Early Years News
January 19, 2023
In this EY news brief find out about
- Childminder mentor programme [DfE]
- Early Years Professional development -with cover costs [DfE]
- SLCN good news story
- SEND EYC support and Local Offer websites
- Safeguarding – local Ofsted report and neglect strategy champions
- Winter wellness
There’s a lot in today’s e mail so we hope that it is useful. We are always happy to take feedback and ideas about how we can improve our information sharing.
Childminder mentor programme- Action …sign up now
Early Years Childminder Mentor Programme – news (solgrid.org.uk)
https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/news/early-years-childminder-mentor-programme/
A poster about the experts programme is attached and further reading. We would love some of our groups of childminders to take part and we have approached a few people. Sign up and let us know if you’d like to receive support from a childminder mentor [through DfE]
ACTION: Early Years Professional Development Programme places are now available for February 2023
The Early Years Professional Development Programme is now accepting applications for training beginning in February 2023. DfE will have contacted settings through its contracted provider to ask you to sign up. It is free with backfill cover costs. The programme is targeted at Covid recovery for disadvantaged learners and provides support for practitioners to:
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· improve skills to support children’s communication and language development · provide an understanding of the theory of child development in early mathematics · develop skills to support children’s self-confidence, relationships, and self-awareness through expertly developed personal, social and emotional development training · improve engagement with parents and carers to support the home learning environment |
The training is designed for childminders and early years practitioners, qualified to Level 3 or above, who regularly work with disadvantaged children aged 2 to 4 (eligibility criteria applies). To find out how to apply, please visit the website. Early years practitioners should discuss with their line managers before applying.
Good news story and SLCN pathway
We have added a lovely story to our website which celebrates the work that we are all doing in Early Years and the pathways to support for Speech, Language and Communication.
Solihull Local Offer
We have a couple of web sites that you can use to find support and guidance for parents and settings which have recently been developed. They are still being added to, but are a good place to look for support.
SEND within early years and childcare https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/send/
Local offer landing page and EY pages. We hope we are soon able to share new content for parents here. https://www.solihull.gov.uk/children-and-family-support/localoffer
Solihull EY Training
It’s great to see people in-person and on-line, and we can answer questions and aid discussion if you can join training in-person and live. We do try and record some of the Teams training and you can watch a recording of the SENCo briefing here. https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/send/training-support/. The next date for the summer SENCo briefing is Monday 22nd May 2023 – 1.30pm…so hold the date.
We have attached a document with further training information from the team and others in early years organisations.
Neglect strategy and champions
A summary of the Neglect Strategy in Solihull is attached. We have 3 Neglect Champions promoting the graded care profile in Solihull. Gina Godwin [Wise Owls Nursery] and Sara Stroud [In the Woods] in north Solihull who are also supporting east Solihull and Lynne Townsend [Playpals] who will support in west Solihull. We hope you take the opportunity to talk to them at DSL and SENCo briefings and Leaders and Managers meetings as well as other network opportunities. https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/resources/safeguarding-and-welfare/ .
Ofsted report
Ofsted published its report about the inspection of our Solihull children’s services. You can view the report here: Ofsted report
In response to the findings, Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of the Council, said:
“We accept the findings of the Ofsted report relating to the inspection carried out in November. Although we are very disappointed at the grading, we are grateful to the inspection team for the thoroughness and detail put into their work, which will help us to make the necessary improvements”
“This Council is fully committed to making the necessary changes to children’s services and we understand what we need to do to improve and realise that we need to do this at greater speed than we are already doing.”
NSPCC Listen Up, Speak Up campaign
The NSPCC has launched its campaign, Listen Up, Speak Up, which provides practical guidance on actions to take if concerned about a child. The campaign includes online training on seeking support and speaking up for children. Listen up, Speak up | NSPCC
Winter Illness
As winter illnesses continue to circulate at high levels the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a reminder on how to minimise the spread of illness in education and childcare settings.
UKHSA advice remains clear that children can continue to attend as normal unless they are unwell and have a high temperature. Further information on when a child is too ill for school or nursery is available. There is no requirement to be absent from school on a precautionary basis. Staff should continue to maintain their high expectations for face-to-face attendance.
For further information, please also see the Education Hub post on the latest guidelines around COVID-19 and for Strep A, a separate post on the exact circumstances in which children should be kept off school.
Continuing the Maths theme from the last EY news and the World Maths Day on 23.3.23…what is your favourite song or rhyme to support mathematics? There are lots of great websites including
https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/mathematics
https://child-development-training.education.gov.uk/ – maths unit
ECMG – Early Childhood Maths Group (earlymaths.org) https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/lumen/professional-development/playful-mathematics/
…and don’t forget the
value of music in supporting maths
https://early-education.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Musical-Development-Matters-ONLINE.pdf
We are here to help.
Early years education recovery programme: supporting the sector – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)