Early Years eNewsletter - Early Years Updates, Training, and more

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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.

SEND

Oxfordshire SEND Consultation
We are working on plans to better support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Oxfordshire.

Our proposals include making more high quality SEND education available closer to home, reducing reliance on out of county provision, and improving educational outcomes for children through closer partnerships between the council and schools.

To support this, we are asking residents to contribute to two consultations on plans to develop a more inclusive approach to supporting children and young people with SEND in Oxfordshire.

Along with our partners we are also seeking views on a draft local area SEND strategy to develop high quality services across education, health, and social care to support children and young people and their families.

The two consultations are interlinked and will run together between Monday 10 January and Thursday 10 March 2022. Residents can respond to both at letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/SEND-2022.

You can read more online.

Government Update

Early years level 3 SENCO - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This guidance is for:

awarding organisations
training providers
early years practitioners
early years employers
childminders

The qualification specification sets out what an accredited level 3 early years SENCO qualification should cover.

The role description helps to clarify the role of an early years SENCO working in group provision or as a childminder.

They should both be read alongside the SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years guidance.

Safeguarding, Welfare and Early Help

Importance of Promoting Good Attendance

Did you know that if a child is persistently absent (85% attendance) they have missed 6 weeks or half a term of schooling?

The Early Years Inspection Handbook states ‘Although attendance at the setting is not mandatory, providers should be alert to patterns of absence that may indicate wider safeguarding concerns. Inspectors will explore how well providers work with parents to promote children’s good attendance, especially the attendance of children for whom the provider receives the early years pupil premium’

When children attend their early years setting regularly it:

helps to make sure that children are kept safe and their well- being is promoted
helps to make sure they aren't missing out on their entitlements and opportunities
supports learning and development
ensures access to the widest possible range of opportunities in preparation for school

If you need more ideas and support in updating your attendance policy and encouraging good attendance habits you can access updated resources under the attendance tab on our free toolkit and our Bitesize CPD on the importance of good attendance.

A Guide to the Healthy Start Scheme, for Those Living in Oxfordshire

Learn more about the Healthy Start Scheme by watching this short YouTube video from our partners in Community Dental Services CIC. Those who are eligible get help to buy fresh fruit and veg, milk, formula and vitamins and currently only 57% of eligible people in Oxfordshire are currently receiving their vouchers/cards so it is important that you share the message with your families.
A guide to the Healthy Start Scheme, for those living in Oxfordshire - YouTube

Anna Freud Centre New Resources

Last year The Anna Freud Centre launched their Working with families facing challenges resource to help you support families who are vulnerable or struggling.
This has recently been updated and includes information on:

They have also created a resource launch and series of leaflets and videos to help early years practitioners support the personal, social and emotional development (PSED) of the children in their care.

Sepsis

Approximately 25,000 children are affected by sepsis in the UK each year. To raise awareness, the UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) has developed a bank of PSHE resources for schools so that staff and children better understand the dangers of the condition.
Sepsis Savvy Resources for Schools - Sepsis Trust

Help Oxfordshire to Become Smokefree

The children of parents who smoke are four times more likely to smoke and over 60% of smokers started as children. Being able to break this chain is key to Oxfordshire achieving its ambition of being smokefree by 2025. Conversations about smoking might seem daunting, but they are really important for the health of the child. A Smokefree Families toolkit is available which lists the sources of support and why it matters, including free training on how to have those conversations. You can download the toolkit here and if you have any questions or suggestions please e-mail smokefreeoxon@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

New Government Resource to Help Keep Children Safe from Sexual Abuse

It’s estimated that one in ten children in England and Wales will experience sexual abuse before they turn sixteen. Most children won’t tell anyone at the time of their abuse. That’s why it’s important for everyone to know how to spot the potential signs of child sexual abuse and where to go for support if concerned.

The UK Government has launched a new advice and support site to help keep children safe from sexual abuse. The site includes advice for parents and carers on spotting the signs of sexual abuse and speaking to your child about relationships and safety. It also signposts to sources of further support for children, adults and professionals including the NSPCC helpline and Childline.
Visit the website: Stop abuse together

Learning and Development

Little Feet Programme - Get Involved

Oxfordshire County Council is working in partnership with Active Oxfordshire to offer an exciting, fully funded programme to your setting. ‘
Little Feet is a great way to get families and young people more active by travelling to schools or early years settings by walking, scooting or cycling.
Since 2017, over 90,000 car journeys have been saved in Oxfordshire. 36,000 of these were because children walked to school.

By taking part in this programme you will receive:
A Little Feet 'how to guide' for practitioners
Two A3 journey maps
Two sets of journey map stickers for children to track their walking
Practitioner stickers to aid discussion around each theme
Two sets of reward stickers
Parent/carer booklet about Little Feet, plus eight family challenges
Free physical activity training from a well-renowned Early Years physical activity specialist
Training
Staff from each Early Years setting will be asked to attend a free face to face training session in February 2022 to develop knowledge of how to embed physical activity within their settings.

Reserve your place before January23rd 2022 please email
Rosie.Swanson@livingstreets.org.uk
with the name, address and contact details of your early years setting.

PVI Rep Needed for Schools Forum

Vacancy for an Early Years PVI (private, voluntary, independent) Manager on Oxfordshire Schools Forum

Oxfordshire Schools Forum represents all the County’s schools, academies, Early Years, and post-16 providers. Its purpose is to provide strategic direction and advice for funding and support services for all sectors in the County, including SEND and High Needs, and including wider issues such as service provision, contracts and service level agreements.
The Forum provides an opportunity for leaders to contribute to finance strategy in the County and to network with other representatives of all sectors of education from nursery to post-16.
The Forum is currently seeking to fill the Early Years Private/Voluntary/Independent Provider Manager vacancy which has recently arisen.
Forum meetings are held 4-6 times a year at a venue easily accessible from the Oxford ring road (but currently virtually).
Further information can be found at the OCC Schools Forum webpage Link: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/schools/our-work-schools/oxfordshire-schools-forum (including the Constitution, responsibilities and Meeting Papers / Minutes).
Please let Forum’s Clerk, Kit Howells, kit@kithowells.plus.com know if you are interested in joining Forum, by the close of business on 31 January 2022.

Covid

Additional Actions for Childminders During the Pandemic

This new DfE guidance for childminders contains information on childminding when:

someone you live with is self-isolating because they have symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive or are a close contact
you cannot childmind at your home and the alternative options you may wish to consider

It is an addition to Actions for early years and childcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government updates

Actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) updated 19 January
Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) updated 20 January
Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) updated 19 January
Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) updated 19 January
Special schools and other specialist settings: coronavirus (COVID-19) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) updated 19 January

Business and Funding

Funding Consultation - Have Your Say

Please “Have your say” by completing our short consultation of 10 questions. The timetable is challenging for all involved as the consultation will close on 31st January 2022 at 9am. We encourage all funded providers to engage in this consultation and thank you in advance for your contributions.

This consultation asks you for your views on the following areas:

The funding principles for 3- and 4-year olds under the Early Years National Funding Formula (EYNFF).
The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Inclusion Fund and Deprivation funding proposed adjustments for 3- and 4-year olds

The link is on the Provider Portal and has also been emailed to providers on 17 January.

Two Year Old Funding Update

The Department for Education provides Oxfordshire County Council with the names and addresses of parents that are eligible for the two year old funding. This information was used to send parents a postcard that confirms their eligibility for the funding.

However, under new guidance from the Department of Education we can no longer continue with this process. You will have received a message via the Provider Portal explaining these changes.

Please ensure you have received and accessed this information. Any queries please contact the Early Education Funding team earlyeducation@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Training and Events

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 EY1130

Curriculum Training for Schools

We are repeating the training we offered in the Autumn term to support schools to re-evaluate their curriculum in light of the revised Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure it is engaging, enriching and effective. We will be covering context and content with practical ideas of how you can develop a fully inclusive curriculum.

For more information and to book EY1166

SENCO Network Meetings

Bookings open soon via Step into Training

Area	EYSENTs	Date	Time
South Oxfordshire	Alison Swift Louise Stewart	23/3/2022	3.30 - 5 pm
West Oxfordshire	Kate Blong Chloe Stephenson	24/3/2022	3.30 - 4.30 pm
Central Oxfordshire	Lorraine Seymour Chrissy Gower	16/2/2022	3.30 - 5 pm
North Oxfordshire	Sarah Paton Carolyn Maxwell	3/3/2022	6.30 - 7.30 pm

Monthly Managers and Childminder Meetings

You can book now for the January meetings
Managers Meeting 7- 8pm Wednesday 9 February 2022 Book Here
Childminder Meeting 7- 8pm Monday 15 February 2022 Book Here

Further information

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Our website

Oxfordshire SEND Consultation We are working on plans to better support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Oxfordshire.