Early Years News #7
July 10, 2026
This Solihull website promotes time for a screen free childhood- Solihull IRL [IRL meaning ‘In real life’]
You may want to signpost your parents to it for suggestions for reducing smart phone use and overcoming challenges. Solihull IRL is a place to find trusted information, practical support and advice from a community of people navigating this together, with one goal in mind: helping Solihull children spend more time connecting, growing, playing, learning and belonging in real life. https://solihull-irl.webflow.io/
Resources [parents, schools and young people]
HEART – Stronger Practice Hubs event in Solihull
Heart has planned their early years event in Solihull on Wednesday 2nd December (from 9.30am) at the Renewal Centre featuring Greg Bottrill and Hannah Knowles….booking link below
‘A Joyful HEART’ – Autumn Conference Tickets, Wednesday, December 2 • 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM | Eventbrite
Transitions for children with medical needs
A reminder that we have written guidance to support children’s transitions into settings – SEND and Medical Needs – https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/send/examples-of-send-paperwork/ [other useful documents]
Further guidance on transitions – https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/resources/learning-and-development/ [prime areas] and https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/send/transition/ [SEND]
Inclusive EY fund and DfE funding consultation.
The inclusive early years fund [IEYF] is the first step in reforming early years SEND funding. As set out in ‘Giving every child the best start in life’, DfE are consulting on changes to how early years funding is allocated and distributed under a reformed system. This will include consideration of how funding supports inclusive practice for children with SEND, as well as those whose needs may arise from, or be exacerbated by, disadvantage, recognising the overlap between these groups and the importance of early, effective support to meet children’s needs without unnecessary escalation or labelling. These changes reflect the wider direction of SEND reform, which aims to increase access to early, upfront support so settings can be inclusive by design and ensure settings and families do not need to navigate bureaucratic processes to receive help.
This guidance explains how IEYF, SENIF, and DAF work together to support children with additional needs. For details on other early years funding, see the Early years entitlements: local authority funding operational guide 2026 to 2027.
Actions:
- Look at the new dates for early years inclusion fund (EYIF) submissions. We recommend someone else checks your submission before you send it to us. At the summer panel we had submissions without a request form, missing REVIEWED plans, and with no description of how the funding would be spent. All these gaps lead to EYIF applications being rejected. So please double check before you submit. We cannot pre-check for you.
- Submit your EYIF- and additional funding monitoring form by 27th July 2026 [just fill in what is relevant to you] This year’s form can be accessed here > https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/JCDspPyWtX?origin=lprLink
- Read the attached information about support for setting not in receipt of IEYF –Support available to Solihull settings not in receipt of IEYF in 2026
- Respond to the consultation
Maths Champions workshop
DfE funded Maths training through NDNA – 12 months programme to improve children’s maths outcomes.
Maths Champions – Bespoke Early Years Maths Training – NDNA –express an interest
Do you want to lower the risk of mental health struggles for young children?
New research from the University of Exeter shows that for every extra day a child plays outside in a typical week, the odds of healthy mental health through to age 8 y/o increase between 6% to 14%. This week you will be looking at shady places you can use outside!
Thank you to everyone that contributed to our Area SEND Inspection over the last 3 weeks. We were proud to show off our work with early years settings.