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Early Years eNews
Welcome to the Early Years eNewsletter, bringing you the latest local and national early years sector news as well as information on training, funding and policy.

 


toy toolkit

Conference 

It was wonderful  to see so many of you at this week's virtual  early years conference. We all learnt so much as we 'talked together' about communication and early language. As well as our fantastic keynote speakers who gave us food for thought each morning, we ran 20 workshops with colleagues from Health, LCSS, Family Solutions, as well as some of our Oxfordshire partners, all with a focus on ensuring we provide the very best start for our youngest children. 

SEND

Minister's Commitment to SEND Review

Will Quince MP, Minister for Children and Families, has written an open letter to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families and those who support them.

In the letter, the Minister reaffirms his commitment to delivering the SEND Review and the importance of supporting the most disadvantaged children and young people. He outlines his plans to continue to visit schools, nurseries and colleges around the country to directly hear first-hand from children, young people, parents and carers, school, college and local authority staff as well as meet with SEND organisations and experts so they can influence proposals.
 
To read the letter in full, visit: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2021/11/10/an-open-letter-to-parents-and-carers-of-children-and-young-people-with-special-educational-needs-and-disabilities-from-children-and-families-minister-will-quince/
Alongside the letter, the Department for Education has published information about the members of the SEND Review Steering Group. The new group was set up to assist the department conclude the SEND Review at pace and advise on proposals to be set out in a SEND Green Paper to be published in the first three months of 2022. For further information on the group, visit GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/government/groups/send-review-steering-group.

Learning and  Development

DfE Professional Development Opportunity

The Department for Education is funding a professional development programme for EY Practitioners in order to improve outcomes for our youngest children. The programme is fully funded and includes 10 days of training between January and July 2022. The training is focussed on Early Language, Maths and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. The setting will receive £100 a day cover. The programme includes e-learning elements to allow for more flexible access.
Settings should meet at least two of the following criteria to be eligible for the programme:
▪ Provides to at least one child with an EHC Plan or Disability Access Fund indicator
▪ Provides to at least one child in receipt of EYPP
▪ Provides to at least one disadvantaged two-year-old
 
If you are interested and meet the eligibility criteria please contact Alison.Base@oxfordshire.gov.uk as soon as possible. Thank you!

Birth to 5 matters Evaluation

The Early Years Coalition* want to evaluate the impact that Birth to 5 matters has had on supporting practitioners and improving quality in early years provision.  They have created a survey for anyone working in the early years in England to complete: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Birthto5evaluation

SEED Report

The Department for Education (DfE) has published two reports on the latest findings from the Study of Early Education and Development (SEED), longitudinal studies that follow the lives of children from England.
Early education use and child outcomes up to age 7 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 Settings Who Support Service Families

MOD Early Learning and Childcare Support Fund (ELCF)

This fund is to support Early Years providers to support Service families, by providing a one off grant up to £50,000 and over to providers based on evidenced gaps in childcare provision for the children of armed forces families.
Some examples of successful past applications:

  • One off sustainability grant for a setting.
  • 12 months funding to increase opening hours to support the atypical needs of Service families (early opening hours, weekends, overnight care or flexible or short notice hours).
  • Resources to improve practice/ support children’s development/ support home learning.
  • Development of outdoor space.
  • Financial support to those spouses and partners of serving personnel towards the costs associated with registration as a childminder
Key details:
  • The MOD has this funding for this financial year. Ideally applications should be returned by 31st December.
  • The fund eligibility includes Early years providers and childminders, but not schools or services for schools.
  • No minimum number of children attending, however, there must be an evidenced need.
  • Providers need to evidence how they will continue the work after the grant has been awarded.

If you would like to apply please contact: people-affs-elcf-eypn-mailbox@mod.gov.uk  

Safeguarding and Early Help

Temporary changes to LCSS

This week Kevin Gordon Corporate Director for Children’s Services sent a letter to the early years sector in Oxfordshire. He explained that since March 2020 Children’s Services has experienced a significant increase in demand for services and challenges in ensuring a sufficient level of staffing. As a result there will be a package of measures put in place including temporary changes to LCSS.
Please ensure if you work with children in Oxfordshire you are aware of of this letter and refer to the complete list of changes which include changes to LCSS service delivery from 22 November – 28 February 2022.

 Advice and consultation including No Names Consultations. This service will continue, but will now be provided directly by the MASH. Where practitioners require advice or a consultation (including no name consultation) as to whether an early help assessment (EHA) is required for a family, we are asking practitioners to contact the MASH who will offer this advice.

Practitioners can contact the MASH 8.30 am-5.00 pm Monday to Thursday; 8.30 am-4.00 pm on a Friday on 0333 014 3325.

Guidance on new EHAs and TAFs. LCSS advice service will be provided remotely via phone or MS Teams where a decision has already been made that an EHA is indicated and a practitioner requires:

Ø  Guidance with completing the EHA

Ø  Guidance with arranging the first team around the family (TAF) meeting for families where EHA has been completed,

The duty line will operate 8.30 am-5.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30 am-4.00 pm on a Friday.

For LCSS North call 0345 241 270
For LCSS Central call 0345 241 2705
For LCSS South call 0345 241 2608

There will be one dedicated practitioner per area operating this service, so please be patient if you experience a short delay in getting a response.

Important message from OSCB about training non-attendance

The OSCB has asked us to share this message from them.
The OSCB has seen an increased number of early years practitioners facing non-attendance at training fees.  If you do not cancel your place within 6 days of the course you are required to pay a £50.00 charge for wasted time and resources.
To avoid this you can:

  • check your calendar if you have training coming up and cancel at least 6 days before if you need to
  • check your ‘junk’ folder if you cannot find the email link.
  • check what email address you have registered with as the link will be sent there.

Remember not finding your link, being busy or having looked in the wrong email address for your link will mean that you pay a £50.00 charge.
The OSCB has long lists of people waiting for courses – cancelling your course at the last minute not only costs your organisation money but denies training to someone else.

Training and Events

Step into Training

To book a course please click on the course code to take you directly to the booking page for that event.

Network for ECT/NQT/Teachers new to EYFS working in schools

This session will focus on the teaching of reading and the new Reading Framework. We will also be discussing the role of assessment within the EYFS framework. Where are your children now and where are you taking them next? Join our network to share ideas and practice with other teachers who are also new to working in the early years. This network is also suitable for teachers who are in their second year of working in early years. 
EY1147 9th December - 3:45pm to 4:45pm

Briefing

We will be running our Autumn briefing where Early Years practitioners across the sector can catch up with local and national updates, relevant termly information and actions, plus a learning focus. If you have purchased an Early Years standard or enhanced package for 2021-22 you will not be charged to attend this briefing. 
EY1144 Monday 29 November 2021

Monthly Managers and Childminder meetings

EY1069 The next childminder meeting is on 22 November 7-8pm. 
You can book now for the December meetings
EY1091 Managers Meeting Wednesday 8 December  7- 8pm
EY1070 Childminder Meeting Tuesday 14 December 7- 8pm

Oral Health Training - LAST FEW PLACES REMAINING

The 2021 EYFS states ‘The provider must promote the good health, including the oral health of children attending the setting.’
Oxfordshire Community Dental Services continues to work with Oxfordshire Early Years Team to promote great oral health for children. If you would like to join the free training on offer please book via Step into Training. 
EY1133 Oral Health Training – Monday 29th November 7-8pm

Further information

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