Share / View as a webpage

Early Years update

September 2024

• Early Years team updates 
• New Early Years Website
• New entitlement for children from 9 months old
• Local Offer
• Family Help/Early Help
• Introducing our new grant finding tool
• Childcare Choices
• Ofsted updates
• Department for Education updates
• Stronger Practice Hubs updates
• Rules for tax exemption for workplace nurseries
• Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership updates
• Early Moments Matter – Unicef
• Embracing Inclusion in the Early Years
• Childcare Works Hub for Early Years Providers
• New free book - Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad
• Training/CPD
• Dates for your diary

Early Years team updates 

Welcome back to a new term.  We hope you have all managed to have some time off over the summer to rest and recharge.  The Early Years Team are pleased to welcome a new member, Julie Lewis has joined us as an Early Years & Childcare Adviser/Area Senco working predominantly in the Barrow area.  Julie is a very experienced early years teacher and Senco who has previously worked as a childminder and so brings a wealth of knowledge to the team.

Margaret Thornley is continuing in her role but is reducing her working days, she will only be working on a Tuesday and Wednesday, as a result we are making a few changes to the link advisers and will contact you if your adviser is changing.

New Early Years Website

The legacy website from Cumbria County Council has been shut down over the summer and as a result our support and guidance documents have been moved to the professional’s section of the WAF Families Information website.  Here is the link, but please if you are struggling to find something just drop your adviser a message.

Families Information | Early Years Professionals Hub (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)

Early Years Facebook page A place to celebrate good practice! share photos/news to celebrate and we can share this for you (Please ensure you provide conformation of consent for photos to be used on the closed FB page)

New entitlement for children from 9 months old

The new entitlement for children from 9 months old has now begun, we will shortly be asking you to complete a survey to help us identify if there are any gaps in provision, plan any future developments and ask for your views on the expansion so far.  We can use your responses to seek as much funding as possible from the DfE to support the expansion so please look out for this and complete it.

Local Offer

The LA are currently reviewing the Local Offer website and would appreciate feedback from settings and parents about the current offer.  Please complete the attached survey and also share with parents/carers to complete.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SENDLocalOffer

Family Help/Early Help

The family help team are looking for representatives from Early Years settings to take part in their partnership engagement sessions.  The meetings take place roughly once a term and are about 2 hours long.  They are an opportunity to receive updates from the Family Help Team and raise any questions or suggestions.  If you are interested in receiving an invite for future meetings, please e-mail Amanda.macdonald@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Introducing our new grant finding tool

Introducing our new grant finding tool We are excited to announce the launch of our new online grant finding tool, now available on our website. This tool is designed to help communities and businesses easily find funding opportunities. By accessing a comprehensive national database of grants, including those offered by the council, users can search and filter based on specific needs, funding amounts, and deadlines. The user-friendly platform and dedicated webpage will make it easier than ever for businesses and community organisations to secure financial support for their projects.

Childcare Choices

A revised Childcare Choices partner communications toolkit is available to download: (alternative link: Guidance and resources | Childcare choices) The following can also be used to communicate with parents about the upcoming September milestone: FAQs – Guidance and resources | HMRC Childcare Choices Explainer Video – Get help with the cost of childcare: government-funded support in England (youtube.com) Childcare Choices website (for parents to check their eligibility and sign up to the newsletter) – Homepage | HMRC Childcare Choices

Ofsted updates

Ofsted have added four new videos to their Early years FAQs for providers and practitioners playlist on YouTube.  These new videos cover ratios, how inspectors get the views of parents and how they give feedback on inspection. 

Response to the Big Listen published

The Ofsted Big Listen asked for views across their work, from schools and children’s social care to teacher training and early years.

Ofsted-big-listen-supporting-documents/findings-of-ofsteds-big-listen-public-consultation

Ofsted Big Listen

Department for Education updates

The DfE has updated Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) which has been published on Monday 2nd September 2024. The following is a summary of where the DfE have made substantive changes: Part One: Safeguarding information for all staff Definition of safeguarding  Any staff member who has any concerns Early Help Abuse, neglect and exploitation Indicators of abuse and neglect Safeguarding issues Child on child abuse Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Statutory children’s social care assessments and services Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR Safeguarding policies and procedures Staff training Information security and access management What school and college staff should do if they have a safeguarding concern, or an allegation is made about another staff member Boarding schools, residential special schools, residential colleges and children’s homes Alternative Provision Elective Home Education (EHE) Children requiring mental health support Virtual school heads Children with special educational needs, disabilities or health issues Children who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or gender questioning Full details of changes within KCSIE 2024 can be found in the following link Summary of changes in KCSIE 2024   DfE Provider Roadshows 2024 DfE are running a series of roadshow events for early education and childcare providers across the regions in England. These events offer a unique opportunity to engage with DfE directly and to share views on the entitlements expansion and other areas of early education and childcare policy.   The next events will be held at:      12th September – Plymouth (click here to register)   10th October – Liverpool (click here to register)  07th November – Newcastle (click here to register)     The event is targeted at group-based setting managers who have, or will have, a role or interest in providing additional places as a result of government’s childcare expansion. Further details will be sent upon registering, including confirmation of registration.     Do Something BIG  The Department for Education’s Do Something BIG recruitment campaign has restarted. This broadcast marketing campaign promotes early years and childcare careers on a national-scale across multiple advertising channels including TV.  It directs potential applicants to use DWP’s Find a Job vacancy platform to search for early years roles in their area.  Watch these video tutorials to help you create an employer account and post your jobs.   Early Years Qualifications check list  DfE have updated its Early years qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom: check list

Stronger Practice Hubs updates

The Stronger Practice Hub website provides support to regional networks of early years educators in England to share knowledge, effective practice, and evidence-based approaches. The site enables you, as an early years educator, to find your local Hub and to access the latest information from the Hub on upcoming events, programmes and resources. 

The site also features information about the programme itself as well as access to other DfE-related programmes and the Early Years Evidence Store created by the DfE’s evidence partner on this project, the he Early Years Evidence Store (EEF).

The Early Years Evidence Store has been designed to support the DfE’s Stronger Practice Hubs programme work with early years providers, but it can be used by everyone working in the early years. The content is designed to support early years educators to put evidence-informed approaches into practice.

 The EEF has added a new theme to the Early Years Evidence Store

 The physical development theme explores how early years educators can support young children’s physical development and promote opportunities to be physically active.

Early Years Evidence Store | EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk)

Rules for tax exemption for workplace nurseries

HMRC has issued clarification on the rules for tax exemption for workplace nurseries, which are often linked to salary sacrifice schemes. 

Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership updates

CSCP Learning Management System Now Live  We are delighted to announce from today, 29th August 2024, Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership's (CSCP) new Learning Management System, provided by Virtual College, is now live. This has replaced the previous council's learning platform which ceased in June 2024.   The following generic training courses are available for you to undertake: Level 1 Safeguarding Children and Young People Level 2 Safeguarding Children Child Exploitation and Extra Familial Harm Understanding the Impact of Domestic Abuse Radicalisation and Extremism (Prevent) Safer Recruitment  To access the above courses, you will be required to create an account. Please note if you were signed up to the previous learning platform, your account no longer exists. Please click on the following link to register a new account. https://cumbriascp.vc-enable.co.uk/Register Before you complete the registration form, please ensure you read the important information contained within the above link.  The CSCP will carryout robust monitoring of the use of the Learning Management System and we ask all users to ensure they complete selected courses within a 4 week period. As this is a new learning system, we may encounter teething problems. Therefore, please highlight any issues to the CSCP CSCP.Training@cumbria.gov.uk

Practice reviews

The CSCP have published two Practice reviews

Leo : Cumbria County Council (cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk)

Leiland-James Michael Corkill : Cumbria County Council (cumbriasafeguardingchildren.co.uk)

NSPCC

NSPCC Learning has published a new page bringing together safeguarding information for people working or volunteering with babies, young children and their families. New and updated content includes: an introduction to safeguarding in the early years; recognising and responding to abuse in the early years; and safeguarding considerations when providing intimate care.

Save the Children

Save the Children have created some new PDF resources focused on listening to the child’s voice. Listening to young children’s voice is critical for realising their right to be heard and input into matters affecting them.

While very young children are often left out of debates that concern them, young children living in poverty, those with additional support needs or from underrepresented backgrounds are even more marginalised. Particular attention must be paid to eliciting and duly considering their voices.

There are significant consequences when their voices are not heard. The early years are the most critical time for development, and if young children do not have a voice during this period it can put their health and wellbeing at risk. Take a look here Young Children's Voices | Save the Children UK  

Early Moments Matter – Unicef

In its annual survey, UNICEF UK found that rising debt, poor mental health, and hard-to-find childcare are putting children's futures at risk. For example, 87% of parents with children under 5 are worried about their children's chances in life, and 38% dread the holidays because of the financial strain they put on the family. 

Joanna Rea, Director of Advocacy for UNICEF UK, emphasises the need for significant investment in children, families, and the Early Years sector. She states:

“Investment in children, families, and the Early Years sector will not only transform the lives of millions living on low incomes, helping children to get a fair start in life that sets them up with the skills they need to succeed, but it will also benefit all children and everyone in society."

 You can find out more about the report and their Early Moments Matter campaign here:

Early Moments Matter Campaign - UNICEF UK

Embracing Inclusion in the Early Years

Childcare Works have partnered with Dingley’s Promise, a leader in SEND best practice, to offer a comprehensive package of expert-led videos. These resources provide practical guidance to build confidence and skills in creating truly inclusive early years environments.

Childcare Works Hub for Early Years Providers

Childcare Works HUB for Early Years Providers The HUB is a bank of resources available to Local Authorities and Early Years Providers who are implementing the childcare expansion programme. Here you will find a comprehensive library of the resources developed to support the roll-out of the early years offer and wraparound childcare. HUB for Providers - childcareworks.org.uk

New free book - Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad

Anna Freud Charity have worked with respected Early Years author, Laura Henry, to produce a free book to help young children to express and make sense of their emotions. The book is called ‘Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad’ and also champions diversity through touching on race, gender and diversity to help ALL children to see themselves represented.

The book is available to download here - Sometimes Happy, Sometimes Sad (595x841) - Frontify (annafreud.org)

Training/CPD

Training and networks currently available can be booked through the Westmorland and Furness Professional Development site, please follow the link and search ‘Early years’ in the provider box on the left hand side.  Please check the site regularly as new courses are being added.’

Training & Events | Westmorland and Furness Professional Development

DfE Early Years Child Development training

This free online training provides an overview of child development and offers practical advice for supporting children in your setting, including reception years.

Early years child development training: Home page (education.gov.uk)

The DfE announced that in September 2024 they would be publishing additional resources for early years educators aimed at supporting children with developmental differences and special educational needs and disabilities. These resources are a new free online module that will be added to DfE’s Early years child development training and Early Years SEND assessment guidance and resources which will be available on the Help for Early Years Providers platform.

Early Years SEND training

The Early Years SEND Partnership is a DfE-funded programme that aims to improve access and inclusion in the early years. They offer a whole host of FREE training on a wide range of SEND-related topics for practitioners and parents/carers such as:

• Supporting young children with anxiety
• The Equality Act in the early years
• Ordinarily available provision in the early years
• Support for speech and language needs
• Support for social communication needs
• Supporting children with SEND in the Home Learning Environment
• Meeting the needs of every child

You can find details of all the training provided, including where to sign-up, on the training calendar, which is regularly updated.

FREE offer from Speech and Language UK

Speech and Language UK are offering a monthly, free 2 part ‘Social communication’ online workshop.

This training has been written with Family Hub and the wider workforce in mind and is primarily for people who work with families. The workshops will give ideas on how to support families in the home with speech, language and communication, including supporting typical development.

EYSEND Social Communication Booking (office.com)

NDNA’s free online early years and childcare training courses

Free online early years and childcare training courses - NDNA

Free BBC Tiny Happy People Champions Training

BBC Tiny Happy People, are offering FREE monthly free Champions Training sessions. The free, virtual, 60 minute session will explain the approach, show you how to find content on the website quickly and efficiently plus highlight those key, relevant language techniques and resources that are available for you to share with families and colleagues.

Various dates from September to December 2024 at 3.30 – 4.30pm or 6.30 – 7.30pm (Microsoft Teams)

By filling in the form to register you have given BBC Tiny Happy People the permission to process your data for Champions Training Sessions and future communications. For more information on how your data is processed, review our Privacy Notice here

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Tiny Happy People for early years practitioners

Tiny Happy People is a BBC website full of advice and activities that is useful for early years practitioners, both for use in settings and for sharing with parents and colleagues. We cover a range of topics linked to children's development from 0-4, with a specific focus on children's pre-literacy skills and language learning, ideal for school readiness.

Early years / EYFS teachers and early years practitioners - Resources for EYFS teachers on language development - BBC Tiny Happy People

Blogs

National Day Nurseries Association’s latest blog post features nursery leadership and management of a team, exploring the different types of roles and how to utilise them for optimum effectiveness. It also covers how to develop your team so that they have the right skills to support children in the nursery.

Read blog: https://ndna.org.uk/blog/nursery-leadership-and-management-how-to-build-a-team/

Stronger Practice Hubs Blogs  Mindful Maths: Nurturing Childminders with Jacqui Lewis | Stronger Practice Hubs which supports educators to include maths in their setting.

Famly have written a blog on a conversation with Sonia Maidstone-Cotton about the importance of listening to children through their behaviour:

https://www.famly.co/blog/what-we-can-hear-when-we-really-listen-to-children

Dates for your diary

ICON Week 2024 – 23-27 September https://iconcope.org/news/20240530-icon-week-2024/