#21/2026 - Wednesday 27 May 2026
This week's newsletter includes:
- Inclusive Early Years Fund 2026/27
- Early education training - paediatric first aid summer dates
- Our fully funded bursary for a Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years sector means you can start at any time
- NCFE CACHE Level 3 Technical Occupational Entry for the Early Years Workforce
- Support your practice with free early years child development training
- Thriving in Education grant reminder
- Ofsted blog post for childminders
- Stronger Practice newsletter
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Latest Ofsted news and updates here.
The Department for Education (DfE) has announced a new £47 million Inclusive Early Years Fund for 2026/27, designed to help early years providers become more inclusive for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This funding represents an important first step towards a more consistent and joined-up SEND funding system.
The fund is intended to support setting-wide inclusive practice, reduce reliance on individual child-based applications, and promote early intervention. It will sit alongside existing funding streams such as SEN Inclusion Funding (SENIF), Disability Access Funding (DAF), Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP), and High Needs Funding.
The funding should support:
- workforce development and training
- strategic planning for inclusion
- improvements to environments, resources, and provision
West Sussex County Council will allocate funding to settings based on spring term participation data for 3- and 4-year-olds, using a formula that includes:
- a base rate plus additional funding based on universal entitlement and EYPP hours claimed
Payments are expected as a one-off lump sum by 30 September 2026, with final allocations confirmed by the end of August. Settings will be required to keep clear records of how funding is used, and local authorities may review spending through audits, funding reviews, or setting review meetings. An indicative allocation for your setting will be published on the online provider portal (OPP) on Friday 29 May.
How do I access my indicative allocation?
To keep your financial data secure, you can only access your personalised indicative allocation through the secure OPP. To run your report, follow the same steps outlined in this help guide, which you would normally use to access your Indicative Budget.
If you have any queries, please email eyfe@westsussex.gov.uk.
Throughout the 2026/27 training programme, we have a range of paediatric first aid blended learning courses across the county, including Saturday sessions. Paediatric first aid training should be updated every 3 years. We have included the remaining summer dates with spaces, below. To book, click the course name. You can also visit our booking portal West Sussex Services for Education and select your required course.
Summer dates:
If you experience any issues when booking your course, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
You can now apply for a bursary to fully fund a member of your team who meets the eligibility criteria to undertake the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator) at Chichester College. Your team member can start any time - what we call roll on roll off. You can secure a place and agree with the college a start date that works for you.
If you are recruiting, you could consider unqualified candidates who want to get their level 3. Completing the bursary programme could be part of their contract.
The eligibility criteria and application form can be found on the Bursaries for level 3 early years qualifications web page. Please apply as soon as possible as bursaries will be awarded on a first come first served basis.
Twilight sessions at Chichester College will run once every 6 weeks, on a Thursday, from 4.15pm to 7.15pm. There will be a total of 10 taught sessions as well as blended online learning and workplace one-to-ones.
The Level 3 Early Years Workforce Diploma at Crawley College will start in September 2026.
The course lasts 18 months and is for people aged 19 or over who are working or volunteering in an early education setting. It is fully funded for those who qualify for 19+ funding. This includes people on a low income (earning under £25,750 a year) or those aged 19–23 who do not already have a full Level 3 qualification.
Teaching is planned to take place on Tuesday evenings from 6.00pm to 9.00pm. For more details and to sign up, visit the Crawley College website.
The Department for Education’s early years child development training is a free, online programme designed by early years experts to support practitioners working with children from birth to reception.
The programme includes 8 modules, and has recently been updated to include:
- additional videos and practical advice for supporting children in reception
- guidance on supporting the Early Years Foundation Stage profile assessment
Visit the early years child development training to register or sign-in if you already have an account.
If you are looking to develop your provision to support children to develop their emotional wellbeing and resilience, you may be interested in applying for a Thriving in Education grant. For more information, and an application form, please refer to the Special Newsletter - Thriving in Education Grants - now open to early years settings. The closing date for applications is at 5.00pm on Friday 5 June 2026.
A new post, “Registering a childminder assistant: what you need to know” has recently been published on the Ofsted: early years blog.
The May newsletter from the Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub is now available.
Useful information
- w/c 1 June - actuals payments due to settings receiving 2 payments per term
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.
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.
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20/2026 (Safeguarding Focus - Switched on to privacy: resources for early years, school-age childcare and out-of-school settings; Worthing Children’s Development Centre – new referral process; Childminder inspection experience survey; Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub - training opportunities; Attunement and Interaction - the magic of communicating without words; Virtual School - newsletter, Personal Education Plan reminder and training opportunities; Childhood immunisations; Early Education Training)
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19/2026 (Good Level of Development Focus - Mathematical development; Childminder appreciation week - a big thank you to all of our West Sussex childminders; Updates to Ofsted documents; UK Health Security Agency advice for Early Education settings; Level 3 Safeguarding Support Officer Apprenticeship; Early Years Specialist Advisory Teachers referral - deadline approaching; Termly Provider Update; SEND and Inclusion newsletter; Early Education Training)
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18/2026 (Business focus: Committee run provision; Summer term 2026 termly census and actuals - deadline this Friday; Reporting serious childcare incidents within 14 days; Qualify as an Early Years Teacher while you work; Bursaries for level 3 diploma working in the early years sector; Crawley College NCFE CACHE Level 3 Technical Occupational entry for Early Years; Updates for Holiday Activities and Food providers; Early Years Training)
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17/2026 (Reminder – EYFE termly census and actuals are open;New webpage for childminders – Changing who you are registered with; White Paper on education reform – consultation reminder; Supporting families with childhood immunisations; Making Every Contact Count vaccination training – supporting early years conversations; Share a Story month; National Education Nature Park webinar; National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership autumn cohort; Early Years Training)
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16/2026 (Safeguarding Focus: Safeguarding during transitions - what you need to do; West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership safeguarding drop-in sessions; West Sussex Best Start Plan; Inclusive Early Years Fund; New practical advice for families to get children school ready; Foster carers event from the Virtual School; Funded Level 3 Early Years SENCO qualifications; Help improve the ‘Check an early years service qualification’ online service; Thriving In Education Grants; Early Years Training)
Early Years and Childcare newsletter web page.
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