#33/2026 - Wednesday 26 August 2026
This week's newsletter includes:
- Safeguarding focus - Changes to the early years foundation stage from 1 September 2026: suitable people; Early Years Training - safeguarding and child protection; Inclusive Safeguarding: Strengthening Protection for Children with Disabilities conference
- Update - missing payment remittance documents
- Schema Play with Tamsin Grimmer
- Screen use guidance for early years providers
- Guidance from the Education Endowment Foundation
- Hello from Kent and Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
- Early Years Training
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Latest Ofsted news and updates here.
Changes to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) from 1 September 2026: suitable people
In newsletter #28/2026 we told you about changes to the EYFS frameworks for group and school-based providers and for childminders. From 1 September, providers must tell staff and prospective staff that they must disclose any information which may affect their suitability to work with children including, but not limited to, arrests, charges, convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings (whether received before or during their employment at the setting).
The NSPCC provides examples of self-disclosure forms. The second example on the template is the example you can adapt and use, as it has been designed for roles that involve regulated activity with children and require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Providers must not allow individuals to begin working or volunteering at the setting until they have received the applicant’s enhanced criminal records and barred list check, and they are satisfied the applicant is suitable to work with children. Providers must not allow anyone whose suitability has not been checked, to have unsupervised contact with children being cared for.
Because the definition of regulated activity has been changed and the supervision exemption removed, all volunteers, even when supervised, will require an Enhanced DBS check with children's barred list information if the activity:
- takes place on more than 3 days within a 30 day period or,
- involves overnight activity.
Further guidance can be found on our Staff suitability web page and Staff recruitment web page.
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Early Years Training - safeguarding and child protection
With the autumn term fast approaching, we wanted to remind you of a handful of safeguarding courses that are running in person. We try to host in-person and online safeguarding courses across the year. The dates have started to get booked up, so please look to secure a space on one of these upcoming face-to-face training sessions soon. To book, click the course name below. You can also visit our booking portal West Sussex Services for Education and select your required course.
Safeguarding and Child Protection for Designated Safeguarding Lead in Early Years Settings – Thursday 15 October – 9.30am to 12.30pm – Kings Church, Burgess Hill, RH15 9LR - £21 per person.
Safeguarding and Child Protection in Early Years Refresher – Thursday 15 October – 1.30pm to 4.30pm – Kings Church, Burgess Hill, RH15 9LR - £21 per person.
Safeguarding and Child Protection in Early Years Refresher – Wednesday 4 November – 9.30am to 12.30pm – Field Place, Worthing, BN13 1NP - £21 per person.
Safeguarding and Child Protection for Designated Safeguarding Lead in Early Years Settings – Wednesday 4 November – 1.30pm to 4.30pm - Field Place, Worthing, BN13 1NP - £21 per person.
An Introduction to Safeguarding and Child Protection for Early Years and Childcare Practitioners – Thursday 26 November – 9.30am to 3.30pm - Field Place, Worthing, BN13 1NP - £31 per person.
If you experience any issues when booking your course, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk
Inclusive Safeguarding: Strengthening Protection for Children with Disabilities conference
Bookings are now being taken for the West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSSCP) annual safeguarding conference – Inclusive Safeguarding: Strengthening Protection for Children with Disabilities. This is an in-person event that aims to enhance your knowledge and understanding around this topic.
The conference will take place on Thursday 26 November, from 9.00am to 4.00pm, at the Worthing Assembly Hall, BN11 1HJ.
What you can expect:
- engaging speakers and networking opportunities
- opportunities to attend workshops and hear learning from reviews where SEND has been a factor
- ask questions to the panel members
- find out about services and organisations that provide support to children with SEND
To reserve your place, please use your professional email and book via the Eventbrite website. If you are a childminder, please email wsscp@westsussex.gov.uk with your Ofsted Unique Reference Number (URN). For more information, please view the flyer.
As highlighted in newsletter #22/2026, we are aware that some settings have previously experienced issues with missing payment remittance documents. We are working closely with the relevant team to find an alternative option to send previous remittance to settings.
The issue affecting remittance has now been identified and therefore we are hopeful that settings will receive any future remittance as expected.
Following the release of autumn estimates to be received this week, if you do not receive a remittance for this payment, please contact us at EYFE@westsussex.gov.uk. If you are missing any previous remittance and have not already informed us, please also contact us, clearly stating which payment remittance you are missing.
Early Education’s Sussex and Hampshire branch is hosting Schema Play with Tamsin Grimmer on Saturday 26 September 2026, from 9.30am to 12.30pm at Boundstone Nursery School in Lancing.
The session will explore schemas and schematic behaviour, including how these can be seen in children’s play and behaviour. Practitioners will consider how to support different patterns of play, recognise when schematic behaviour may be mistaken for poor behaviour and plan for children’s schemas.
Tickets cost £10 for Early Education members and £15 for non-members, with tea, coffee and biscuits provided.
View the Schema Play with Tamsin Grimmer flyer for full details and booking information.
The Department for Education (DfE) has developed non-statutory screen use guidance for early years providers which you should be aware of. This evidence-based guidance was developed with contributions from sector experts including the Digital Standards Early Years Action Group and Early Years Screen Time Advisory Group. It sets out useful information on how to use screens safely and effectively in your setting.
The early years are a critical period for children’s development. Healthy child development depends on sufficient sleep, play, real-world interaction and responsive adult engagement. The DfE encourages educators to take a precautionary approach when using screens in your setting.
The EEF has brought together a range of ideas and resources to Early Educators to support early years practitioners as they prepare for the term ahead.
Working in partnership with families
Positive relationships with parents and carers help settings gain a deeper understanding of children’s learning and development, enabling practitioners to build on children's experiences both at home and in the setting.
Two can play this game! How to form positive relationships with parents
How to empower parents to support children’s self-regulation
Promoting positive partnerships with parents
The unique child
Understanding each child’s experiences, strengths and individual needs helps ensure that the support they receive is meaningful, effective and responsive.
Unlocking the role of the key person: asking the right questions
Big steps for small children: the importance of personal, social and emotional development for smooth transitions
The unique child: tailoring personalised support in the early years
The new delivery partner for our Stronger Practice Hub has shared the following message:
We would like to reintroduce ourselves to you and tell you about the free support and Continuing Professional Development that we are offering to people working in the early years sector.
Like you, we work in early years and in 2023 were selected by the Department of Education as an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub to provide support and training for other people in the sector, following the Covid-19 Pandemic. This programme has been extended to 2029.
We are one of 36 hubs in the country and we cover the following areas:
- Kent
- East Sussex
- West Sussex
- Brighton and Hove
- Isle of Wight
- Medway
We provide free support for people working in early years, whether you are a childminder, nursery, school-based nursery or primary school - we will have something for you. This support is given in many ways such as virtual webinars, face-to-face events and networks.
Many of our webinars are recorded and most are held at 7.00pm to make them as accessible as possible. We have provided webinars and projects to support SEND, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Communication and Language and Maths but also provide opportunities for bespoke advice. We also hold a range of informal networks that offer you a chance to discuss issues that are important to you and your practice.
We would like to hear from you with any ideas or comments on what you would like us to provide. To share anything with us, please email KBEYSPH@northfleet-nur.kent.sch.uk
Here is our latest booklet for you to view our latest events to sign up to.
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Kind regards Neerasha, Julie, Gem and Team
It is known that children who develop a strong early mathematical understanding are more likely to succeed at school and achieve better outcomes later in life. With this in mind, we have several maths related courses across our training programme looking to support staff in teaching maths. Below are the next 2 dates with spaces remaining. To book, click the course name 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
- w/c 24 August - autumn term estimate payments due to settings
- 31 August - deadline for parents to reconfirm/apply for their Working Family Eligibility codes to use for the autumn term
- 31 August - summer term sufficiency deadline
- 31 August - summer term termly childcare provider update deadline
- 1 September - portal opens for settings to submit actuals for autumn term
- 17 September - autumn term headcount day
- w/c 21 September - autumn term monthly estimate payments due to settings
- 22 September - portal closes for settings to submit actuals for autumn term
- 1 October - Department for Education census day for autumn term
- w/c 19 October - autumn 26 actuals due to settings who are paid twice termly
- w/c 26 October - monthly estimate payment due
- w/c 23 November - actuals payment due for settings who are paid monthly
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.
- (Business Focus - The power of work experience in early education and childcare; Inclusive Early Years Fund 2026/27; Webinars now available - changes to claiming for children after headcount from autumn 2026; Early Years Teaching Degree Apprenticeship at Roehampton University; Early Years Training)
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#31/2026 (Moderate air pollution alert and amber heat-health alert; Early Years Funded Entitlement autumn term estimates - submissions close Friday; Paying your annual fee with Ofsted; Sussex Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) report; West Sussex Neglect Strategy 2024 to 2029; What have we learned about children born during the pandemic; Celebrating good practice; New Podcast from Ofsted available; July update from the Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub; Making Every Contact Count vaccination training – supporting early years conversations)
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#30/2026 (Safeguarding focus – Department for Education and National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children early years safeguarding training; Emerging safeguarding consideration: tracking and recording devices; Amber heat health-alert; Safer sleep product guidance; Early Years Training)
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#29/2026 (Remittance advice update; New Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship; Why vaccination matters; Signpost families to the Best Start in Life website; Early Years Training)
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#28/2026 (Good Level of Development Focus - mathematical development; Changes to the early years foundation stage statutory framework; Service update: West Sussex County Council phone line issues; Early years funding consultation 2026; Have your say on early years teaching reforms; Regulated activity: removal of the supervision exemption from 1 September 2026; Priority Services Register – support for families and staff; Business support tools for providers; Watch the webinar: bringing a reading-rich culture to life; Good news to share from the 2026 Annual Literacy Survey; SEND and Inclusion newsletter; Early Years Training)
Early Years and Childcare newsletter web page.
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