Early Years Team Updates

April 19, 2024

For the attention on Early Years and Childcare leads,

Childminder Mentor opportunity (reminder)

If you are a new childminder or if you are expecting Ofsted soon you may wish to take the opportunity to work with an experienced childminder mentor. This is DfE funding so the only cost is your time, but you will gain from a peer to reflect with you and give advice.

The closing date is 30^th April 2024. The web address below leads you to further information and the request for support form which is also linked here. Childminders will be able to obtain one term of support. Have you read this blog from a mentor – https://www.birminghamearlyyearsnetworks.org/blog/sph-thrive-together-childminder-mentor-alison

• https://www.coramhempsalls.org.uk/covid-recovery/covid-recovery-childminders

New Hub website to support the extended entitlement

Follow this link to the Hub at childcare works to find resources to support the EEF expansion project (wrap around or early education).

• HUB for providers – childcareworks.org.uk
• https://childcareworks.org.uk/hub-for-providers/introduction/

HEART Stronger Practice Hub (reminder)

The DfE supported Stronger Practice Hubs, hosted in Birmingham, are reaching out to support Solihull, and surrounding local authorities. Sign-up to the newsletters here- https://www.strongerpracticehubs.org.uk/hubs/wm/heart-midlands-eysph/sign-hub

Recent communications below

• Approach to Making it REAL- Open access (mailchi.mp) – EY SEND home learning
• Nurturing staff well-being [including your own] (mailchi.mp)  -strategies to support well-being
• Further information here – https://www.strongerpracticehubs.org.uk/hubs/wm/heart-midlands-eysph

AET- Autism Training and Early Years Training (reminders)

Those of you signed up to the text service will be aware that we have spaces on the Making Sense of Autism course 23/4/24 between 9am-12. Further information here -https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/training/training-from-other-providers/.

You will see further AET themed training for childminders here – https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/training/childminder-training/

Have you booked on to one of the Sharing Success PVI leads session? https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/training/ey-settings-pvi-training/leaders-and-managers-meeting-sharing-success/

SEND: Writing SMART Targets is soon- 29/4/24 see…….. https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/send/send-training-support/writing-smart-targets/

Dingley’ Promise Practitioner lunch break meetups

All practitioners can join these SEND discussion groups held through Teams on the first Thursday of every month between 12.30 and 1.30pm. Why not sign up to join the Dingley’s Promise mailing list. https://dingley.org.uk/sign-up-for-news/

Ofsted One Big Listen consultation (reminder)

Ofsted are asking all providers, parents, and children, to share their views via their survey before 31.5.24 – https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ofsted-big-listen . There have been some recent tweaks to the Early Years Inspection Handbook.

Measles Action Card (reminder)

We recently sent an updated Measles action card produced by Solihull …they are attached again for you and they can also be found on our Health and Safety page here:https://www.solgrid.org.uk/eyc/resources/safeguarding-and-welfare/health-and-safety/

• Letter to Early Years Setting 09.04.24
• Measles Action Card early years v6 JABMNM

…and finally

I am told that 10 students at Solihull College recently passed their level 3 qualification. This is a fantastic achievement for them and great news when recruitment of local practitioners is needed for the sector. Well done 😊

16^th April was offer day for Reception places. Thank you for everything you do to support families requesting their places. Solihull admissions page is here – https://www.solihull.gov.uk/Schools-and-learning/School-admissions

I will see some of you at the 22/4/24 1pm-2pm Solihull Early Years Super Starts feedback event – link below

Click here to join the meeting

Have a good weekend.