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Just a quick reminder that the Interim headcount window for the Spring term will open on the Portal on Monday 9th November and will close at midnight on Sunday 15th November.
Please ensure that you only enter your weekly hours totals and not the full termly total. The Actual headcount will then open on Monday 16th November, where you will be able to enter the child level data.
If you have not done so already, please could you take the time to complete the following MS Form at your earliest convenience:
Shropshire Council Early Years Proforma - Autumn 2026 – Fill in form
This will enable the Shropshire Early Years Team to support and monitor settings safeguarding arrangements ensuring compliance with Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework and Working Together to Safeguard Children as part of our statutory duties.
This will be sent out every term to enable us to keep up to date with your details and to help us link in and share information with the most appropriate person.
Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2026, paragraphs 368 -373,
set out clear guidance for academies, schools and colleges regarding the
checks required where they use contractors to provide services. This letter clarifies the arrangements for Shropshire Council’s local authority staff employed
within Children’s Services, who provide services to these settings under a contract or
service level agreement. This letter should be retained with your single central record for Ofsted inspection purposes.
Shropshire Council Contractors - Letter of Assurance
As the leaves start changing colour and the nights begin to draw in, new hazards emerge. So, here are top tips for keeping children safe from serious accidents this autumn including.
- Be Bright Be Safe
- Halloween Hazards
- Fireworks
- Electric Scooter
- Hot Soups and Drinks
And many more areas Autumn safety guide: Top tips for keeping children safe
Safety Around Dogs
Children are most likely to be bitten at home, by a familiar dog. Luckily most bites are preventable and close supervision is key. We don’t expect our own dog to bite, but any dog can bite if they feel they have no other option. Sadly we continue to see incidents where children are being bitten.
Dog-Safety-Trigger-Times-Poster.pdf and Child-safety-around-dogs-fact-sheet-2023.pdf
Level 2/3 (Childcare / HASC or equivalent)
18 hrs per week (Monday & Wednesday) £13.50 per hour
Start Date February 2027 (can be flexible)
Lorraine’s childminding (based in Meole Brace, Shrewsbury) is looking for an enthusiastic friendly and outgoing assistant who has a genuine love for children and enjoys working in a fast-paced exciting childcare environment.
The role involves supporting the care, safety and learning and development of children in line with the EYFS (statutory framework.) Activities include indoor and outdoor play, with emphasis on nature exploration and exciting outdoor learning experiences.
The successful candidate must communicate effectively with parents and colleagues, work well within a small team of 2/3 adults, use their initiative and maintain a positive, flexible and professional approach.
A DBS check and active subscription to the DBS update service are required. Alongside a commitment to ongoing professional development (PPD) including annual safeguarding training and other relevant training as required. A minimum of 2 references will also be needed.
A full driving license and access to a vehicle is desired but not required.
For an informal chat, call Lorraine on 07875134626.
Click here to email Lorraine for more information and details of how to apply.
SSCP (Shropshire Safeguarding Community Partnership) would like to gather some information on how the resolution and escalation procedure works in practice. The procedure can be found here -
https://www.shropshiresafeguardingcommunitypartnership.co.uk/media/3pspz1gv/05-escalation-policy-multi-agency-resolution-or-escalation-procedure-for-professionals-disagreements-or-concerns.pdf
This is the procedure to follow when there is a disagreement between agencies as to the appropriate course of action. If you have had the need to use the procedure this academic year, please complete this MS Forms (and for any future times). This will enable the partnership to review the procedure.
Thank you.
Link to MS forms - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/iSv6Q4aUkd
Please click on the link below for a critical update regarding the safe use of hoists and slings and note the recommendations within.
IMPORTANT HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICE - MEDICINES & HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS REGULATORY AGENCY
Shropshire are a part of the Learn and Grow Together Stronger Practice Hub. As a part of this, we can access funded support for Early Years Settings (including Childminders). Please see the leaflet below for more information. The team will be at the upcoming EY conference if you want to find out more!
Learn & Grow Together Early Years Stronger Practice Hub- Staffordshire, Stoke, Telford & Shropshire
For all your Hub vacancies, resources, CPD & Signposting - Don't miss a thing!!
Early Years Language Leads Programme - Songs, rhymes and rhyming books webinar - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives
Clap and sing along to discover how songs and rhymes are not only fun – they are providing children with the fundamental building blocks of language. Drawing on over a decade of research, Dr Susan Richards, Lead Speech and Language Advisor at Speech and Language UK, will talk about how songs, rhymes and rhyming books can contribute to children’s language development. You will learn how neuroscience is helping us understand how language rhythms form the basis for language learning and find out how the structured auditory patterns of songs, rhymes and rhyming books can scaffold language processing for children right from the very beginning.
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CBeebies Parenting has launched new resources for local authorities to share with parents, offering honest conversations, shared experiences and trusted advice. Its brand-new YouTube channel includes the documentary series ‘Parenting Unscripted’, with content also available on BBC iPlayer. The series features five well-known parents – Radio 1 DJ Charlie Hedges, Traitors star Leanne Quigley, rapper Krept, Made In Chelsea star Ollie Locke and Strictly’s Dani Dyer – sharing their experiences of parenthood and the challenges and emotions they have faced. The series also has an accompanying Parenting Download podcast offering expert advice.
There are also autumnal resources for local authorities to share with parents and caregivers, including Halloween games, story time, a pumpkin pancakes recipe, indoor and outdoor activities, and a Halloween activity schedule that can be used interactively or printed.
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We have had a number of new pages or updates made to GOV.UK pages for early years and childcare providers
Childminders DSL Refresher
14.11.26 - 09:30-12:30 - Childminder DSL refresher training - 14.11.26
DSL Refresher
17.11.26 - 09:30 - Early Years DSL Refresher - 17.11.26
Safer Recruitment
19.11.26 - 09:30-12:30 - Early Years Safer Recruitment Training
EY Committee Members Safeguarding
26.11.26 18:15-20:15 - Early Years Committee Members Safeguarding and Protecting Children - 26.11.26
12.11.26 Childminder’s Q&A
18:00 – 18:30 (Online)
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a661ee5e-6cba-4899-b575-919169a4ee2e@b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
Pre-funded
17.11.26 Early Year’s Network
18:30 – 20:30 (Face to Face) Shrewsbury College - Main Hall
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/77ecb7f9-f6d3-4224-a3ee-efa7c0406a32@b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
Pre-funded
12.11.26Talking Two’s Cluster
18:00 – 18:30 (online) https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a661ee5e-6cba-4899-b575-919169a4ee2e@b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
Pre-funded
10.11.26 The Togetherness Approach for under 1’s
18:00 – 19:30 (online) https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/189a64a3-746c-4057-8e50-103992d47c14@b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
Pre-funded
Assessment Support – Formative Assessment
10.11.26 09:00-11:30 (Face to Face CENTRAL - Guildhall Frankwell - Shrewsbury Room https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/518374e4-bee5-4f35-bbfc-d9471be46f95@b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
12.11.26 09:30 – 12:00 (Face to Face SOUTH - Ludlow Mascall Centre) https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c52f1f0f-14d8-4676-93d3-e70a43beda7a@b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
13.11.26 09:00-11:30 (Face to Face - NORTH - Oswestry Alliance of Leading Learning Centre - Morda Road ) https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/295e32c7-1ef4-4d2c-a7a5-d57f4002141c@b6c13011-372d-438b-bc82-67e4c7966e89
Pre-funded
Early Help Sessions
Free sessions. You do not need a child to attend the sessions to access support for your family. Safe, comfortable, and informal space to talk. Early Help Family Support workers are available to chat every week.
Early Help November - What's On Newsletter
With the changes in the EYFS as below:
3.17 Providers must tell staff and prospective staff that they must disclose any information which may affect their suitability to work with children including, but not limited to, arrests, charges, convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings (whether received before or during their employment at the setting). Providers must not allow individuals to begin working or volunteering at the setting until they have received the applicant’s enhanced criminal records and barred list check. Providers must not allow anyone whose suitability has not been checked, including through a criminal records and barred list check, to have unsupervised contact with children being cared for.
The staff suitability form is now out of date. We are now advising you to add all information into your staff handbook/Code of Conduct, and each year you ask staff to sign it to confirm they are in agreement with working to this.
In addition it would be good practice to include within your termly supervision, if staff have any changes or updates that they need to inform you of, including a need to disclose information to you about their suitability to work with children.
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 Johnson
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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