EY News Jan 2024
January 15, 2024
FAO: Solihull Early Years Leads
What do you ask when children start with you?
I have been asked by the MASH team to remind our early years and childcare community to check identification and responsibility information when a child starts with you.
- Proof of child’s legal name and date of birth
- Proof of their main address
- Emergency contact information – all those with parental responsibility but we suggest someone who can be contacted who does not live in the family home.
- Details and proof of parental responsibility and details of anyone else who has parental responsibility.
A mother automatically has parental responsibility for her child from birth.
A father usually has parental responsibility if he’s either:
- married to the child’s mother
- listed on the birth certificate (after a certain date, depending on which part of the UK the child was born in)
Delaying entry to school reception class
Please find attached a document which summarises the information about delaying the start of Reception. This includes considerations for parents. It also highlights funding and curriculum considerations for settings. Are your practitioners able to support the literacy and maths development of older children who may well be working at Early Learning Goal, and above the stage of development of most other children in your group? Reception age children, who are not officially registered as being taught out-of-year, need their Early Years Foundation Stage Profile assessment completed. This is a statutory requirement. If you have a reception age child in your setting, please contact your Early Years and Childcare Adviser.[list attached]
The ‘Big Ambition Survey’
What should the Government do to make children’s lives better?
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner in England, needs to hear from children (aged 0-18 years) and their parents/carers, so that she can make a difference. Please encourage families to take part in The Big Ambition survey. It’s very short and easy to complete.
As we approach the next General Election, we need to make sure that those in power are putting children’s voices and needs at the heart of policy.
Please spread the word to all the families you know and work with. The survey closes on Friday 19th January. More responses are especially needed from the parents and carers of children aged 0-5 years.
Thank you for doing your bit to ensure children’s voices are heard.
National Storytelling Week 2024
National Storytelling Week takes place from 27 January to 4 February. It is a celebration of the power of stories to encourage empathy, support wellbeing and build literacy skills. How are you marking the week?
Here are 2 books recommended by National literacy Trust :
Bhorta Bhorta Baby (Jumana Rahman and Maryam Huq) centres around a parent and child preparing a meal of aloo bhorta together; it’s filled with rhymes, rhythm and repetition, plus delicious sensory language.
Two for Me, One for You (Jörg Mühle, translated by Catherine Chidgey, Gecko Press) is a wonderfully witty picture book about friendship and sharing: Bear finds three mushrooms in the woods, and Weasel cooks them, but how will they divide them up?
Lighthall Under Five’s Pre-school are kindly hosting a gathering of leaders to chat and share. We hope there will be at least one such meeting every term. No need to book. Join us when you can, as we know not everyone can get there when the party starts. No need to bring a bottle but be prepared to chat about your 2 stars and a wish for your setting, and to talk to your colleagues for support, advice, and to help each other. Invite below.
7Th February 4.30-5.45pm Lighthall Under Fives Pre-school. B90 2RL
I attach a copy of the recent National Wraparound Presentation from DfE for your information below.
Finally, Foundation Years has a range of support for the recent changes to EYFS Statutory Framework.