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Early Years update

October 2024 

• Early Years Team updates 
• Children and families information services CFIS updates
• Department for Education DfE updates
• Ofsted updates
• Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)updates
• SEND Process - UPDATE
• NSPCC Early years PANTS resources
• Product Safety Alert: Water Beads
• Online Speech and Language Therapy sessions from the SALT team
• Family Hub
• Home Learning Support for Families
• The Froebel Trust ‘Playing with Power:
• CPD and Training 
• Upcoming Early Years network meetings
• Awareness Events

Early Years Team updates 

Goodbye and good luck

We are sad to say that Amanda Macdonald will be leaving at the end of October. Amanda's dedication, knowledge and enthusiasm for Early Years will be missed by the whole team and by colleagues in the wider council who have been so well supported by Amanda in SEND, Early Career Teacher support and all things strategic Early Years. Colleagues say they felt more confident and informed about Early Years as a result of working with Amanda- what a positive impact to leave in Westmorland and  Furness!! Whilst we will really miss her, we send her our very best wishes for her new life adventure in the North East. 

We will update you on recruitment of her position once this has been completed. In the meantime please continue to contact your link adviser for all questions, queries and support.

Welcome to the Early Years team

We would like to welcome Julie Lewis to the team, Julie started in September as Early Years Adviser/Area Senco.

We would also like to welcome Rachael Yarrow to the Early Years Team following LGR disaggregation of Children and Families Information service.  Rachael is a Family Information Officer for Westmorland and Furness and will work closely with our Early Years Sufficiency Officer and Finance Officers.

Children and families information services CFIS updates

Family Information Service (formally CFIS) provides information and advice on childcare, activities, entitlements and services for families with children aged 0 to 19 years in Westmorland and Furness. Over the summer period Family Information Service disaggregated so is now Westmorland and Furness Family Information Service. Rachael Yarrow is Family Information Service Officer for Westmorland and Furness,  contact details have been updated fis@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or 07785 456983.

Early Years Funding updates

FE audits 

Early Years funding contract for 9+months 2, 3 and 4 year olds

Westmorland and Furness Council is committed to supporting children and young people to be the best they can.  One of the ways we do this is through the Free Early Years Education which ensures early years education is provided free at point of delivery for all eligible 9+ months, 2, 3 and 4 year olds. 

As a provider of free early years education you will be aware of the funding contract we have with you. We routinely audit providers to confirm obligations detailed in the contract are in place. 

During the visit an Early Years Adviser will conduct a headcount of the children accessing free early years education in the week of the visit or if they come during school holidays they will ask to see records relating to a term time week.

Your link Adviser or a member of the Early Years Team will contact you shortly to arrange a date of the visit. 

If you have any questions about the visit, please do not hesitate to contact me; laura.kendall@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Working Families codes

Please ensure that parents are applying for their codes in time. Parents of children who are due to start in January 2025 (Spring Term), need to have applied for their code no later than 31^st December 2024. If the parent does apply after the deadline date they will not be able to use their entitlement that term.

For frequently asked questions for parents please see link below.

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/childcare-entitlements-frequently-asked-questions-parents

Department for Education DfE updates

Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs

The Department recently announced an extension of the Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs programme until at least March 2025. The programme supports early years educators, including those in deprived areas, to improve the quality of their practice by sharing evidence informed approaches through established local networks.   There are 18 Hubs in total with 2 in each region. If you haven’t already done so, do reach out to your local Hub to find out what support is on offer and join their network. Details of all the Hubs can be found at www.strongerpracticehubs.org.uk/hubs along with more information about the programme.

Your time to Shine: DfE comms opportunities

The DfE’s ‘Do something BIG’ campaign is seeking inspiring and standout real-life stories from early years professionals working in nurseries, pre-schools, before and after school clubs, or as childminders. Our goal is to champion the early years sector as part of our campaign and through DfE newsletters and social media channels. We want to hear from staff of all ages and backgrounds, showcasing that anyone, from any walk of life, can work in the sector and bring something unique and valuable to the role. 

The DfE campaign team will work with the candidate depending on their story and agree where and how their story will be used to positively promote the great work they do and inspire others. 

Please consider if you know anyone that may be willing to be involved and please share this message with your providers and networks. If anyone would like to be considered for a case study as part of this campaign, please ask them to email earlyyears.careers@education.gov.uk. 

Ofsted updates

Response to the Big Listen

Ofsted has set out its plans to reform the early years inspection process as part of its response to the Big Listen. The change will not happen immediately but will be introduced from 2025 onwards. The plans will include:

•Removing the overall effectiveness grade and replacing it with a new report card. The inspectorate will consult on what the report card looks like later this academic year.

•Introduce a new early years inspection framework which is 'more flexible to apply to different types of settings'.

•Introduce the Ofsted Academy to improve training for inspectors.

•Streamline its registration process to make sure options and processes are clear to all applicants.

EY inspection handbook 

Early-Years-Inspection-Handbook

Ofsted guidance on inspecting registered early years and childcare providers under the education inspection framework. Has been updated

Ofsted blog A new post, “Who needs to submit an EY2 form, and tips for completing it” has just been published on the Ofsted: early years blog. In this blog, Ofsted set out who needs to submit an EY2 form and give you some tips on completing it, which will help Ofsted process your submission quickly and efficiently.  Read the new post: https://earlyyears.blog.gov.uk/2024/09/26/who-needs-to-submit-an-ey2-form-and-tips-for-completing-it/

Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP)updates

CSCP Learning Management System On Thursday 29th August 2024, the CSCP Learning Management System, provided by Virtual College, went live. This system 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

SEND Process - UPDATE

From September 2024 SEND has been removed from the Early Help process for Westmorland Furness. You will no longer be required to complete an Early Help referral for a request for professional involvement or education, health and care needs assessments (EHCNA) requests. Please visit the SEND in Early Help Process page of the CSCP website for further details.

NSPCC Early years PANTS resources

NSPCC Learning has updated its Talk PANTS resources for nurseries and primary schools to help keep children safe from sexual abuse. The updates include a presentation of the Underwear Rule to use with 3- to 5-year-olds.   

Access the resources: PANTS resources for schools and teachers

Product Safety Alert: Water Beads

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Safety Alert to warn of the risks that water beads pose to children and vulnerable adults.

Water beads are the common name for superabsorbent polymers (SAPs). They are marketed for various purposes, including for use as toys and crafting. When swallowed, they expand and can block the gastrointestinal passage, potentially requiring surgery. They can also cause choking and have harmed children in the UK, with reports linking them to deaths overseas. 

Further information is available here - Product Safety Alert: Water Beads (PSA7) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Online Speech and Language Therapy sessions from the SALT team

Online Speech and Language Therapy sessions from the SALT team

Please find attached the new timetable of advice and support sessions from the SALT team for this term, as well as a new training session on Supporting Gestalt Language Processors.

2024 Advice & Support Session Timetable - Autumn

Supporting GLP Development A&S Session

Family Hub

The Family Hub, based at Barrow Main Library, has the objective to join up and enhance services delivered through existing Partner organisations – ensuring that parents and carers (of children between 0 – 19 or 25 with SEND) can access the support they need when they need it.

Please share with parents and families the family Hubs What’s on guild for September Onwards

wfc_family_hubs_whats_on_guide_sept 2024

Home Learning Support for Families

Do you know that families can sign up to a newsletter from the National Literacy Trust which is full of ideas for talking, playing and reading with your child? https://wordsforlife.org.uk/newsletter/  There are lots of videos and suggestions for interactive games and ideas on the website too.   Online learning for families Family Corner are currently running various free online sessions and courses for families for free, thanks to the Department for Education. These include 'Supporting your child’s learning at home', 'Exploring schemas' and 'Building resilient children'. Please promote these opportunities to your families by sharing the link below: Free online learning for all the family - Join our courses for parents of 0-5s | Family Corner

The Froebel Trust ‘Playing with Power:

New Anti-racism in the Early Years guide

The Froebel Trust have published ‘Playing with Power: A guide for educators supporting anti-racist and decolonial childhoods’ by Simon Bateson and Dr Shaddai Tembo:

Froebel-Trust-Playing-With-Power-September-2024.pdf

CPD and Training 

Effective Communication Training Network

All courses will run from 4:15 – 6:15

Refreshments: Please note that refreshments on arrival will be provided. Please add any dietary requirements in the special requirements section when booking via SLA online or contact school.development@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Good Autism Practice in the Early Years(GAP)

Date and Time:

Course A – Kendal - Wednesday 4th December 2024

Course B – Penrith – Wednesday 2nd April 2025

Course C – Barrow – Wednesday 25th June

All sessions 9:30am - 3:30pm

Places for this event can be booked via SLA online 

If you have any issues accessing SLA, please email the School Development Team at school.development@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Other CPD/training

Promoting children’s oral health: The role of supervised toothbrushing programmes (virtual event) - Monday 7 October 2024, 9.30am - 10.45am

Tooth decay is the most common oral disease affecting children and young people in England, yet it is largely preventable. This session will explore supervised toothbrushing programmes and their impact on reducing tooth decay and improving children’s oral health. Attendees will also hear insights from councils about effective local initiatives.

Book here - Local Government Association

Parenta webinar. Coaching … How To Retain Your Staff for Longer!

On Wednesday, 16th October, join Dr Mona Sakr and Pamela McFarlane for an insightful and practical webinar on how coaching enhances leadership, improves staff retention, and strengthens team resilience - ultimately giving children the best start in life

Childcare Webinars - Early Years Educators | Parenta.com

Early Years SEND Partnership Training and Seminars

With the start of the new academic year, the EYSEND Partnership are offering free training and seminars for early years educators and parents/carers. You can access all training and events through their training calendar. Some of these include:

• Home Learning Environment webinar for parents/carers (21^st Nov). Hosted by the Early Childhood Unit, this webinar focuses on early literacy. Click here to book.
• Bespoke training workshops to help educators support children’s communication skills. Hosted by Speech and Language UK, this training is suitable for Family Hub teams, and those who provide support to families. Click here to book. There is also training available on supporting social communication.
• Ordinarily Available Provision in the Early Years (24^th Nov). Hosted by the Council for Disabled Children, this seminar does a deep dive into what ‘ordinarily available provision’ means. Open to practitioners and parents/carers. Click here to book.

DoE Early Years Child development training

The Early years child development training is an online programme that is free to access. It has been designed by early years professionals to help early years educators strengthen their knowledge and understanding of child development.

Module 8: Supporting individual differences and needs now available

This new module is now available along with 7 other modules focusing on key areas of child development. 

You can complete the modules in any order, at any time. Sign in to the training and visit the My modules page to access this new module. If you haven’t yet accessed the training, you can register by visiting Early years child development training.

Upcoming Early Years network meetings

Managers Networks  Barrow Manager’s Network meeting on: Monday 7th October at 6pm -7:30pm at Sandside Lodge School Kendal Manager’s Network meeting on: Tuesday 8th October at 6pm -7.30pm at Little Saplings Nursery Eden Manager’s Network meeting on Thursday 10th  October 2024 at 6pm -7.30pm at  Queen street Nursery   Childminder Network meeting This will also include SEND updates from an area SENCo Monday 14th October 6.30-8pm via teams To book your place please email karen.cove@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk  An e-mail with a link for the meeting will be sent out closer to the date.   Early Years Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) network The next DSL Meeting will be held via TEAMS on Thursday 24th October 1.30 – 3.00pm or 6.00 - 7.30pm If you would like to attend, please reply to karen.cove@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk. Please state your preferred time. An e-mail with a link for the meeting will be sent out closer to the date.    Kendal Area Early Years Cluster Meeting Date: Tuesday 22 October Venue: Sandgate School, Sandylands Road, Kendal, LA9 6JG Time: 4:00 – 5:30pm To book a place for the cluster, please email: rachel.ramsbottom@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk by Tuesday 15 October.   Please give the name/s of practitioners who will be attending to help us compile the register.    New Eden Early Years Clusters. This years dates and venues are as follows: Autumn term - Tuesday 12/11/24 - 6.15pm-7.30pm at First class kids Spring term - Wednesday 26/02/25 - 6.15pm-7.30pm at Gilderdale Nursery Summer term - Thursday 01/05/25 - 6.15pm-7.30pm Dinky Dales To book places on the cluster, please email us at: Nichola.silcock@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk Sue.harrington@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Awareness Events

Black History Month

Black History Month in the UK is celebrated in October and has been for the past 30 years. During this month (and continuing throughout the rest of the year) attention is raised towards notable figures. These may be individuals who have otherwise been overlooked within history lessons.

https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/

Activity ideas for Early Years

How to celebrate Black History Month in the early years | EYR (earlyyearsresources.co.uk)

World Mental Health Day 2024

World Mental Health Day is happening on Thursday 10th October 2024.

“It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace“.

Have a look at the free resource’s available to share with your staff and display in your setting. To help support your staffs wellbeing.

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-days/world-mental-health-day/

National Burn Awareness Day 2024 is on Wednesday 16th October 2024.

Children’s Burns Trust works alongside the British Burn Association to raise awareness and grow the momentum of National Burn Awareness Day each year.

National-burn-awareness-day Wednesday 16th Oct 2024.

https://www.rospa.com/resources/hubs/keeping-kids-safe/burns-scalds

https://capt.org.uk/national-burn-awareness-day/

World Nursery Rhyme Week 11th to 15th November 2024 Registration for World Nursery Rhyme Week 2024 is now OPEN! Register here to access your free resource pack and get ready for a fantastic week of rhyming in November.  Registration - World Nursery Rhyme Week   Chat, Play, Share Have a look at all our Chat, Play, Share- Nursery rhymes on our website and posted every Monday on our EY Facebook page . Chat, Play, share