Early Years News #8
September 8, 2026
FAO Solihull leaders and managers,
The Bookstart roll out is a great opportunity to promote reading and a love of books. Solihull Council Library Services coordinate distribution through Health Visitors and Family Hubs. You can contact the Bookstart Co-ordinator at libraries@solihull.gov.uk . Using the chosen books is a great way to connect home and setting. There are also dual language and SEND books available. Look at the story telling tips to strengthen your practice.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/curations/celebrating-sign-languages
You might want to sign up to The LoveReading4Kids Funding for Schools Scheme
The LoveReading4Kids Funding Scheme accepts applications from primary schools and early years’ settings. Encourage parents to buy a book and the setting receives a contribution for the setting to buy books from them. This can add to your book selection. How representative of your diverse community are the books in your nursery? Books allow children to see themselves reflected in the books they read. This helps to develop belonging.
National Year of Reading – Autumn term events and resources
As the National Year of Reading enters its final term, don’t miss out on Early Years events and resources as part of the final term.
Discover how you can make the most of your local communities to support the development of a reading for pleasure culture in the early years with brand-new free resources, CPD and events.
A taste of what’s on offer:
- CPD webinar: Opening the door to reading at home, 29 September. Encourages you to rethink what genuine partnership with parents looks like.
- CPD webinar: Once upon a rhyme, 5 November. Fresh inspiration to bring poetry, performance and playful language into everyday practice. This webinar supports early years practitioners and childminders to guide their children through an area that can sometimes feel less familiar- poetry.
- A lively child-facing event blending imaginative storytelling with big, joyful movement. More details to be released soon.
Access the full Early Years offer this Autumn Term and catch up on previous terms’ content, all through the free and flexible platform. If you’re already taking part, log in here and continue exploring. If you’re new, it’s never too late to join. Sign up here for a guided journey of content that supports you to build and grow a reading for pleasure culture in your setting.
National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) Review – NPQ for early years leaders
The Department for Education is seeking views from early years professionals as part of the wider National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) Review. We are keen to hear perspectives on the National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL), as well as the broader professional development needs of early years leaders. We welcome responses from leaders across a range of settings and contexts, including those who have not participated in the NPQEYL.
The survey will explore:
- Experiences of and reflections on the NPQEYL (where applicable)
- The knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for effective early years leadership
- Current leadership priorities and professional development needs across the sector
- How the NPQEYL could evolve to better meet those needs
You can take part in a follow-up roundtable discussion on Thursday 1 October, from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Your feedback will help us understand what is working well, identify key priorities for early years leadership, and consider how the NPQEYL can continue to support early years leaders.
The survey closes on Friday 25 September.
Making Sense of Autism Training for school age childcare providers [reminder]
Please use this form to book onto Thursday 24th September 2026 on-line course [1pm-3.30pm] for HAF, wrap-around, and holiday play scheme staff
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/RCaMQcRwEY?origin=lprLink
Solihull’s latest early years foundation stage profile results demonstrate the work we still need to do to ensure that the outcome gaps in early education are closed. Literacy outcomes at 5 years old are lower than other areas. There is a 20% + gap between those children who are eligible for free school meals and those who are not. So, use your pupil premium and deprivation funds wisely. Maths is the next lowest area of learning – so why not consider using funding for DfE/NDNA Maths Champion training 😊 How can we help narrow gaps early so that this disadvantage is not locked in for life!” It is in the early years that this can have most impact.
The early years remain the critical point at which educational inequalities become embedded. With recent EPI research showing that 40 per cent of the age 11 disadvantage gap is already established by age 5, supporting children’s early development – including in literacy, mathematics and communication – will be central to achieving the government’s ambition to halve the gap. https://epi.org.uk/annual-report-2026/annual-report-es-2026/
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Solihull Council Area SEND Inspection…………..
Some children …. experience accurate identification of their SEND. For example, children in the early years typically benefit from coherent assessment of needs.
Children in early years receive the support they require for their speech and language needs. The therapy service provides settings with useful consultation and training. The partnership’s support of early years settings, for instance from area special educational needs coordinators, is effective at helping them assess and support need.
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/44/80554 – a couple of quotes from the report above.