Northamptonshire County CouncilEarly Years Bulletin

Issue 12 2013-2014May 2014

Welcome to the Early Years Bulletin. This regular Bulletin will be the main method of disseminating information to all Early Years Settings and Providers, and their staff teams. It contains up to date information from all of the Teams who

support Early Years Settings in Northamptonshire, and aims to keep all staff in the EYFS well informed of relevant information to support them in their work.

The Bulletin includes any key cut off dates and important messages about your funding.

Kate Wilde – Senior School Improvement Manager – EYLearning, Skills and EducationChildren, Families and Education directoratekwilde@northamptonshire.gov.uk

There is a similar bulletin for Children’s Centres and their staff teams that may be accessed through the link below:

Children Centre Bulletin

Accessing the EY Bulletin

If you have had any issues in opening any documents or pages in this bulletin, you can access all the information and this document as a PDF file at the following address:

onlinewww.northamptonshire.gov.uk/eyfs

or please open the link below:

EYFS website Bulletin

For further information about this article, please contact:

earlyyearsimprovement@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Statutory Framework for the EYFS

(repeat article)

There are some changes to the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage Setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five.

This statutory framework comes into force from 1 September 2014, until then the current ‘Early years foundation stage framework’, published in September 2012, remains in force.

The document below summarises the changes:

Ofsted Publication

Are you ready? Good practice in school readiness

Ofsted has published a report showing the findings from a survey which aimed to capture how the most successful early years providers ensure disadvantaged and vulnerable children are better prepared to start school. Her Majesty’s Inspectors visited children’s centres, childminders, pre-schools, primary and infant schools providing for pupils within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The providers were selected because they were successful in achieving good outcomes for children in deprived areas.

Separate graded judgements on the early years in school and the sixth form

Ofsted has launched a consultation on introducing separate graded judgments for early years in schools and the sixth form.

Early Years BOOK NOW – BOOK NOW – BOOK NOW

Market Place EY Market Place

We are pleased to announce that the Early Years Team has arranged a ‘Market Place’ event in June in the North and the South of Northamptonshire.

Our aim is to bring the teams that support the EYFS in Northamptonshire together, so that settings, schools, committees, governors and anyone else who wishes to learn more

about the EYFS, can see how the Early Years sector works and is supported.

This is an exciting new event and we are pleased to inform you that we already have over 20 stands and displays booked for this event. The stands range from information about

EY Funding, Safeguarding, Workforce development, Inclusion, Outdoor learning and school admissions ....to using Treasure baskets, developing early phonological awareness,

assessment in the EYFS and developing your baby room.

The EY Market Place events are being held at:

Tuesday 24th June 2014 - Kettering Conference CentreThursday 26th June 2014 – The Marriott Hotel, Brackmills, Northampton

There will also be short talks throughout the day that can be accessed.

Settings and schools may send as many delegates as they like, and as it is a whole day event, could release staff on a rota so that we reach as many as possible!

It is also an ideal event for Committee members or those interested in becoming one to attend.

Any School staff are also invited to attend, as are School Governors, as the event is designed to heighten awareness and understanding of the EYFS.

Delegates are invited to ‘drop in’ at one of the 4 sessions at either venue, as it is expected that the displays, short talks and information points will take about an hour to look

around. Sessions can be booked at either venue at the following slots of time.10.30a.m.-12.00p.m.

12.00-1.30p.m.1.30-3.00p.m.3.00-4.30p.m.

Bookings can now be made through the CPD Website.

cpd@northamptonshire.gov.uk

There is no charge for attending these events, but Supply cover costs are NOT provided for attending the Market Place. Delegates are welcome to stay for the length of time that they

wish.

For further information about this article, please contact:

earlyyearsimprovement@northamptonshire.gov.uk Safeguarding Making Children Safer briefings

Setting managers attending the PVI network meeting will have taken part in a ‘Making Children Safer’ event. We would like to thank Richard Ward and the Integrated Services Team for speaking at our events this week.

The information covered is available using the following link:

Making Children Safer

Thresholds and Pathways book

Making Children Safer Pocket Guide

If you are the Designated Person for child protection in your setting you would find it beneficial to attend one of the briefing sessions as you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues from other parts of the child care workforce.

To book an event use the following link:

www.lgss.co.uk/makingchildrensafer

Free Entitlement and Funded

Early Learning

Just to remind you:

Maintained provision: Data Collection goes live 5th to 13th May.

Childminders caring for their own children

We have recently received guidance from the DfE which makes it clear to us that in allowing childminders to claim funding for their own children we are failing to comply with the Childcare Act 2006 because the definition of childcare specifically excludes care provided for a child by a parent or step-parent. In common with a number of other Local Authorities, we need to review our Guidance. We therefore ask that from this funding block childminders do not make any new claims for their own children and from the Autumn funding block there should be no claims at all for their own children. The new Provider Agreement, coming into force in September will ask childminders to confirm that they will not make any such claims.

Annual Provider Survey

Annual Provider Survey – another opportunity to tell us what you think of us!

The survey was open for a month but unfortunately we only had 60 responses out of approximately 500 providers – compared with 150 last year and 191 in 2012. 79% of the respondents were childminders. Whilst it is great to hear from so many childminders, this does mean that the results of the survey will be skewed so it would be good to get a broader range of responses. The survey has therefore been re-opened today for a further 2 weeks. Please take a few minutes to go to Survey of Childcare Providers 2014 and tell us what you think of us.

Settings whose Ofsted grading

As you will be aware, the Statutory Guidance requires that we withdraw funding ‘as soon as is practicable’ from any setting who receives an inadequate grading from Ofsted and we only fund 2

changes at inspection

year olds in settings with a satisfactory/requires improvement grading’ where there is not sufficient accessible good or outstanding provision. We have been complying with this guidance since it came into force and during this time have given considerable thought to how it is managed in order to ensure we have a process that is clear and complies with the guidance whilst taking account of the needs of providers, children and parents.

The table embedded below clarifies funding information for settings whose Ofsted grading changes.

Transition Document

It will soon be time to complete and send on the Progress Summary Transition Document to schools.

Please find the amended 2013-2014 copy.

Everdon Field Centre

Invitation

Remember Everdon Field Centre? We’re 40!

Come and join us at our open days 10th and 11th May 11am – 3pm.Or come to our Last Night of the Proms 24th May 7.30pm

See attached flier for details.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Inclusion

Training

Last SENCo training sessions for this academic year.

Course Title and Code

Date Venue Time

Enhanced Skilled SENCo/Inclusion Coordinator training-PVI and Maintained nursery units and schools

Wednesday 7th May 2014

Thursday 8th May 2014

Holiday Inn,Bedford RoadNN4 7YF

Session 1, 9-4

Session 2, 9-4

EY03A

Wednesday 11th June 2014

Session 3, 1-4

Qualifying SENCo/Inclusion Coordinator training-PVI and Maintained nursery units and schools

EY03B

Wednesday 14th May 2014

Thursday 15th May 2014

Wednesday 9th July 2014

Kettering Park Hotel and Spa

NN15 6XT

Session 1, 9-3.30

Session 2, 9-3.30

Session 3, 1-4

Qualifying SENCo/Inclusion Coordinator training-PVI and Maintained nursery units and schools

EY03C

Tuesday 17th June 2014

Wednesday 18th June 2014

Tuesday 30th September 2014

Northampton Bangladeshi Association.Gateway Centre Mill RoadNorthamptonNN2 6AX

Session 1, 9-3.30

Session 2, 9-3.30

Session 3, 1-4

Please see embedded flyers for more information and book in the usual way on line through lgssOWD@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Update for Parents and Carers regarding the SEND reforms

Please see information in the embedded document which may be useful to share with parents and carers to help them understand the main changes that are proposed in the Draft Special Educational Needs and Disability code of practice.

Attention Early Years SENCos

NIMP Training.

If you have attended a NIMP cluster meeting or are working with one of the county’s Enhanced Skilled SENCos you are eligible to attend the NIMP training outlined below:

Title of Course

Helping young children with ASD to develop flexibility, language and play

Date 10th June, 2014

Course Code: NIMP 146 A

Venue:

SATRA Innovations Park,Rockingham Road,Kettering,NN16 9JH

Time 9:15 – 3:30

Date

13th June, 2014

Course Code

NIMP 146 B

Venue:

Delos Community,York House, 1-3 Newton Close,Park Farm Industrial Estate,Wellingborough Northants NN8 6UW

Time 9:15 – 3:30

Date:

20th June 2014

Course Code

NIMP 146 C

Venue:

Holiday Inn NorthamptonBedford RoadNorthamptonNN4 7YF

Time 9:15 – 3:30

Date:

Saturday 21st June, 2014

Course Code

NIMP 146 D

Venue:

Holiday Inn NorthamptonBedford RoadNorthamptonNN4 7YF

Time 9:15 – 3:30

Course Presenter

Ellie Collar

To request a place please e mail earlyyearsimprovement@northamptonshire.gov.uk giving your name, setting, email address and a contact telephone number. Do not forget to include any

dietary or other requests.

EYFS Profile Early Years Foundation Stage Profile – PVI settings

The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) provides parents and carers, practitioners and teachers with a well-rounded picture of a child’s knowledge, understanding and abilities, their progress against expected levels, and their readiness for Year 1.

It is a requirement within the Statutory Framework for the EYFS that in the final term of the year in which the child reaches age five, the EYFS Profile must be completed for each child. Therefore if you have a Reception age child remaining in your setting in the Summer term this year then the Profile must be completed for them and the data submitted to the local authority.

For further information and support in completing the Profile please contact Marcella Homans mhomans@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Essential reminder for Attendance

Did you know that it is essential that all settings should be recording child absences on their registers with a reason for absence too so as to provide evidence of child attendance and non-attendance for NCC Funding Audit visits?

Audits may be undertaken of registers, and incomplete records could mean settings would be asked to pay back funding for hours/sessions children had not attended.

Northamptonshire Nursery

School Partnership The NNSP is a programme of Early Years Education and Care to offer support for the Professional

Development of Early Years Practitioners.Put together by Teachers and Practitioners’ from Northamptonshire’s nine maintained Nursery Schools, the NNSP provides bespoke learning and development opportunities and events for nursery schools, primary schools, preschools, child-minders and day nurseries spanning across the county and beyond!

A full programme of visits and workshops can be found and booked via their website at www.nnsp.co.uk

Coming up in May;

Generic visits offer an overview of all areas of the setting including enabling environments, planning, indoor and outdoor practices. There will be an opportunity to see practice in action, followed by an in-depth discussion. £25 per session

12th - Highfields Nursery and Children’s Centre.13th - Pen Green Centre for Children and their families14th - Wallace road nursery and Children’s Centre21st - Camrose Sure Start Children’s Centre21st - Parklands Nursery and Children’s Centre

Focused visits are concerned with sharing good practices that are customised to specific areas of Early Years Practice, for example Planning and Assessment, Information Technology and Outdoor Play. Alternatively you may request your own focus £25 per session

1st - A child’s Voice. Parklands Nursery and Children’s centre2nd - Outdoor Learning. Whitehills Nursery School9th - Parental Engagement. Gloucester Nursery and Children’s centre

The Professional Development Workshops are ‘hands on’ practical sessions that can be tailored to individual Early Years settings by providing guidance underpinned by research, theory, knowledge and experience. £50 per session

16th - Parental Engagement. Gloucester Nursery and Children’s Centre

ChildmindersNCA

The NCA have 2 websites that can be accessed:

NCA This site holds information specific to Northamptonshire with links to the national site

Childminding UK (CUK) this site still has some development to happen to make it fully functioning, such as the shop area where we will hope to sell our products nationally.

Please also see above : Free Entitlement and Funded Early Learning – Childminders caring for their own children

Business Training Support

Business Training for Setting staff or Committee members

The next 3 day “G is for Grow” course will be held on 12, 19 and 26 June at the Holiday Inn, Bedford Road, Northampton. This 3 day course covers most areas of running a childcare business including business planning, budgeting, legal issues and much more.

Numbers are strictly limited and places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. The course is provided free of charge, refreshments and lunch are provided on each day.

If you would like to reserve a place please send an email to the address below stating your name, setting and job title. Alternatively you can telephone me directly on the number provided.

Richard EllisBusiness Support Officer

Tel: 01604 367159Email: rellis@northamptonshire.gov.uk

EYE Information

Evening

We would like to invite you to our Free information evening on 18th June from 7.00-9.00pm. The Early Years Workforce Development Team have invited a speaker from ‘CACHE’ to deliver important information about the new level 3 qualification called the Early Years Educator (EYE).

From September 2014 the Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young Peoples Workforce will no longer be available. To qualify for funding for the Early Years Educator (EYE) candidates must have GCSE’s in English and Maths at C or above to enrol on the course.

To find out more, book to attend the information session and ask questions about the future of

qualifications in the early years sector.

To book a place please email eycc@northamptonshire.gov.uk