EYFS statutory framework -safeguarding and welfare requirements
Safety and suitability of premises, environment and equipment, this section covers a wide range of health and safety consideration for all early years providers. Pg 35- 38
3.76 Risk assessments - group and school-based providers
3.75 Risk assessments - Childminders
Providers must ensure that they take all reasonable steps to ensure staff and children in their care are not exposed to risks and must demonstrate how they are managing risks.
Risk assessments should identify aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis.
Providers must determine where it is helpful to make some written risk assessments to support staff practice, inform parents/carers and inspectors.
Points to consider:
- How often do you check staff (including newly qualified and apprentices) understanding of any written risk assessments?
- How do you learn how to write an in-depth risk assessment that covers the points around hazards to staff and children?
- How effective are the daily visual checklists? Are they just a tick box exercise or are they an integral part of your health and safety procedures?
See links below to help support writing of risk assessments with template examples:
Managing risks and risk assessment at work – Overview - HSE
Risk assessment: Steps needed to manage risk - HSE
Risk assessment: Template and examples - HSE
Early Years Forum update
This academic year, Early Years Forum have implemented a triage system, a new pathway for children to access before coming to Forum. This is to ensure children are getting the right help at the right time prior to Forum. The cut-off date for school starters to be referred to Early Years Forum is Friday 4 April 2025.
SEND Inclusion Funding (SENIF) update
Settings can access SEN Inclusion Funding without children being known to Early Years Forum.
Applications for SENIF funding must be submitted by Wednesday 30 April 2025 for eligible children who are due to start school in September 2025. This will ensure eligible children attending Staffordshire schools in September 2025 receive transition funding to support transition plans in their feeder school during the Autumn term. Applications for funding can be found here Staffordshire Connects | Early years special educational needs and disability funding for settings
Click the link below for Early Years Forum and SEN Inclusion Funding dates for the academic year 2025-2026.
Family Hub Referral to the Community Family Support Service (CFSS)
The Staffordshire Connects page for the Family Hub Gateway to Community Family Support Service (CFSS) service launches on 1 April 2025.
This free service is for families with children aged 0-18 years residing in Staffordshire who require one-to-one support with managing challenges they are experiencing which are preventing them from improving their children’s health, wellbeing and outcomes.
Click the link below to take you to the page.
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 on your chosen session above to book your place on the EY Practitioner Hub.
Free toilet training resources
Foundation Years have produced some downloadable posters and handouts to help parents with toilet training and help EY settings 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’ and a handout for parents.
Click the link below to view the resources on the Foundation Years website.
Free training opportunities
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, the characteristics and differences in sensory processing for children and young people with autism, and 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 (MPFT) 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.
Wraparound Inclusive Practice Pathway - Understanding behaviour and de-escalation strategies
This face-to-face session, aimed at wraparound care providers, including management and staff, will explore our understanding of behaviour, recognising that behaviour is complex and impacted by many factors. It will cover preventative strategies we can implement to manage behaviour and how to create a positive environment, de-escalation strategies for challenging situations, and restoring relationships following challenging situations.
Wednesday 7 May 2025 10:30am to 1:30pm at Stafford Family Hub, Faraday Road, Stafford, ST16 3NQ
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.
Where are babies? Exploring outdoor provision for 0-2's
Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub are hosting a free online network, delving into research on outdoor learning for babies and toddlers (0-2's). You will explore key findings, discuss best practices, and share ideas on how to create meaningful outdoor experiences for the youngest learners.
Tuesday 13 May 2025 6.30 to 8pm, online
Click the link below to book your place.
Childrens Occupational Therapy Playwise Workshop
MPFT's Children’s Occupational Therapy Service are offering FREE training to EY staff based in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire schools.
Learn more about why developmental foundation skills are so important:
- Classroom strategies to help children aged 3-5 in nursery/school to develop skills in those everyday movement related activities needed for future independence in daily tasks, including schoolwork and self-care skills.
- the Royal College of Occupational Therapists identified that “in the UK more children are starting school without the foundation skills and resilience they need to succeed in education and life”.
- Why learning to write is closely linked to a child's gross motor development.
Therapists will be available after the workshop to discuss individual concerns.
Friday 2 May 2025 9am to 1pm at Hazel Trees Duke Street, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 3NR
Click the link below to book your place (only 30 places are available, limited to 2 per school). E-mail childrensOT@mpft.nhs.uk for more information.
EY qualifications checking service now live
The DfE has launched a digital EY qualification checking service to help managers check UK qualifications which are approved as full and relevant and confirm if someone can count in staff:child ratios.
Click the link below for more details and to use the checking service.
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