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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.
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WellComm
A reminder about the wonderful resource WellComm which has been provided free of charge for every nursery setting in Oxfordshire as part of 'Talking Together’, the Oxfordshire Year of Communication and Language. This new resource will help identify children who need some additional help with their speech, language and communication needs. The toolkit also contains a ‘Big Book of ideas’ to support practitioners help children to make progress.
We are aiming to screen every child in Oxfordshire this academic year – have you started using the pack yet?
Free online training is available this January via Step into Training (search WellComm) or you could access the stand alone videos provided by GL Assessment here. Keep your eyes peeled for a questionnaire coming soon via email about WellComm in your setting.
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'Every book in a book corner should be worth reading aloud'.
*NEW to '22* - Over this year we are focusing on the importance of a rich language diet and as part of this are celebrating the power of books. One of the most important things is to ensure children have access to quality books within your setting.
How do you decide which books should be included in your book area? What books do you love reading aloud? Which books offer a rich opportunity to talk about new ideas and concepts?
We are offering a new training course 'The Power of Books: improving practice and provision for early reading' which you can book through Step into Training.
We look forward to seeing you there.
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Vulnerable Children and Attendance During the Pandemic
Early years and childcare settings, schools and colleges continue to be open for all children and young people in England and attendance of school age children remains compulsory.
In all circumstances, and in all settings, priority should continue to be given to vulnerable children and young people and children of critical workers (as defined in the updated link below) to attend full time.
Children, now identified by DfE as needing the protective factor of face-to-face education are:
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those with a social worker
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those with an Education, Health and Care Plan
- a group of children considered locally, including by settings and local authorities, to be ‘otherwise vulnerable’
Plus
- children known to children’s social care services in the past
- children whose home circumstances might be particularly challenging because of domestic abuse, parental offending, adult mental health issues, and drug and alcohol addiction
Children of critical workers and vulnerable children who can access schools or educational settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Recently the tragic news about the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson have reminded us all of the importance of having 'eyes' on children and the important role that educational settings have in identifying and reporting cases of abuse and neglect.
It is of paramount importance that non attendance is followed up with families and if you have concerns about a child that you contact MASH.
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New DfE Videos to Support the Teaching of Literacy Skills
'Help for Early Years Providers' is a new service from the Department for Education to support childminders and staff in PVI settings to understand and implement changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
The DfE have produced some new videos as part of this collection of resources to support the teaching of literacy skills. Literacy - Help for early years providers - GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)
These videos cover:
- Language Comprehension
- Exploring Words
- Writing
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Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
EYPP offers additional funding (on top of the universal early years entitlement funding) for the least advantaged three-and four-year-olds (including Looked After Children and families in receipt of certain benefits). It is targeted at narrowing the attainment gap between disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers but it can sometimes go unclaimed.
How do you encourage and motivate parents to consent to the funding?
You can find out more here including a poster and flyer which can be downloaded to share with parents.
The DfE do not impose conditions on providers on how EYPP is spent but they are clear it must be used to improve the quality of early years education for disadvantaged children. Take a look at our Bitesize CPD for more ideas on Making a Difference - using Pupil Premium funding effectively (office.com)
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Support and manage disabled employees and employees with health conditions at work
The government is testing a new online service for employers which provides advice and guidance on managing health and disability in the workplace. This explains your legal obligations and good practice.
How to take part
It will help you support an employee who:
- is at work and has told you they have a disability or health condition
- is off work because of their disability or health condition
- is off work because of their disability or health condition, and you want to start planning their return to work
The guidance will help you understand your legal obligations and give you advice on best practice.
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Do you know who your link Health Visitor is?
Thank you for taking the time before the Christmas break to complete the questionnaire on working with Health Visitors. We received 161 responses which are now being evaluated and will support our partnership work with Health Visitors to improve services for vulnerable children across the Early Years Sector in Oxfordshire.
If you don't know which Health Visitor Team is assigned to the area of Oxfordshire you work in you can find their contact details here.
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Safeguarding and Early Help
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Accident Prevention
This guidance, produced in association with the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), is for all staff working with children under 5 years and covers the 5 injury priorities:
- choking, suffocation and strangulation
- falls
- burns and scalds
- poisoning
- drowning
Unintentional injuries: prevention in children under 5 years - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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FSCO Briefing (for Schools)
Join us at this briefing to meet with other FSCOs from across Oxfordshire to consider the implementation, so far, of the EYFS and how you are strengthening practice. We will be joined by a guest speaker who works as an Early Years leader who will discuss how they have shaped their curriculum, practice and provision to meet Statutory/Ofsted requirements.
This is a follow up to the revised EYFS briefings last year and is in addition to the termly EY Briefings.
Date: Mon 24th January 2022 3.45pm – 4.45pm. Book Here
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The Power of Books
This important new course will help you promote the importance and benefit of sharing books with young children daily and provide strategies to support this. Target group: EYFS practitioners in early years settings working with children aged birth – four. Please note there are 2 parts to this course.
For more information and to book EY1129 or EY1130
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SENCO Network Meetings
Bookings open soon via Step into Training
| Area |
EYSENTs |
Date |
Time |
| South Oxfordshire |
Alison Swift
Louise Stewart
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23/3/2022 |
3.30 - 5 pm |
| West Oxfordshire |
Kate Blong
Chloe Stephenson
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24/3/2022 |
3.30 - 4.30 pm |
| Central Oxfordshire |
Lorraine Seymour
Chrissy Gower
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16/2/2022 |
3.30 - 5 pm |
| North Oxfordshire |
Sarah Paton
Carolyn Maxwell
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3/3/2022 |
6.30 - 7.30 pm |
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Monthly Managers and Childminder meetings
You can book now for the January meetings
Managers Meeting 7- 8pm Wednesday 12 January 2022 Book Here
Childminder Meeting 7- 8pm Monday 17 January 2022 Book Here
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