21 March 2025

EEAC Update 50 

EEAC updates are published every Friday, during term time.

PLEASE SHARE THESE UPDATES INTERNALLY WITH ALL STAFF

Past editions are also available to view on our web page

Changes to the name of the SSCP Front Door

From Tuesday 1 April MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) is going to be renamed Integrated Front Door.

Points to consider:-

• Update your safeguarding policy and procedures with the new name
• Make changes on any safeguarding display boards
• Inform all your staff of the changes.

The Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership are looking to make changes to the Threshold Framework model and are looking for your views and feedback to help shape this. Click the link below to complete the survey and share the link with others. The survey will take 2 minutes to complete.

EYPP - 3 things you need to know

Julian Grenier, the Education Endowment Foundation’s senior content and engagement manager for the early years explores what the uplift in the Early Years Pupil Premium means in practice for early years settings. 

Read Julians' blog The uplifted Early Years Pupil Premium – three things you need to know on the Education Endowment Foundations' website. They also have an EEF Guide to the EYPP.

For more information, criteria and how to claim visit our webpage by clicking the link below.

Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) network

Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust are pleased to announce the launch of the Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) network.
This is an exciting new way to support speech and language progression in education settings right across the county.
Network meetings will take place 3-4 times a year. They are a way for a diverse group of professionals to work together to improve educational outcomes by sharing good practice and developing innovative strategies.
Attendees will enjoy interesting and informative discussions, workshops that will offer practical tools and insights, and networking opportunities with peers.

The meeting will take place online on Thursday 3rd April 2025 2pm to 4pm via MS Teams.

Upcoming sessions for 2025 

• Tuesday 17 June, 2pm to 4pm via MS Teams
• Wednesday 1 October, 2pm to 4pm via MS Teams

To register for your place, email stokespeaksout@mpft.nhs.uk quoting SLCN – 03.04.25

Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Moderation for Schools

These sessions are to support with the completion of the EYFS Profile 2025 and are aimed at Reception Teachers and EYFS Leaders in Schools.

They will focus on the statutory requirements of the profile as well as highlighting key aspects of the EYFSP Handbook for 2025. They will provide teachers with an opportunity to engage in professional dialogue and moderation conversations to build confidence in making accurate end of year assessment judgements.

Teachers are asked to bring a copy of the EYFSP Handbook 2025. There are a range of face to face and virtual deliveries in April and May, including a session for ECTs and teachers new to EYFS:-

1 April 2025 - 9:15am to 12:15pm at Stafford Family Hub, Faraday Road, Stafford, ST16 3NQ- face to face delivery for ECT teachers, leaders and Reception teachers who are new to EYFS.

1 April 2025 - 1pm to 4pm at Stafford Family Hub, Faraday Road, Stafford, ST16 3NQ - face to face delivery for Reception teachers & leaders in EYFS. 

30 April 2025 - 1:30 to 3pm via MS Teams - virtual delivery for Reception teachers & leaders in EYFS.

14 May 2025 - 4pm to 5:30pm via MS Teams - virtual delivery for Reception teachers & leaders in EYFS.

All places must be booked through the Practitioner Hub. Click the link above on your chosen session to book your place on the EY Practitioner Hub.

Free training opportunities

Wraparound Inclusive Practice Pathway - an introduction to relational and restorative practice

Places are still available for this face-to-face session, aimed at wraparound care providers including management and staff. It will introduce the principles of RRP and how these can be practically applied in settings. Sociological and psychological theories that will be explored include social discipline window, social capital theory, shame, window of tolerance, restorative enquiry and effective statements.

Monday 24 March 2025 10:30am to 2:30pm at Trentham Room,  Staffordshire Place 1, Tipping Street, Stafford, ST16 2DH

All places must be booked through the Practitioner Hub. Click the link below to book your place on the EY Practitioner Hub.

Wraparound Inclusive Practice Pathway - raising the attainment of disadvantaged youngsters (RADY) and wraparound care

Places are still available for this online session, aimed at wraparound care providers including management and staff. It will encourage consideration of the untapped potential of our disadvantaged learners and how their work can support better attainment in regular school time. Explore how this can be achieved through target and attainment uplifts and equity in teaching and learning, ensuring the attainment of our disadvantaged learners is a golden thread throughout school policies, and focusing on the proportional representation of our disadvantaged learners in all aspects of school life.

Tuesday 25 March 2025 9am to 11am via MS Teams

All places must be booked through the Practitioner Hub. Click the link below to book your place on the EY Practitioner Hub.

Wraparound Inclusive Practice Pathway - Autism and Sensory Differences

Places are still available on this online session, aimed at wraparound care providers, including management and staff. It will explore how individuals with autism may experience sensory difference. Learn about the characteristics and differences in sensory processing for children and young people with autism, and explore how helpful, practical strategies can create sensory friendly environments for all children and young people, not just pupils with autism.

Monday 31 March 2025 6pm to 7:30pm via MS Teams

All places must be booked through the Practitioner Hub. Click the link below to book your place on the EY Practitioner Hub.

Boy Talk: Gender differences in language learning

This training was written by the speech and language therapy service in the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and will support practitioners working with EY children to explore gender differences in language learning. The session is aimed at practitioners working in nurseries, pre-schools, schools and childminders

By the end of this session, you will:

• have an increased awareness of the gender differences in brain development and language acquisition,
• develop an understanding of the influencing factors in gender differences in language development,
• be able to consider best practice for supporting boys' language learning in your setting.

Monday 7 April 2025 10:30am to 12pm via MS Teams

All places must be booked through the Practitioner Hub. Click the link below to book your place on the EY Practitioner Hub.

Transitioning into Reception – support for Early Years providers (PVI)

This workshop is aimed at PVI nurseries, preschools and childminders to help children transitioning into School.

It aims to help you:

• understand the importance of Transition in the Early Years,
• support children with additional needs / SEND into Reception,
• support parents and families through transition,
• understand what information to share to support the child’s transition,
• information on funding and further training.

Tuesday 8 April 2025 9:30am to 11am via MS Teams, or

Wednesday 9 April 2025  6pm to 7:30pm via MS Teams

All places must be booked through the Practitioner Hub. Click the link below to book a place on your chosen date on the EY Practitioner Hub.

DfE Childminder Roadshow

Join DfE’s Early Years Team for a free online roadshow event for Childminders on Thursday 27 March from 6:30pm to 8pm.

This event is a great opportunity to help shape the government’s plan for change and hear about the strategy and activity underway to meet the pillar in its Opportunity Mission to give children the Best Start in Life. You will have a chance to engage with DfE colleagues on the work they are doing to meet the expanded childcare entitlements from September 2025 and share your ideas, concerns, and challenges. 

The event will include an overview and update from the DfE and give those joining the opportunity to share experiences and views in virtual roundtable discussions.  

Click the link below to book your place via the Eventbrite website.

BBC Tiny Happy People survey

Term Funding Periods

Summer term funding and Easter 2025

A reminder that as Easter is falling late this year at the end of April please note that the Summer Term funding period covers the period 1 April to 31 August. This means that settings can claim the first 2 weeks of the summer term before the Easter holidays, and then resume after the break to claim a maximum of 13 weeks funding. This ensures parents are not missing out on 2 weeks funding they are entitled to before Easter.

These 13 weeks, added to the 11 funded weeks in Spring Term and the 14 funded weeks in Autumn term, total 38 weeks funding across the academic year.

For any queries or help contact the Finance team on 01785 854009 or email eefportal@staffordshire.gov.uk.

Encourage parents to apply or reconfirm their working parent code before the end of the period to be valid for next term. The deadline to apply for a code is 31 March to use from 1 April. Regularly review the dashboard on your EY Portal for those codes which are shortly due reconfirmation and let parents know. Signpost parents to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to find out about the expansion of the entitlements for working families and how to save money on their childcare.   If parents have queries they can call the Childcare Choices customer interaction centre on 0300 123 4097.

Childcare Choices Partner Communications Toolkit

Childcare Choices have produced a 'Partner communications Toolkit' containing templates and resources you can download to help you raise awareness with parents of the financial support available for childcare costs and the benefit of early education.

The 'Campaign Creatives' page allows you to share messages via your social media accounts, emails, on your website, or within your setting. These resources are available in a number of languages including Gujarati, Romanian, Ukrainian and Urdu.

Use these resources alongside our existing Early Education and Childcare Toolkit.

EY Area SENCO Team helpline 

To request a helpline call back:

• Email: EYSENIS@staffordshire.gov.uk
• Type the words ‘Tuesday helpline’ in the email subject
• Include a brief summary of your query and contact details including a contact phone number in the email

You can email at any time, requests are collated for the next helpline date.  Each Tuesday, a member of the team will operate the helpline.  If Tuesdays are not a suitable time to call back, please note this in your email and we will try to accommodate your request. 

To make a request for consultation, download the request form on Staffordshire Connects | EY SENIS Team. Instructions and guidance are included on the form.

Please note - the EYSENIS team do not have a direct phone number. They can be contacted by email: EYSENIS@staffordshire.gov.uk.

This update is produced and distributed by Staffordshire County Council. If you wish to follow up on anything in this update then please contact us by email at eeac@staffordshire.gov.uk

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