel or lift a child.
You don’t need to tell us about changes to the health of managers or staff at an early years setting, as that is the provider’s responsibility.
Childcare: significant events to notify Ofsted about - GOV.UK
When you're stocking up for the Easter Bunny, please remember that mini eggs can choke small children. They're just the right size to block their airways and their hard texture can make them difficult to dislodge with standard first aid techniques. So, stay safe and choose another treat for your little one. Here is a fact sheet with tips and advice to keep children safe from choking: Choking Fact Sheet.
 This page can be found at: Recent slides from CPD training (Learning & Development) | Shropshire Learning Gateway
CPD course: Assessing two-year-olds' understanding and speech sounds using the Early Communication Screening Tool (Stoke-Speaks-Out)
Audience: Early Years' teachers and practitioners working with 2-year-olds.
Dates and times: Wednesday 4th June 2025 10:00 - 11:30 (online)
OR
Wednesday 4th June 2025 18:15 - 19:45 (online) ADDITIONAL DATE ADDED
Content: During this training session you will become familiar with and know how to administer the Early Communication Screening Tool to assess children's understanding of spoken language and speech sounds, from 2 years to 5 years of age.
Resources: During the session you will need to have a copy of the Screening Tool's handbooks (Record Book and Picture Book).
Cost: The training is non-chargeable, but you will need to purchase the handbooks. The cost of the handbooks from Stoke-Speaks-Out is £140 + P&P. If 5 or more schools / settings wish to purchase them, there will be a 20% discount on the cost of the handbooks. For further information please contact Beverley Jones (Beverley.jones@shropshire.gov.uk).
Booking details: CPD Schedule and Booking Information 2024 - 2025 | Shropshire Learning Gateway
I am delighted and proud to share Play Matters which is being launched across the country today. Play Matters is led Dr Aaron Bradbury and forwarded by Michael Rosen. I was honoured to be part of a working group writing the chapter on Play and Sustainability with Dr A Scollen, K. Lee and Professor D. Boyd, all experts in their field and incredible to work with.
Play Matters is a free resource to down load. I would appreciate it if the link could be shared in the Provider Forum newsletter so as many practitioners and placements get access to it.
https://search.app/yJ9Ly4dbdaweGL5j8
Best wishes
Sturcha Auger
Early Years and Education Teacher
We are still running the blended learning option for the Paediatric First Aid Training (6 hours theory online (learners do not need to complete the online in one sitting they can go in and out of it until completed) then a 6 hour practical session).
All of our courses are Ofsted + CIW approved and run through our awarding body FAIB.
Open course places are £90.00 + VAT per learner (£108.00 inclusive of VAT)
Click on the green link below to take you to our website where you can choose your date for the practical session(s) and book in directly (Or just email or call if you prefer)
https://cognetosh.arlo.co/w/
Or………
If you have a group of learners…….
Our Private blended learning courses (We send the trainer to you on site) are £645.00 + VAT (£774.00 inclusive of VAT) for up to 12 learners.
We can run the practical session on site with you any day or afternoons/evenings of the week.
If you have less than 12 learners for a private course please let me know how many you do have, we can then quote you a competitive price J
Either register your interest through the link above or email us directly (or call).
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
We are still offering Elearning courses (please email us or call if you wish to book):
ONLINE ELEARNING COURSES:
(Prices below are per learner)
Level 2 Food Safety – £20.00 + VAT (£24.00 inclusive of VAT)
Basic Fire Safety Awareness - £20.00 + VAT (£24.00 inclusive of VAT)
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - £25.00 + VAT (£30.00 inclusive of VAT)
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Fire Extinguisher - £20.00 + VAT (£24.00 inclusive of VAT)
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Fire Marshal - £25.00 + VAT (£30.00 inclusive of VAT)
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Infection Control - £20.00 + VAT (£24.00 inclusive of VAT)
Safeguarding Children - £25.00 + VAT (£30.00 inclusive of VAT)
Workplace Health and Safety - £25.00 + VAT (£30.00 inclusive of VAT)
Either email us info@cognet.training or call us on 01905 745 457 for more info and to book.
Or if you have any other training needs please get in touch.
Take care and stay safe J
Warm regards
Craig
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When children can confidently use the toilet on their own, their transition to reception is easier.
These downloadable posters and handouts aim to help parents with toilet training and help educators prepare children for using the toilet when they get to school.
The resources include:
- A child checklist for using the toilet
- A ‘toilet story for school’
- A handout for parents
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Any service or partner agency supporting children, young people or families, providing early intervention and prevention support, can be a member of the integration practitioner teams. The team aims to improve the lives of families, children and young people and reduce the need for more specialist services across the council, the NHS and the wider early help system. We want to support families, children and young people to access the right support, in the right place and the right time.
We've produced a leaflet for families to understand more about the integration panels for you to print out and share with the family.
Once we've received the referral, the integration co-ordinator will invite the lead professional/referrer to the correct geographical panel for discussion. We’ve put together a process flowchart to help understand the purpose of the integrated teams and to complete the consultation panel.
Please share this information with parents, carers, teams, colleagues and your wider networks
There still places for the below:
The Parenting Team will be delivering free Understanding Your Child and Understanding Your Child SEND groups from April/May 2025.
These 10 week groups aim to:
- Promote understanding of children’s behaviour within the context of developmental issues
- Promote the development of parent/child relationship
- Increase confidence and self-esteem in both parents and children
- Give parents a strategy for repair when things go wrong
- Promote reflective, sensitive and effective parenting
We are also offering free SLEEP TIGHT groups from June 2025.
These 5 week workshops cover:
- Recognising the role of sleep hygiene to improve sleep
- Identifying causes of sleep issues and appropriate practical strategies to try
- Completing sleep diaries and identifying potential sleep issues
If you can, please share the links to our webpage with further information on free online courses and other offers from the parenting team.
The Parenting Team | Shropshire Council
The Parenting Team | Shropshire Council (Local Offer/SEND)
Please do not hesitate to contact us directly if you have any questions or need the posters in a different format
parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk or give us a call on 01743 250950
Kind regards
Parenting Team
Tel: 01743 250950
Early Years Funding Code of Practice
Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework for Childminders
Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework for Group and School-Based Providers
Early Years Funding for Foster Children
CPD Early Years and Schools | Shropshire Learning Gateway
Early Years CPD
Early Years Information Pages on the SLG
Early Years Resource Library
Funding Diary Dates (headcount windows and payments)
Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)
Parent Declaration Form (Summer 2024 to Summer 2025)
Recruitment:
SEND and Inclusion Newsletter
Shropshire SEND Local Offer
Support Request Form (SEND)
Funding Claims, Free Entitlements, Eligibility Codes, Provider Portal etc.:
Admin Team: NEF@shropshire.gov.uk
Job Vacancies:
Admin Team: NEF@shropshire.gov.uk
Buildings, Premises, Accommodation, and any related issues including schools looking to adopt their local pre-school:
Andy Nicholls: andy.nicholls@shropshire.gov.uk
Wraparound Childcare Programme:
Dan Steele: Dan.steele@shropshire.gov.uk
School Sustainability Funding:
Jo Morris: Jo.morris@shropshire.gov.uk
Qualifications, Ratios, Staffing etc.:
Beverley Jones: beverley.jones@shropshire.gov.uk
Safeguarding and Child Protection:
Charlotte Percival: Charlotte.percival@shropshire.gov.uk
Early Intervention Grant - applications and admin:
Admin Team: NEF@shropshire.gov.uk
Applications for EYPP and 30-Hour Entitlements for Children who are Looked After:
Admin Team: NEF@shropshire.gov.uk
Applications for Disability Access Fund:
Admin Team: NEF@shropshire.gov.uk
Information, advice and guidance in relation to SEND children:
earlyyears@shropshire.gov.uk
Any other queries that don’t fall into the above:
earlyyears@shropshire.gov.uk
Remember – we also have the MS Teams site:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/team/19%3a9e2862aae963406b9ffc01b034aae950%40thread.tacv2/conversations?groupId=dd786852-0af3-4592-b069-7cf66e48df55&tenantId=b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
If you are not already a member of this group, then please email nef@shropshire.gov.uk and we will get you access.
Alison Rae
School’s Improvement Commissioner Adviser Early Years Foundation Stage
Education Improvement Service
Tel: 01743 254467
Email: alison.rae@shropshire.gov.uk
Beverley Jones
Education Improvement Service
Early Years Consultant
Tel: 01743 254454
Email: beverley.jones@shropshire.gov.uk
Charlotte Percival
Safeguarding Officer
Tel: 01743 254147
Email: charlotte.percival@shropshire.gov.uk
Admin Team (funding queries):
Beth Parry-Jones, Brydie Porter & Sarah Jones
Email: NEF@shropshire.gov.uk
Please click the link below to view the slides from the last early years network meeting.
Network Meeting_11.02.2025.pptx
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