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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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For Action - Important Training Information
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Take the time to backup your CPD record and Certificates
Oxfordshire Early Years (Step into Training) and Schools & Learning both use a platform called CPD Online to publish and provide a wide range of training and CPD for schools and Early Years settings to book on to. Due to OCC procurement guidelines, we are now in the process of retendering the system provision to ensure both quality and value.
What this means for you:
At present, systems remain as usual but we are advising all schools and settings who use the training system to backup their training records and certificates.
- If a decision to change provider is made, your records will be unavailable from June 2022
How to backup
The easiest way to take a backup is to login to your CPD Online account and go to My Account and select Courses Attended:
- From here you can either:
- Take a screenshot of your CPD Diary
- Copy / Paste your CPD into a word document
- You can also download your certificates if there is a link available
We will endeavour to keep you informed of any progress in this piece of work. As it stands, we should hope to know more information mid-May 2022.
As always, thank you.
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Recruitment and Retention Survey
We are aware that recruitment and retention within the early years sector is a national issue. Several local authorities, including Oxfordshire, are looking at this as a priority and are in discussions with the DFE about how to address these challenges.
Thanks to all who responded to the recent Recruitment and Retention Survey which has provided the local picture. 81% of respondents reported they are finding it difficult to hire new staff at the current time. Challenges include lack of applicants for roles, and applicants lacking suitable early years qualifications. Providers are also reporting they are unable to meet the salary demands of applicants.
We are using feedback from the survey to inform a local recruitment and retention strategy and action plan. So far in Oxfordshire we have:
- An Officer to lead on a recruitment and retention strategy
- Linked with Secondary schools to promote careers in early years
- Linked with multi-agency colleagues around careers and employment for NEETS (not in education, employment, training)
- A plan to create links with DWP and Job Centre to promote and feature early years careers across all age groups
- Links with Qualification providers to promote early years careers
- OCC web pages on careers in early education and childcare with links to local vacancies
- Worked on a social media campaign to promote early years sector and careers
We are currently gathering case studies to form the basis of the campaign. If you would like to be involved please contact cheryl.huntbach@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Don’t forget job vacancies can be advertised for free via the Family Information Service Directory.
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Employment Allowance
Small employers may be able to reduce their National Insurance liability by up to £5000 in 2022-2023. Information on eligibility can be found here. Please pass this information to whoever is responsible for your payroll.
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Tax Free Childcare
If you are an Ofsted registered Early Years or Childcare provider you can sign up to receive fees directly from parents’ Tax Free Childcare account. The account allows parents to receive up to £2000 per year towards their childcare costs. Find out how to sign up here.
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50 things to do before you are 5 App
We wanted to thank everyone who has been supporting the roll out and promotion of the ‘50 things to do before you’re 5’ app. This app is aimed to help parents and carers in their invaluable role as interactors during their children's early years. These early interactions help to build children's early language development, which are the foundations for their later literacy learning.
We would really appreciate your help again as we approach the first anniversary of its launch (in July) and would like to remind parents, carers and practitioners of the benefits and ease of use.
An email and updated toolkit was shared with all schools, settings and childminders before the Easter break. We would be very grateful if you could share these bullet points and the attachments which were sent with the email with your staff / interested colleagues in order that we spread the message far and wide!
- What is ‘50 things to do before you’re five’? It’s a free app, which lists 50 no-cost or low-cost local activities for under-fives. The app also highlights key dates – including when to submit school applications, when to register with a dentist. There are also family-friendly events listed (running across the county, and throughout the year).
- Is it easy to download? Yes. Just click on one of the links below and install.
- Where can I learn more about it: https://oxfordshire.50thingstodo.org/
- Why is it important? This initiative is part of Oxfordshire County Council’s school readiness agenda, aimed at supporting families and nurseries, to enable children to have all the ‘ingredients’ they need from birth to develop their early language skills.
- How does it work? With information, guidance and supporting resources, each activity has been designed to help promote early language development. It’s a one-stop-shop of resources. Each activity has details of how to do the activity, what you’ll need to do it, where you can do it, key words to use, as well as top tips to get the most out of it. You can also get access to other activities, additional info – as well as how the activity can be adapted for children with special educational needs. There is also a section where parents/ carers can create a memory bank of these activities – to reflect on at a later date.
- Examples of activities: Sow seeds and watch them grow (#19 Growing, Little People, Plants and Things), get creative (#Make Your Mark), or discover a world of mini beasts (#9 Mini Beast and Bug Hunting). There are plenty of fun activities to choose from.
Thank you for your continued support, it is very much appreciated.
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Talking with your Children
This booklet has been put together to help parents/carers to support their nursery aged children with speaking and listening. Speaking and listening are key skills for learning.
Talking With Your Children: Activities For Parents to Help Nursery Children's Speaking and Listening Skills - UCL Discovery
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Presented by Dr Tina Rae this is a useful video to watch to help you in supporting our children in traumatic times
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Homes for Ukraine scheme and Ukraine Family Scheme
The Department for Education understands childminders in England that are keen to join the many others who have signed-up to host people from Ukraine under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and Ukraine Family Scheme may have some questions. Please find a link below which provides guidance for childminders who may have signed up to support the Ukraine schemes:
https://foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Childminders-hosting-people-from-Ukraine-England.pdf
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Central Area SENCO Network meeting
The next central area network meeting is on Thursday 5 May 15:45 - 16:45 book here.
In this session we will be looking at effective ways to work together with families including families who have English as an additional language.
The dates for other area SENCO meetings will be released soon and you will be able to book these via Step into Training.
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Education recovery in early years providers
This webpage draws on inspection evidence gathered in the spring 2022 term and discussions with early years inspectors about the ongoing implications of the pandemic on children.
Education recovery in early years providers: spring 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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EYFS Profile Briefing
We are running a free briefing to support practitioners to be confident and ready to complete the EYFS profile assessment for children at the end of the Reception year.
There are two sessions:
Tuesday 3 May 2022 15:30 - 17:00 - book here
or
Thursday 12 May 15:30 - 17:00 - book here
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Safeguarding, Welfare and Early Help
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Fully funded Mental Health Training
This qualification is designed for learners who wish to understand mental health in young children in the early years (from birth to 5 years old).
Mental Health in the Early Years - Care Courses Online
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Survey
Our colleague, Emily Smout, is currently undertaking some research as part of a project between the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Associated Research Centre (ARC) and the University of Oxford. The survey explores the views of professionals working in different agencies about the impact of children’s experiences on their health and wellbeing.
She would be grateful if you would spend 10 minutes completing this.
https://oxford.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/children_families
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Button Battery Safety
A button battery can kill a child in under two hours. If the child survives, the injuries can be life-changing for the whole family. Crawling babies up to preschoolers are at most risk. Worryingly, far too many parents simply don't know either about the dangers or the wide range of products now powered by button batteries. That's why the Child Accident Prevention Trust are equipping those closest to families with the tools to get the message out.
You can find out more on the CAPT webpage.
Button Batteries | Home | Child Accident Prevention Trust (capt.org.uk)
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Understanding Behaviour in the Early Years Foundation Stage
By the end of the training participants will be able to:
- Recognise what children need to feel emotionally safe and secure
- Understand what may influence undesirable behaviour
- Identify the adult’s role in supporting children to manage their own emotions successfully
- Confidently implement strategies to effectively support children’s Social and Emotional development
This is a new course being delivered face to face at Hill End on the following dates:
EY1246 Thursday 5 May 2022, 09:30 - 12:30
EY1247 Thursday 26 May 2022, 09:30 - 12:30
EY1248 Thursday 16 June 2022, 13:00 - 16:00
EY1249 Thursday 30 June 2022, 13:00 - 16:00
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Monthly Managers and Childminder Meetings
There are a few places left for the April Childminder Meeting - Wednesday 27 April at 7- 8pm - book here
The next Monthly meeting for managers is on 11 May at 7- 8pm - book here
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