Training
We offer a range of training opportunities to support the on-going professional development of practitioners. Providers can, if they wish, buy additional support tailored to the individual needs of the setting.
Providers must take all necessary steps to keep children safe and well.
Providers must support staff to undertake appropriate training and professional development opportunities to ensure they offer quality learning and development experiences for children that continually improves.
Statutory Framework for the EYFS
School based settings can also find training opportunities on the Solihull Solgrid site. You will need your Solgrid password to access this page. This link will take you to Solihull Education Improvement training and partner events.
If you are a new provider looking for support in setting up a business or an existing provider wanting to improve your business skills, Blue Orchid can provide free workshops or 1-1 support. For more information click on the link. Blue Orchid Business training
EYFS is based on a set of guiding principles and seeks to provide equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practices, ensuring that every child is included and supported.
Statutory Framework for Early Years Foundation Stage DfE (2017)
Target Audience:
This course is for EYSENCOs working in PVI settings who are new to the role or looking to refresh their skills and knowledge.
Overview of meeting:
The role of the SENCO as provider or facilitator of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for SEND
The aims of this training are to:
- Use the NASEN training materials to support early years providers to continue improving their approaches to professional learning in order to maximise the benefit to staff and the children you work with who have special educational needs and disabilities
- To discuss referral for SEND funding for settings supporting individual children's needs
Please complete a booking form and return it via email or post as stated on the form.
Target Audience:
Early Years practitioners in all early years provision in schools and PVI settings
Overview of Sessions
The sessions provide an opportunity to moderate assessment judgements across the 22-36/30-50/40-60months/ELG/Exceeding development matters bands with other practitioners from PVI and school based provision in a relaxed environment.
If possible please bring samples of evidence to moderate – you can attend as many or as few sessions as you feel necessary for your school or setting.
Please complete a booking form with your preferred choice of date and return it via email or post as stated on the form.
Providers must be confident that those responsible for preparing and handling food are competent to do so. (Statutory Framework for the EYFS, 2017)
Target Audience:
All practitioners who prepare and handle food, including food which is provided during activities such as food tasting.
Course Content
- The need for food hygiene
- Bacteria and food poisoning
- How to avoid contamination
- Personal and general hygiene
- Temperature control
- Explore the legal requirements related to the provision of food in a childcare setting
- Reflect on the need to provide safe and healthy food
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, participants should:
- understand how to comply with the legal requirements for food safety
- have the knowledge and skills required to ensure a high level of food safety
- be able to complete a written food safety management procedure for their setting
- be able to provide healthy meals, snacks and drinks for children as necessary
Please complete a booking form and return it via email or post as stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
- Food Standards Agency
- Children’s Food Trust
- Infant and toddler forum: practical advice from pregnancy to pre-school
Useful information:
It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
(The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974)
Target Audience:
All practitioners working in Early Years and Childcare settings particularly those with a responsibility for Health and Safety
Course Content
- The law
- Responsibility as an employee/employer
- Promoting a safe and healthy environment for young children
- Principles of good practice
- Emergencies and accident reporting
- Discuss Health and Safety policy and procedure
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, participants should:
- know how to work safely and without risks to health.
- know how to develop a positive Health and Safety culture, where safe and healthy working becomes second nature to everyone.
Please complete a booking form and return it via email or post as stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
- Health and Safety Executive
- The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
- Child Accident Prevention Trust
Useful reading:
Excellent pedagogical leadership is vital in improving the quality of provision, and all early years practitioners can aspire to be pedagogical leaders.
Foundations for quality: The independent review of early education and childcare qualifications (2012)
Target Audience:
Leaders, Managers, Owners, Registered providers in PVI settings
Overview of meeting
- updates on early years issues such as Ofsted, legislation, funding etc.
- sharing of best practice and research
- networking opportunities
We offer a choice from 2 dates per term. Please complete a booking form with your preferred choice of date and return it via email or post as stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
Useful information:
Please note that this training is provided by First Response First Aid Company, Solihull’s preferred provider
At least one person who has a current paediatric first aid certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when children are present, and must accompany children on outings. The certificate must be a full course consistent with the criteria set out in Annex A. Childminders, and any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any period of time, must hold a full current PFA certificate. Providers should take into account the number of children, staff and layout of premises to ensure that a paediatric first aider is able to respond to emergencies quickly.
All newly qualified entrants to the early years workforce who have completed a level 2 and/or level 3 qualification on or after 30 June 2016, must also have either a full PFA or an emergency PFA certificate within 3 months of starting work in order to be included in the required staff:child ratios.
(Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2017)
Target Audience
The Paediatric First Aid 12 hour course is primarily aimed at those working in childcare settings, but it will be useful for anyone with responsibility for caring for infants and children.
This training is for settings who are registered/ registering with Ofsted on the Early Years or childcare registers to provide early education and care in Solihull.
Course overview
The Paediatric First Aid course is a two-unit award, comprising: Unit 1: Paediatric Emergency First Aid Unit 2: Managing Paediatric Illness and Injury
Please Note: Unit 1 of this Paediatric First Aid course meets the requirements of the 1 day emergency first aid course. Page 11
Content/Learning Outcomes
Unit 1 covers the following topics:
- the role of the paediatric first aider
- dealing with emergencies
- management of an unconscious casualty
- management of a casualty who is not breathing normally CPR (baby, child & adult procedures)
- management of a casualty who is choking
- recognition and management of anaphylaxis
- management of a casualty who is in shock
- management of a casualty who has a bleeding wound
It also provides the opportunity to practise the skills needed to administer first aid to an infant, child or adult who is:
- unconscious
- not breathing
- choking
- bleeding from a wound and in shock
Unit 2 covers the following topics:
- dealing with chronic medical conditions and sudden illness
- diabetes
- sickle cell
- meningitis
- asthma
- dealing with the effects of extreme heat and cold
- hypothermia
- heat exhaustion
- heat stroke
- management of casualty with suspected fracture and dislocation
- management of casualty with head, neck or spinal injury
- dealing with conditions affecting the eyes, ears and nose
- dealing with minor injuries
- dealing with electric shock
- dealing with burns and scalds
- dealing with poisoning
- dealing with bites and stings
- records and reporting
It also provides the opportunity to practise the skills needed to administer first aid to an infant, child or adult who:
- requires a support sling
- requires an elevation sling
- has a suspected spinal injury
Please complete a booking form with your preferred choice of dates and return it via email or post as stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
Useful information:
It is not enough simply to do all the required checks at the point of recruiting staff; there has to be an embedded culture of vigilance
Target Audience: all those who are involved in recruitment and selection of staff, including designated leads for safeguarding in Early Years and Childcare settings, registered providers, proprietors, committee members
Course Content
- Promoting a culture of vigilance
- Best practice in recruitment and selection of staff
- Safe working practices in Early Years and Childcare settings
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, participants should:
- understand how to promote a culture of vigilance in their setting
- know about best practice in the recruitment and selection process
- be able to plan and implement a safe recruitment and selection process
- be able to promote safer working practices within their setting
Please complete a booking form and return it via email or post as stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
- Solihull Local Children’s Safeguarding Board
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Government publications on Safeguarding
Useful information:
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
Target Audience:
All practitioners who are new to safeguarding or who require a short refresher session, including apprentices, room leaders, key person, kitchen staff, and cover staff.
Course Content
- What is safeguarding?
- Why do we need to safeguard children and young people?
- Categories of child abuse and neglect
- Recognise and act on concerns about the safety and welfare of children and young people
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, participants should:
- understand the importance of keeping the child at the centre of thinking
- be able to identify factors that may indicate a child who is at risk of harm or suffering harm
- know what action to take to support children for whom there are safeguarding concerns
Please complete a booking form with your preferred choice of date and return it via email or post as stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
- Solihull Local Children’s Safeguarding Board
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Government publications on Safeguarding
Useful information:
Governing bodies, boards of trustees, registered providers and proprietors (including management committees) must ensure that they comply with their safeguarding duties under legislation. They must ensure that the policies, procedures and training in their early years settings, schools or colleges are effective and comply with the law at all times.
(Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings, August 2016)
Target Audience:
Designated leads for safeguarding in PVI early years and childcare settings, registered providers, proprietors, committee members.
Course Content
- The legal requirements for Early years and Childcare settings with regard to child protection and safeguarding
- The updated Ofsted inspection framework for inspecting safeguarding
- Awareness raising of specific safeguarding issues
- Using the LSCB thresholds to support decision making
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, participants should:
- understand the child protection and safeguarding requirements for leaders and managers
- know about the role of the registered provider, proprietor or committee
- know about local arrangements for protecting and safeguarding children
- be aware of specific safeguarding issues that practitioners need to recognise
- be able to use the LSCB thresholds to support decision making to meet children’s needs
Please complete a booking form with your preferred choice of date and return it via email or post as stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
- Solihull Local Children’s Safeguarding Board
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
- Government publications on Safeguarding
Useful information:
Length: 1hr 30mins
About the workshops:
These short workshops are designed to provide an opportunity for professional development for all practitioners in the setting. The benefits of training within the setting mean that practitioners have an opportunity to work together in the context of the environment and resources that are used by children on a day to day basis. The workshops can be delivered at a time that is suitable for your setting. Settings with multiple locations may join together in one venue if that is more convenient. Childminders may wish to join together with other childminders if a suitable venue can be sourced (we are happy to hold training in a childminder’s home), or alternatively may wish to ask a local setting if they can join their training session.
The minimum number for a workshop is 5 people.
Workshops currently available:
- Child-initiated learning
- Communication, language and literacy development
- Learning, playing and interacting
- Marvellous maths
- Prime areas*
- Teaching in early years
*Please note there is an additional charge of £12.50 for the Prime areas workshop as this requires a preparatory visit to the setting prior to delivery.
If there is a specific workshop you would like us to develop, please contact the early years team via email: eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk
How to book:
To book a date for your setting, please email eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk with your preferred first and second choice date and time. Please note that the date is provisional until you have completed a booking form and received e-mail confirmation of the booking from us.
How to pay:
Once a date has been agreed, please complete a booking form with names of all practitioners who will be attending the workshop. We will invoice the setting for payment following the workshop. If your setting is school-run, payment can be made via a journal. The booking form can be emailed to eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk
Alternatively, payment can be made by cheque. Please complete a booking form and return it along with payment to the address stated on the form.
The communication environment in the early years has been identified as being crucial in promoting children’s early development and in reducing the risk of low attainment.
All together now toolkit
Workshop overview
An interactive workshop which should help to extend practitioners’ confidence and skills in delivering high-quality language and literacy learning opportunities for children.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the workshop participants should have:
- Explored the aspects and development bands of communication and language and literacy development
- Considered practice and provision that best supports children developing communication, language and literacy skills
- Reflected upon the practitioner’s role in modeling communication, language and literacy skills through playful learning opportunities
- Identified strengths and areas to develop in your setting in relation to supporting children’s communication, language and literacy development
Useful Websites
Foundation Years www.foundationyears.org.uk
Communication Trust www.communicationtrust.org.uk
Talking point www.talkingpoint.org.uk
Useful information:
- Universally Speaking - The ages and stages of children’s communication development from birth to 5 communicationtrust.org.uk/
- Supporting children with speech, language and communication needs: Guidance for practitioners in the Early Years Foundation Stage foundationyears.org.uk
- Stages of speech and language development chart talkingpoint.org.uk
- All together now toolkit thecommunicationtrust.org.uk
How to book:
To book a date for your setting, please email eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk with your preferred first and second choice date and time. Please note that the date is provisional until you have completed a booking form and received an email confirmation of the booking from us.
How to pay:
Once a date has been agreed, please complete a booking form with names of all practitioners who will be attending the workshop. We will invoice the setting for payment following the workshop. If your setting is school-run, payment can be made via a journal. The booking form can be emailed to eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk
Alternatively, payment can be made by cheque. Please complete a booking form and return it along with payment to the address stated on the form.
“The playing adult steps sideward into another reality; the playing child advances forward to new stages of mastery.” Erik H. Erikson
Workshop Overview
A practical workshop designed to extend practitioner skills and knowledge in allowing children to lead their own learning.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the workshop, participants should have:
- an understanding of how child led/child initiated play can lead to deeper levels of thinking and learning
- explored practice and provision that best supports children’s development
- reflected upon the practitioner’s role in enabling learning and play
- identified strengths and areas for development within the setting in relation to learning, play and interaction
How to book:
To book a date for your setting, please email eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk with your preferred first and second choice date and time. Please note that the date is provisional until you have completed a booking form and received e-mail confirmation of the booking from us.
How to pay:
Once a date has been agreed, please complete a booking form with names of all practitioners who will be attending the workshop. We will invoice the setting for payment following the workshop. If your setting is school-run, payment can be made via a journal. The booking form can be emailed to eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk
Alternatively, payment can be made by cheque. Please complete a booking form and return it along with payment to the address stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
Useful information:
“Provision of good quality play is important, as in play children rehearse and refine maths skills and understanding. Play situations can also provide a context for using maths vocabulary that makes sense to a child and helps understanding.”
National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics
Workshop Overview
A practical workshop with a focus on extending the range of opportunities for children to develop mathematical language across the early years age range.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the workshop participants should have:
- explored the impact of high quality continuous and enhanced provision on children’s mathematical language development
- reflected upon a practitioner’s role in modelling the use of mathematical vocabulary through playful experiences
- developed an age-related word bank of mathematical language
- have an understanding of how they can support the development of children’s mathematical language.
How to book:
To book a date for your setting, please email eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk with your preferred first and second choice date and time. Please note that the date is provisional until you have completed a booking form and received e-mail confirmation of the booking from us.
How to pay:
Once a date has been agreed, please complete a booking form with names of all practitioners who will be attending the workshop. We will invoice the setting for payment following the workshop. If your setting is school-run, payment can be made via a journal. The booking form can be emailed to eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk
Alternatively, payment can be made by cheque. Please complete a booking form and return it along with payment to the address stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
Useful information:
*£13 per person + £13 for a 1hr setting preparation visit
“Children have first to experience the world actively through all their senses before they can think in the abstract and hold thoughts on the memory of those things in their heads as pictures, concepts or symbols.”
(Donaldson, 1978:37)
Workshop overview
- A pre-course visit will be made to the setting in order to personalise and tailor the training to the setting
- An interactive workshop which will help practitioners to understand the importance of the Prime areas of learning as a foundation for all other learning
Learning outcomes
By the end of the workshop participant should have:
- developed their knowledge & understanding of the Prime areas of learning
- explored effective observation, assessment and planning
- reflected on the importance of developing positive relationships with parents and engaging them in their child’s learning
How to book:
To book a date for your setting, please email eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk with your preferred first and second choice date and time. Please note that the date is provisional until you have completed a booking form and received e-mail confirmation of the booking from us.
How to pay:
Once a date has been agreed, please complete a booking form with names of all practitioners who will be attending the workshop. We will invoice the setting for payment following the workshop. If your setting is school-run, payment can be made via a journal. The booking form can be emailed to eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk
Alternatively, payment can be made by cheque. Please complete a booking form and return it along with payment to the address stated on the form.
Useful Websites
Useful information
Teaching should not be taken to imply a ‘top down’ or formal way of working. It is a broad term that covers the many different ways in which adults help young children learn.
Ofsted Early Years Inspection Handbook, August 2015
Workshop overview
An opportunity for a staff team, or a wider team such as school and early years provider, to develop a shared understanding of what contributes to quality teaching in the Early Years.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the workshop participants should have:
- reflected on the EYFS guidance and Ofsted definition of ‘teaching’, and what this might look like in practice
- considered a range of strategies to support learning
- explored some of the ways that learning opportunities can be differentiated to meet individual needs.
How to book:
To book a date for your setting, please email eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk with your preferred first and second choice date and time. Please note that the date is provisional until you have completed a booking form and received e-mail confirmation of the booking from us.
How to pay:
Once a date has been agreed, please complete a booking form with names of all practitioners who will be attending the workshop. We will invoice the setting for payment following the workshop. If your setting is school-run, payment can be made via a journal. The booking form can be emailed to eyenquiries@solihull.gov.uk
Alternatively, payment can be made by cheque. Please complete a booking form and return it along with payment to the address stated on the form.
Useful Websites:
Useful information: