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We are aware of the volume of information currently being received by Early Years settings. To provide a more concise and consistent approach to sharing relevant, up-to-date information, from 5 November we will issue a weekly newsletter directly to settings by email.
The Teams site, Early Years Childcare Providers – Information Updates, will now be used as a general forum where providers can ask questions. We will only post information there in an emergency. If you would prefer to opt out of the weekly newsletter where all relevant information will be shared, please let us know.
e-Bug, an educational programme led by the UKHSA, has recently launched two free resources designed to support teaching, learning, and wider educational provision in schools and community settings.
Vector-Borne Disease (VBD) Teaching Resources (KS1-4)
Developed by e-Bug in collaboration with the Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology (MEZE) Team and the Travel Health and International Health Regulations (IHR) Team within UKHSA, and co-designed with primary and secondary teachers, these curriculum-linked resources were trialled in schools across England and support topics already taught in geography, science, and PSHE, including climate change, environmental change, disease prevention, ecosystems and global interconnectedness.
The resources include ready-to-use lesson plans, teacher guidance, curriculum and GCSE exam links, interactive presentations and animations, hands-on activities, student worksheets, answer sheets, and a curriculum mapping document showing how the resources align with the statutory programmes of study and relevant schemes of work.
Access the VBD resources here: [https://www.e-bug.eu/teachers]
Germ Busters Academy (Ages 5-16)
We have also recently launched Germ Busters Academy, a free activity pack designed for school clubs, after-school clubs, wraparound care, holiday clubs, and other child-focused community settings.
Developed in collaboration with after-school club facilitators and trialled in after-school clubs, the resource uses fun, interactive activities to help children learn about germs, hygiene, infection prevention, and healthy habits in an engaging and age-appropriate way.
The pack includes ready-to-use activities and facilitator guidance, requires minimal preparation, and can be delivered flexibly across a variety of settings. Feedback from the pilot indicated that the activities were engaging, practical, and well received by both facilitators and children.
Access Germ Busters Academy here: [https://www.e-bug.eu/germ-busters-academy]
Both resources are freely available and can support high-quality educational delivery while helping to reduce staff planning time.
We previously had recommended guidance but, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act introduced an information sharing duty to provide clarity for practitioners on what and when they should share information for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This guidance explains what organisations and practitioners must do to comply with the information sharing duty under section 16LA (s16LA) of the Children Act 2004, and what they should do to ensure consistent and effective information sharing to safeguard children and promote their welfare. Information sharing to safeguard children and young people - GOV.UK
Safeguarding Training Autumn Term
- Raising Awareness in Safeguarding and protecting children -14.10.26- 18:15-20:15 - Raising Awareness-14.10.26
- Childminder DSL part 1 - 08.10.26 – 18:15-20:15
DBS changes and updates
- If you have someone employed by you or as a volunteer including completing maintenance / cleaning etc - they need to have DBS before they start working for you.
- students from college will have their own DBS through their college course, you do not need to do an additional DBS for them, but I do advise that you ask the college for a reference
- students from schools doing work experience will not be able to get a DBS as they are under 16 yrs old. You should ask a key member of staff at their school (Form Tutor/ Head of Year/ DSL) to verify that they are suitable to be at your setting on work experience, that there are no known reasons (including safeguarding concerns) that could mean they are not suitable to complete their work experience at your setting
- If you have professionals coming into your setting, to complete maintenance (that are not employed by you directly), they should be signing in your visitors book and be supervised at all times.
You could ask their company if they have a DBS (as I know that some do complete them) and if they do ask the company if they can give you a letter of assurance. But you do not need them to do a DBS to complete work at your setting.
- If you have a parent is coming in to talk to children about their jobs/ pets etc - they are considered as visitors, and you should follow your visitors procedures (including staff being with the children at all times and the visitor not being left alone).
- If you have someone coming in a professional capacity who is having direct interactions with the children, who is from another company they should have a letter of assurance from their company.
- You do NOT need to have DBS for volunteers/ maintenance who are working at the setting when children are not present, as long as they do not work when children are at the setting.
You should ONLY ask to see someone’s DBS if they are employed directly by you.
Have you seen our NEW Stronger Practice Hub? In collaboration with Telford and Wrekin, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
Keep yourself up to date on the progress of our BRAND new hub by following this link:
Learn and Grow Together Early Years Stronger Practice Hub | Stronger Practice Hubs
We will soon be able to update you on the Learning Leads and Advisory Leads for the service, of whom will be available for you to use to support your practice whether you are a childminder, PVI or school-based setting!
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Welcome to our new training brochure. This can be found following this link and on the Shropshire learning Gateway. Please be sure to book on to our new CPD sessions.
PowerPoint Presentation
*Remember - our training brochure will state delivery between being online or face to face, daytime or evening sessions. Regardless of delivery method, a sign up is required through Microsoft teams. A returning email will be to the bookers email address. If you are having any difficulty, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the team.*
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Have you signed up?
Evidence Based Quality Interactions - Underpinned by evidence-based research
15.10.26 18:00 - 20:00 (Online) ONLINE - Quality Interactions - What the Evidence Says https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3bc5e95a-18fe-4bd8-a791-dd955eaf8efb@b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
2.11.2613:00-16:00(Face to Face) Guildhall Face to Face - Quality Interactions - What the Evidence Says https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d19a5ee5-8ab5-4ce4-8ada-6c900fa7eb6e@b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
EY Settings, PVI’s, Childminders £40 Schools £80
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.:
Laurie Johnson: Laurie.Johnson@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.
Sarah Kynaston
Senior Education Quality Adviser (Early Years and Safeguarding)
Education Improvement Service
Tel: 01743 251298
Email: Sarah.Kynaston@shropshire.gov.uk
Laurie Jones
Quality Improvement & Learning Co-ordinator
Education Improvement Service
Tel: 01743 250626
Email: Laurie.Johnson@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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