Early Years News #2
September 8, 2025
FAO Solihull early years and childcare providers
End of Early Years Team based business support role – Jenna
Just to let you all know that my 12-month fixed term contract as Business Adviser, will be finishing mid-September. I will still be around as I have secured a permanent position, within Family Information Service as an Information Assistant.
3 business tips for staying up to date and accessing useful resources:
- Check our Solgrid pages regularly – a great place for guidance and updates. Leaders and Managers [link]
- You can find out more about updates through Childcare Works. Updates are always explained in an easy-to-understand way or even provided in a webinar. Please sign up to https://childcareworks.org.uk/hub-for-providers/introduction/
- Our newsletters always provide snippets of information which we think you will find useful. Remember you can find out more about these topics as we often attach links for more information
Thanks for all your support, I look forward to staying in touch in my new role.
Kind Regards
Jenna
Please note Jenna’s phone number [07385687849 ] will no longer be answered after 17/09/2025.
Business support in Solihull – Birmingham and Solihull Growth Hub.
Solihull businesses can access free and impartial support from the Birmingham and Solihull Growth Hub. The experienced advisors can also assess your business for eligibility for the latest available business support grants – which can be used for expansion and growth (including premises fit out) and supporting the move to net zero (lighting, heating, solar panels etc). For more information please enquire via the Birmingham and Solihull Growth Hub: Complete Form (evolutive.co.uk).
Sign up to the Solihull for success newsletter
NPQ -early years leadership (NPQEYL reminder)
This National Professional Qualification course is for leaders qualified to at least level 3 with a full and relevant qualification who are, or want to be:
- managers of private, voluntary and independent nurseries
- headteachers or leaders of school-based or maintained nurseries
- childminders with leadership responsibilities
- other early years foundation stage leaders, such as reception class teachers or early years co-ordinators
This 18-month course [Nov 2025] will involve 1 to 2 hours of weekly study (self-study and group sessions), and a written assessment.
Professionals in many schools and early years settings in England will be eligible for funding to cover their NPQ course fees, subject to eligibility criteria.
Click the links above to find out more.
Early years leadership national professional qualification – GOV.UK
Funding for national professional qualifications: eligible settings – GOV.UK
Supervised toothbrushing programme in areas of deprivation (information)
Government announced that primary schools in deprived areas will be requested to deliver daily supervised toothbrushing for 3-5 year olds. This is proven to reduce dental decay, a leading cause of absence. Group settings may also be contacted to support schools with this initiative (we will share further information if this is the case). We attach a poster for further information, which has been shared with schools.
Do something big and Big September switch
Autumn sees the start of a big campaign to encourage people to join the early years and childcare workforce. Can you help by linking to the campaign from your websites and communications to parents and your wider community?
https://earlyyearscareers.campaign.gov.uk/the-big-september-switch/
Switch-into-Something-BIG-guide
Best Start In Life parent hub [reminder]
Don’t forget to sign up to the BSIL newsletter. The website will be helpful to share with parents https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/ . This replaces the Childcare Choices website (amongst others). Autumn and winter will see a variety of new campaigns to raise awareness of support for parents. CBeebies Parenting (previously Tiny Happy People) also has new, free content for you to share with families. The Prime Minister has written to parents outlining the Plan for Change promise to give children the best possible start. It includes a thank you to early educators.
I’d like to thank Jenna Handley as she completes her final full week with the early years team. Many of you have been supported by Jenna to have a fresh look at your business financial planning. She has helped signpost the help still available to you after she finishes and joins FIS.
Shinade Duffus will be rejoining the leam later in the month after maternity leave. Welcome back Shinade.
Well done to Kelly Bowkett who is soon to join our Area SENCo team. We hope for agreement to advertise for a new Early Years Inclusion Support Practitioner.
Have a great week….why not book onto a SSCP training module?