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We have seen last week a cyber security attack on a nursery in London, this highlights that anyone who holds sensitive information are vulnerable to this risk.
This incident underlines three important lessons. First, no organisation is too small to be a target, criminals deliberately target settings where security may be weaker. Second, the impact goes beyond systems, directly affecting children, families, and staff. Finally, prevention and preparedness are essential: relying on “it won’t happen to us” is no longer safe.
Here is a really useful link re cyber security: Early Years practitioners: using cyber security to protect... - NCSC.GOV.UK
There is also a free cyber security training video : Cyber security training for school staff - NCSC.GOV.UK
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is inviting early years settings to take part in a short survey about their experiences of the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).
Your insights will directly inform future policymaking and help shape how EYPP funding is used to support children from lower-income families.
- The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete
- Responses are anonymous and confidential
- At the end, you can choose to take part in a follow-up online interview (with a £50 thank you)
- Deadline: 24 October 2025
Take part here: https://www.iffresearch.com/EYPP3
For further information please email EYPPDecisionsSurvey@IFFresearch.co.uk
Early Years and Childcare Providers – Information updates FAO: All Early Years Staff,
The Improving Immunisation Uptake (IIU) Team is thrilled to announce that we have been commissioned by NHSE to deliver training to Early Years Settings. Our team, which works directly with selected GP practices, is part of NHS SCW Child Health Information Services (CHIS) and remains committed to making a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of young children in our communities and improving vaccination uptake in children aged 0-5 years.
This training has been developed on behalf of NHS England, with sessions available to book across six different dates and times to offer maximum flexibility for attendance. The 1-hour sessions will be virtual via MS Teams, and individuals will only need to attend one of the free available sessions.
The training will be delivered between November 2025 and February 2026 by experienced clinicians specialised in childhood immunisations. The training session is aimed at Early Years providers, including nurseries, family and children’s centers, childminders, and preschools and will highlight the importance of routine childhood immunisations and the significant role Early Years providers play in supporting the UK’s routine vaccination programmes.
We recommend attendance by individuals interested in becoming immunisation champions alongside staff who regularly communicate with parents/carers, and those handling new child registrations. We would recommend that it may be beneficial for larger settings if a minimum of 2 staff members attend.
Your participation will play a crucial role in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of children and maintaining a safe environment in Early Years settings. This is a timely opportunity to support the NHS England national campaign to increase the uptake of childhood vaccinations, with a particular focus on the MMR vaccine.
We have attached an introductory presentation and the Early Years Managers Information Sheet that provides a summary of the project. Participants will also receive a free information guide and other complimentary useful resources to further support the training.
Kindly see below a table of available dates and times – Click on the link to book your training session place at your earliest convenience – please book
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Time
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Session
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Thursday 6th November 2025
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10:00-11:00 AM
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Morning
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Tuesday 11th November 2025
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06:30-07:30 PM
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Evening
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Monday 17th November 2025
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1:00-2:00PM
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Afternoon
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Thursday 22nd January 2026
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10:00-11:00 AM
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Morning
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Tuesday 27th January 2026
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06:30-07:30 PM
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Evening
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Thursday 5th February 2026
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1:00-2:00PM
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Afternoon
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For more details about our work, please refer to the attached PowerPoint presentation.
Thank you Yours sincerely,
Improving Immunisation Uptake Team
Email: scwcsu.improvingimmsuptake.projects@nhs.net
CPD schedule and booking details | Shropshire Learning Gateway
- Starting Reception - Getting it right
Following the publication 'Starting Reception' which Shropshire are adopting, we will examine the mis-match between the expectations of parent carers and those of Schools, when children start Reception. This course is for Early Years practitioners, working in Early Years settings.
Date: 14.10.2025 Time: either 13:30 - 15:00 OR 18:15 - 19:45 (Online)
- Early writing in pre-school
For Childminders and Early Years practitioners working with 3-4 year-olds, to examine the
importance of emergent writing.
Date: 22.10.2025 Time: 18:30 - 20:00 (Online)
- Cluster Meeting: Talking about babies
Updates on current research for Early Years practitioners and teachers working with under 2's.
Date: 12.11.2025 Time: 15:00 - 16:00 OR 18:15 - 19:15 (Online)
- Cluster Meeting: Talking about two-year-olds
Updates on current research and information for Early Years practitioners and teachers working with two-year-olds.
Date: 18:11:2025 Time: 15:00 - 16:00 OR 18:15 - 19:15 (Online)
- Solihull Approach for under 1's
For Early Years practitioners and teachers working with babies, examining early brain development and the Solihull Approach.
Date: 10.12.2025 Time: 10:00 - 12:00 (Online)
Links to other training resources Links to other training resources | Shropshire Learning Gateway
Ofsted have published guidance for inspectors and providers on inspecting registered early years settings in England under the renewed education inspection framework, available for use from 10 November 2025.
Ofsted's new early years report card
A short video to see an early years Ofsted report card, giving parents and carers more detail Ofsted: new early years report card - YouTube
Webinar on how Ofsted will carry out inspections from 10 November 2025 for pre-schools and nurseries
Ofsted education inspection framework: nurseries, pre-schools, other registered early years settings
Webinar on how Ofsted will carry out inspections from 10 November 2025 for childminders
Ofsted education inspection framework: childminders
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Thieve Together Stronger Practice Hubs (West Midlands)
Babyroom Network: Nurturing with Respect: Rights-Based Care in the Baby Room
10th December 2025 6.30-7.30pm
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An online community for early years professionals, focused on supporting practitioners working with infants and toddlers. The network offers shared experiences, and discussions aimed at enhancing practices in baby rooms, fostering professional development, and improving the quality of care in early childhood settings. In this network we will be considering the Danish approach to early education, rights-based approach and understanding the evidence informed practices that align with it.
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Babyroom Network: Nurturing with Respect: Rights-Based Care in the Baby Room
Are you currently working as an apprentice in an Early Years' setting?
Would you like to connect with other apprentices working in Early Years, sharing experiences, supporting each other and building a network?
If so, please contact Jasmine at Little Explorers Ditton at littleexplorers.ditton@gmail.com
There are lots of exciting things going on at this time of year, the Child Accident prevention trust have some useful resources to share with staff and parents around helping to keep children safe at this time of year.
In 2024 the government announced a national transformation programme called Families First Partnership. This is a transformation seeking to bring about a single integrated approach to meeting the needs of children and their families across targeted Family Help through to child protection. These reforms are focused on rebalancing the system and meeting the needs of children and families in an earlier way across the multi-agency partnership.
These reforms represent a change in the way we work as a multi-agency partnership with children and families being placed front and centre, meaning that their needs ought to shape the way we reform our services and support. The reforms have 4 key areas that are integral to achieve these reforms, delivering effective Family Help, Multi-Disciplinary Teams, Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams and Family Group Decision Making.
Full guidance can be found here The Families First Partnership (FFP) Programme Guide
We have accomplished a lot in Shropshire but we still have more to do to ensure that these reforms are co-produced together and delivering earlier help and support for our children and their families and as educational leads you play a critical role in these reforms so we look forward to working with you to develop our local approach together. We will be attending the next headteacher briefings in October where we will provide more detail on the aspects of the programme, the expectations Department for Education (DfE) and how you can help us shape this programme moving forwards.
Natasha Moody
Families First Partnership Strategic Lead
Dear Colleague,
It has been brought to our attention that the children’s book series ‘Spy Dogs/Pups’ and ‘Spy Cat books’, written by Andrew Cope, contains a link to a website which contains highly pornographic content.
The book invited children to explore the website to find out more about the characters. It appears the website (identified on the back or inside page) had once belonged to Andrew Cope (author) but the domain printed in the book has subsequently been acquired by a third party.
It seems this matter is circulating on Tick Tok with a lot of attention being given to the issue.
Puffin, the publisher of the series, is now working to remove the affected editions from primary schools and bookshops
To support the management of this, a model letter is attached that you may wish to adapt and share with parents.
Actions for schools:
- Check your libraries and reading areas for these books and remove any copies immediately.
- If you use an online reader programme, disable the access to this series here also.
- Using the attached template, circulate a communication to parent/carers today.
- Should you have an electronic library system, see who may have these books out on loan and request they be returned immediately.
Should you have any questions or require any further support please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Charlotte Percival
Safeguarding Officer,
Early Years and Childcare,
Education Improvement,
Learning and Skills
01743254147
Charlotte.percival@shropshire.gov.uk
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We’re thrilled to announce an exciting online event designed for early years educators:
Supporting Children with SEND for Smooth Transitions
This free event is your chance to hear from inspiring speakers and discover fresh ideas to enhance transition practices for children with SEND in your early years setting.
📅 When? Thursday 23 October
📍 Where? Microsoft Teams
⏰ Time? 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
What to expect:
✨ Expert speakers, including representatives from the DfE, Ofsted and Dingley's Promise.
✨ Gain valuable insights to improve transition practices for children with SEND in the early years sector.
🎟 Spaces are limited – register now to secure your spot:
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“All children deserve the care and support they need to have the best start in life. Children learn and develop at a faster rate from birth to five years old than at any other time in their lives, so their experiences in early years have a major impact on their future life chances.”
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (2024 :p.7)
Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework - GOV.UK
The Shropshire Plan (2022-2025) states 'Shropshire living the best life' and it declares “We'll tackle inequalities, including rural inequalities, and poverty in all its forms, providing early support and interventions that reduce risk and enable children, young people, adults and families to achieve their full potential and enjoy life”.
The Shropshire Plan (2022-2025)
The Shropshire Plan 2022-2025 | Shropshire Council
Our Vision- EY Strategy_CURRENT17.05.2025 (1).docx
Best Start in Life Parent Hub (formerly known as Childcare Choices)
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 Advice and Funding (SEND)
Early Years CPD
Early Years Information Pages on the SLG
Funding Diary Dates (headcount windows and payments)
Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)
Parent Declaration Form - 2025/26
Recruitment:
SEND and Inclusion Newsletter
Shropshire SEND Local Offer
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 Years Inclusion Funding (EYI) - 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
Early Years Consultant
Education Improvement Service
Tel: 01743 254454
Email: beverley.jones@shropshire.gov.uk
Charlotte Percival
Safeguarding Officer
Tel: 01743 254147
Email: charlotte.percival@shropshire.gov.uk
Dan Steele
Senior Development Officer (Early Years and Sufficiency)
Tel: 01743 253913
Email: dan.Steele@shropshire.gov.uk
Admin Team (funding queries):
Beth Parry-Jones, Brydie Porter, Lauren Goodhead & Sarah Jones
Email: NEF@shropshire.gov.uk
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