Early Years News
March 13, 2023
Information for Solihull early years and childcare settings – a bumper issue 😊
Document links at foot of page
Action
Early Years Professional Development Programme – Phase 3
- Education & Childcare Event for Employers
- SEND – DfE improvement plan
- Health protection and managing infectious diseases- guidance and resources
- Solihull School Readiness definition to use and circulate
- Home learning environment: new online resources and communications to share
Of Interest
- Sharing weaning advice for babies with parents in your setting
Reminder
- Early Years Child Development Training
- Updated Early Years Team contact sheet
- DfE support from an expert and mentor – self-referral
- Solihull Training- Dingley’s Day and Ofsted meeting with a focus on 2s provision
- International Women’s Day- 8th March 2023
Action
- Early Years Professional Development Programme – Phase 3
Phase 3 of the Professional Development Programme has now launched. The modules in the free training (with a contribution to cover costs) include early communication and language, early mathematics and Personal, social and emotional development (PSED).
Expressions of interest are now open for cohort 2 which starts in September 2023. If you are a qualified Level 3 practitioner or childminder working with disadvantaged children aged 2-4 you can find more information on the programme from this link. To express interest please discuss with your setting manager and apply through the website https://www.earlyyearspdp.com/
Solihull College are hosting an event at Solihull College & University Centre on 21st March 2023 – for providers of early years and childcare
Attached is a flyer and the Eventbrite booking link Education & Childcare Event for Employers Tickets, Tue 21 Mar 2023 at 18:30 | Eventbrite
- The DfE’s SEND Improvement Plan
Following the government’s consultation on the SEND Green Paper last year, the DfE has published its delivery plan on 2nd March 2023. The full document is available on the DfE’s website here [link] but leaders and SENCO’s may find Nasen’s a helpful summary.
What Early Years SENCOs and other EY professionals need to know.pdf (nasen.org.uk)
Health protection in children and young people settings, including education
A practical guide for staff on managing cases of infectious diseases in children and young people settings, including education. Within the tools and resources, there is an exclusion table with guidance to indicate the time period an individual should not attend a setting to reduce the risk of transmission during the infectious stage.
- Solihull School Readiness definition
The final version of the Solihull School Readiness document we recently circulated for comment is now on the Solgrid/EYC website.. Schools, settings, parents and children were involved in the writing of the definition. We hope that you will use it to reflect upon and celebrate practice as you work with children to ensure they can successfully join your setting. We have our Maternity and Early Years Strategy statement ‘Success for today, Prepared for tomorrow’ very much at the heart of this summary. Have you accessed the Dingley’s Promise training modules on Inclusion and Transitions? We hope you can use them to reflect on your practice. The ‘transition checklist’, for those needing enhanced transition consideration, may also be useful. https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/resources/send/
- Home learning environment: new online resources and communications campaign
In October, a new online resource was launched to encourage parents to chat, play and read more with their children, since we know that the home learning environment is crucial in boosting children’s language and social and emotional development in the early years.This work is supported by materials for early years professionals and other stakeholders to use in their everyday interactions with families that might benefit from support.
Of Interest
- Parents to be offered weaning advice for babies
The Government is launching a campaign to help parents with weaning – introducing solid food to babies. A survey found more than half of parents in the country were confused by how much to feed their baby. https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/
With data from the latest National Child Measurement Programme showing that a quarter of all children start school overweight resulting in a need to promote healthy eating at home.
Reminder
- Early years child development training
The first 4 modules of the DfE child development training are available now- poster attached. Further modules will be added throughout 2023. Find out more about the training and enrol. https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/
- Updated Solihull Early Years Team contact sheet
- EY Team Contact Chart 2023
Now that Jayne and Debs have left the team we have updated our contacts sheet to show these vacancies.
- Apply for support from DfE Experts and Mentors
Group early years settings can self-refer and request the support of an expert and mentor from the DfE programme using the application form on the Pen Green Centre website. Childminders can apply using the application through Hempsalls. Settings will need to complete a diagnostic form to identify aspects for support from DfE funded experts.
- OFSTED- Information Sharing event
We have arranged for Ofsted to do a short information sharing session for Solihull Early Years settings on Thursday 18th May 2023 between 1.30 and 2.30pm. The focus will be on supporting children age 2 years-old and effective provision for ‘toddlers’. This will build on some of Ofsted’s findings in recent inspections across the West Midlands. Hayley Lapworth, Early Years Senior Officer, West Midlands will lead the session.
To join the meeting please use the Teams link below – we suggest you copy it into your calendar to protect the date/ time and for joining instructions.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting
8th March was International Women’s Day 2023 – what book did you read to celebrate? Here is a fantastic book with lots to find and discuss in the illustrations……………….Let’s celebrate women everyday!
