#5/2026 - Wednesday 4 February 2026
This week's newsletter includes:
- Business Focus - Employment Rights Act 2025: What Providers Need to Know
- Small Hands, Big Planet: Climate action workshop for early years educators
- Product recall: Hobbycraft “Giant box of craft”
- Do you have any staff vacancies to fill?
- Early years education and childcare jobs fairs
- Bursaries for Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector
- Ofsted inspections since November 2025
- Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub Virtual Training and Networks
- Early Years Training
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Latest Ofsted news and updates here.
Employment Rights Act 2025: What providers need to know
The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent in December 2025 and represents the biggest overhaul of UK employment law in decades. Royal Assent is the final step in the law‑making process, where the monarch formally approves a Bill so it becomes an Act of Parliament (a law).
Please see below for the key changes that will affect childcare providers as employers.
- From 6 April 2026:
- the 26-week qualifying period for paternity leave is removed. Employees can take paternity leave from their first day of employment.
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be payable from the first day of sickness, as the current 3 day waiting period is being removed. The lower earnings limit is also being removed, with those earning below the current threshold will receive 80% of their average weekly earnings.
- Fair Work Agency established, - a new single enforcement body responsible for National Minimum Wage, holiday pay, and SSP compliance.
- From January 2027:
- the unfair dismissal qualifying period will be reduced from 2 years to 6 months. This means that employees hired after January 2027 will gain unfair dismissal rights.
What you should do now:
- review and update your staff handbook and employment contracts
- check your sickness absence policies are ready for day 1 SSP (from April 2026)
- review your probationary period processes
- budget for increased sickness costs and potential dismissal liabilities
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The Climate Ambassadors programme has partnered with The Thames Valley and South Central Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, to run a fully subsidised climate action planning workshop. This workshop is designed for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) settings across the South East.
The Climate Ambassadors programme supports the UK Government’s expectation that all education settings should have a climate action plan. Climate action plans are a detailed, whole-setting plan to enable a nursery, pre-school, school or college to commence or continue sustainability initiatives.
Climate action plans cover four ‘pillars’:
- adaptation and resilience
- biodiversity
- climate education and green careers
- decarbonisation.
During the free workshop, information on the Department for Education (DfE) Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy will be provided. Support will be offered to help you in developing actions for your climate action plan and showcase some best practice examples from nurseries in the South East.
This event is aimed at EYFS settings in the South East of England, including managers, senior leaders, operational staff, sustainability leads and governors/trustees.
The workshop will take place at the University of Reading, London Road Campus, RG1 5AQ on Wednesday 25 February, from 1.00pm to 4.00pm
Please visit the booking page to secure your place.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued an urgent recall of the Hobbycraft Giant Box of Craft because some vials of coloured sand included in the set may contain asbestos, which is a banned substance and poses a risk to health even at low levels of exposure. The product has been withdrawn and must not be used.
What you need to do:
- stop using the product immediately
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if the sand is still in its packaging, place it in a heavy‑duty plastic bag, double tape it securely, label it clearly, and store it in a secure location out of the reach of children
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if the sand has been used, clean areas where the product was used with wet cloths to avoid generating dust. Wear gloves and a mask. Double bag the sand, gloves, mask and cloths
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keep children and other people away from areas where the sand has been used until the area has been fully cleaned
- return the sand vials from the product to your nearest Hobbycraft store for a full refund
- if you cannot get to a store, follow the disposal steps above and dispose of the sand in your general household waste, then contact Hobbycraft for a full refund
Please share this information with families in your setting, as parents and carers may also have purchased this product for home use. The full recall notice is available on the GOV.UK web page for anyone who needs further instructions.
At the beginning of 2026, Jobcentre Plus launched a campaign to promote early years education and childcare as a rewarding career choice. They offer a free, tailored recruitment service to support your setting. This includes help with writing job descriptions, advertising your vacancies, shortlisting candidates, and accessing local recruitment events.
Jobcentre Plus is keen to work with providers to help fill vacancies and attract new talent. To find out more, you can join an online employer event on Tuesday 17 February at 3.30pm. The session will explain how they can support your recruitment needs.
If you would like further support or want to attend the event, please email the centralised inbox at surrey.waytowork@dwp.gov.uk. When contacting them, please include your town name so they can connect you with your local Employer Adviser.
West Sussex County Council Early Years Team, in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, is hosting a series of free job fairs and information sessions. These events are open to anyone interested in early years education and childcare.
The job fairs take place on:
- Wednesday 25 February - The Assembly Rooms, Chichester, PO19 1LQ - 10.00am to 12.30pm
- Thursday 26 February - Field Place, Worthing, BN13 1NP - 10.00am to 12.30pm
We are offering free stalls for you to promote your setting as an employer of choice and meet jobs seekers looking to launch their early years careers. We expect up to 80 visitors at each job fair. You are not required to bring banners, marketing materials or merchandise – just an openness to talk to people looking to start or return to the sector. This is a great opportunity to support your recruitment needs.
To book a stall, please contact the organiser of the job fair you would like to attend:
- Chichester - chichesterjobcentre.employeradvisor@dwp.gov.uk
- Worthing - worthing.employerinbox@dwp.gov.uk
Please share the below flyers with families in your setting.
Job fair and information session – Wednesday 25 February
Job fair and information session – Thursday 26 February
Providers who took part in the early years and childcare workforce review told us they have staff they would like to upskill to a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification.
We are creating a bursary scheme to help fund staff or volunteers who meet the eligibility criteria for the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator), available at Chichester College.
The learner will need to:
- be over the age of 16
- have a suitable level 2 English qualification
- work in your setting a minimum of 20 hours a week
- commit to an 18 month programme
- commit to attending 10 mandatory taught workshops (twilight delivery at Chichester College)
It will be helpful, but not essential, to have completed a Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner or another full and relevant Level 2 qualification.
If you have a member of your team you would like to put forward, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk to express your interest.
The current Early Years Funded Entitlement Provider Declaration (section 3.6) requires providers to inform us if you have an Ofsted outcome of Requires Improvement, Inadequate, Not Met or Ineffective. This enables us to offer support to address the actions identified by Ofsted as quickly as possible.
The Provider Declaration is currently being updated and will include reference to the new Ofsted Inspection Framework.
While this update is being finalised, we are asking settings to contact us if they receive a Not Met, Needs Attention, Urgent Improvement or Non-Compliance outcome. Please notify the relevant Setting Support email address, and we will contact you to offer support.
Please have a look at the extensive free training and networks available online through our Stronger Practice Hub.
Recently updated in light of the significant changes to Ofsted inspections since November 2025, our 'Ofsted – Are you ready?' course is designed to support all early year’s educators in your setting. It helps staff develop their understanding on what an Ofsted inspection means for them. You and your team will build confidence and strengthen your knowledge around the inspections process and identify and plan for actions needed to be Ofsted ‘ready’. To book, click on your preferred course date below. You can also visit our booking portal West Sussex Services for Education and select your required course.
If you experience any issues when booking your course, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
Useful information
- 13 February - Inclusion Funding deadline for spring term 2026
- w/c 23 February - Payments for spring term actuals due to be released
- 4 March - Portal opens for settings to submit summer term estimates
- 27 March - Portal closes for settings to submit summer term estimates
- w/c 6 April - Payments for summer term estimates due to be released
We have a range of online training available for you to access for your staff to ensure they have the most up to date information to support them in their role:
It is important you follow the correct steps and notify the relevant teams and professionals if your setting needs to close.
Contact your local setting support team and visit our closing your early years and childcare setting web page for step by step support.
We share a weekly Jobs in Early Years and Childcare bulletin with members of the public. You can find guidance and a template for submitting your job adverts to this bulletin on our advertise early years and childcare jobs web page. You will also find useful guidance on advertising your job vacancies on other platforms.
- #4/2026 (Safeguarding focus, Spring term 2026 termly census and actuals - deadline this Friday; Product recall: Aptamil First Infant Formula (800g); Early Years Education and Childcare Conference 2026 - last chance to secure an early bird space; Termly Provider Update; Checking Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) codes; Celebrating early years in West Sussex: watch our new videos; Nominate a colleague for a King’s Birthday Honour; New training to help every child and young person thrive)
- #3/2026 (Starting school applications - window has now closed; Early Years Initial Teacher Training; Wraparound Childcare Parent Survey; Early Years Skills Bootcamp; Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub - Makaton Training; Call for early years apprentices and practitioners to share their story; Words for Life – a useful resource to share with families; Wellbeing and Climate Action; Early Years Training)
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#2/2026 (Starting school applications - window closes tomorrow; Important safety alert - check your formula now; Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime; Why a SEND information report matters; Bursaries for Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator); Apply to become an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub – deadline approaching; New Potty Training Guide launched for settings and families; Keeping your setting healthy this winter; Early Years Training - submitting actuals claims and census details webinar; Early Years Training - new ideas and activities for the children in your setting)
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#1/2026 (Spring term 2026 census and actuals claims - action required; Spring headcount date; Starting School Applications – one week to go; Mythbusting Early Childhood Development: writing; Share your experience as an Early Years Teacher; Supervised toothbrushing programme; Update to Portage referral criteria; Early years qualification requirements and standards: minor changes; Checking qualifications are full and relevant; Important changes to the childhood vaccination schedule; Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub updates; Early Years Training)
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#50/2025 (Safeguarding focus - New weekly online safeguarding drop-in sessions; Christmas and New Year opening times; Submitting Actuals Claims and Census details webinar; Starting school applications; Recent updates to Ofsted guidance; Vaccine hesitancy e-module now live; New disability guidance and training; Designated Safeguarding Lead networks 2026 - secure your space; Keynote speaker confirmed for West Sussex Early Years Education and Childcare Conference 2026; Cyber Security: ministerial letter to small businesses; Childcare Works - free resources; Early Years Training)
Early Years and Childcare newsletter web page.
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