NEWSLETTERNOW PUBLISHED MONTHLY - available HERE May 2018

Dear Providers,

We hope you have relished the latest mixture of heatwaves and downpours and that subsequently your pots and borders are brimming with blooms!

Perhaps some of you have taken on an Apprentice or Assistant this year and are growing their skills in the early years? In which case you may be interested in the Education Policy Institute report on the Early Years Workforce – The early years workforce: a fragmented picture.

We are very aware of the challenges you face in the current climate with staffing costs, CPD costs and national funding rates. It is good to know that the Treasury was asked to explain decisions in the House of Commons recently and urged to reconsider some key policies, in particular, realistic funding rates for providers. Fingers crossed!

We are delighted to be welcoming Jenie Eastman as Early Years and Childcare Service Leader in June 2018. Jenie currently works in North Somerset leading the work of Children’s Centres. She will be leading the Early Years Team, Children’s Centres and Local Authority nurseries, and will continue to promote joined-up working. A message from Jenie can be found later in this edition.

In the meantime, Sarah McGahern and Rebecca Fisk continue as joint interim leaders, in addition to their current roles as Lead Early Years Consultants for assessment and moderation and inclusion.

We have listened to what you have said about recent reduced contact with the sector and are in the process of reviewing what we can offer in line with our statutory guidance, and within our reduced capacity and remit. We always seek creative solutions and welcome your thoughts.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Early Years Team on the Advice Line 01275 888300

With best wishes,

Becky & SarahRebecca Fisk and Sarah McGahern

Inside this IssueLocal & national updates

New Service Lead GDPR Private fostering Communication

Commitment EYPP claims Transfer document 30 Hours Fun Day Volunteering offer World day for Cultural

Diversity Gender in Early Years

conferenceChildminding updates

Local childminders in national publications

Business support for childminders

Inclusion Supplement Praise for North

Somerset! Inclusion Link

Programme Local area SEND

inspection Speech & Language

advice sessionsCPD Opportunities

DEADLINEFOR NEXT ISSUE

Please send anything you would like included in

next month’s Newsletter to early.years@n-somerset.gov.uk

by Friday 8th June.

May 2018 1

Local and National Updates

New Early Years and Childcare Service LeadFrom 1st June 2018 we welcome Jenie Eastman as the Early Years and Childcare Service Leader. The post will now combine responsibility for three teams: Early Years, Children’s Centres and Local Authority Nurseries. Jenie has sent a message to you below:

“I am really looking forward to working with North Somerset’s childminders, nurseries and pre-schools; a quality early years workforce. My approach includes two key messages: ‘Keep the child at the centre’ and ‘If it’s not broken, then don’t fix it’.

My background includes managing the North Somerset Children’s Centres and Ashcombe & Little Waves Nurseries for the last 8 years, and prior to that spent 8 years as North Somerset’s Head of Early Years and Childcare, working alongside Andrea Sully and Gale Bruce, so many of you will know me already.

My previous job roles included: School teacher in Inner London, Youth Worker, Youth Officer, Play Leader, Co-operative & Social Enterprise sector, and Play trainer. Most recently I have gained a Masters qualification in Business Administration.

I hope to see many of you in Term 1 when we start a new academic year.”

GDPR The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new EU law that will come into effect on 25 May 2018. It will replace the current Data Protection Act 1998.

Thank you for all that you are doing to secure your processes around protecting personal data of children, parents and staff. We understand that many of you have already accessed training and advice from professional organisations, the local authority and of course the ICO. We have prioritised some more information sessions in mid-May instead of the Leaders, Owners and Managers briefings, for those of you who are not yet clear about your responsibilities or who would like a reminder. (See CPD on-line) By doing this we have opened up a CPD offer to a wider section of the workforce, including childminders.

Please be clear that the ICO itself is becoming GDPR compliant, as are we here at the Local Authority. This is a process and, as you know, it is very time consuming, especially when ensuring data is compliant with retention schedules. As an Early Years Team we are also having to prioritise this work. Thank you for your understanding.

We urge you to think about your legal responsibilities as business data controllers and processors; reviewing the data you collect by completing a data audit, knowing your retention schedules and having a declutter.

Looking at safe storage and secure sharing of information is vital especially as 90% of data breaches occur through human error. Perhaps you have already bought some lockable bags for staff when transporting learning diaries? Also your privacy notices and information sharing agreements will need to be at the forefront of your work.

March/April 2018 2

Local and National Updates

Having a plan and sharing this with staff will build confidence and reduce breaches.

GDPR links to useful information

There are a variety of useful sources to help you get ready:

Preschool Learning Alliance: website NDNA: website

Information Commissioners Office: website

The Virtual College website.

Do you know a child who is living with someone who is not a close relative? Private fostering is an informal arrangement when a child under 16 (or 18 if disabled) stays with someone who is not a close relative for more than 28 consecutive days.

A close relative is a step-parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle or aunt, whether of full blood, half blood or marriage. Private fostering is different to the fostering provided by the council, and there is legislation to safeguard children who are cared for by distant relatives or friends.

Examples include: a teenager living with the family of a boyfriend or girlfriend children living with a friend’s family as a result of parental separation, divorce or arguments at

home children sent to this country for education or health reasons by parents who live abroad.

Private foster carers have a legal duty to inform their local council that they are looking after someone else’s child, but sometimes they are not aware of this.

If you come across a private fostering arrangement through your work with parents/carers in your setting you will need to explain to them of their duty to notify the local authority about this. If they don’t want to notify us, you have a duty to inform us directly, and by doing this you will be helping to ensure the welfare of the child concerned.

Anyone who is privately fostering, or aware of a private fostering arrangement should contact: Care Connect, 01275 888 808.

Transfer documentsPlease note that arrangements for providers to collect or access this year’s transfer documents will be emailed to you shortly. Please look out for this email in your inbox.

Early Years Communication Commitment

May 2018 3

Local and National Updates

The Communication Trust have produced a resource to support a whole setting approach to communication outcomes for children. There is a wealth of knowledge and resources here and a step by step process that providers can follow. Please do highlight this to managers and Inclusion coordinators.

The Early Years Commitment is divided into five areas, to help you address every aspect of communication development across your early years setting. It’s based on what we know works in nurseries, pre-schools, childminding settings and Children's Centres. The five areas are:

1. Leadership 2. Workforce Development

3. Communication-Friendly Settings 4. Supporting Children with SLCN

5. Engagement with Parents, Families and and Other Early Years Professionals

Each area has suggested actions – straightforward and achievable – to move your setting forward with early language support.

You’ll choose one from each area to create your own Action Plan and make your Early Years Commitment.

Early Years Pupil Premium funding: could you be claiming?Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is additional funding for early years settings to improve the education they provide for disadvantaged 3- and 4-year-olds. It is currently 53p per hour (15 hours universal entitlement) per child that meets the EYPP criteria which equates to just over £300 per year. Currently there is EYPP money that is going unclaimed in North Somerset. It is now easier to check eligibility through the Funding Hub using the EYPP tab.

If you have two year olds that are currently funded, it is likely that they will be eligible for EYPP.

For inspiration and ideas on how to you could be using EYPP funding to support the education of disadvantaged children, visit the Education Endowment Fund website, look at their toolkit and read this case study by the Early Years winner of the National Pupil Premium Awards 2017.

Keeping in touchDon’t forget that the Early Years Team has a dedicated advice line. To speak to one of the Early Years Support Advisors, call 01275 888300 or you can email early.years@n-somerset.gov.uk.

You can also follow our Facebook page for updates. Search for North Somerset Early Years or @nsearlyyears and like the page so that you receive notifications when we post

30 hours fun dayAs part of a national campaign to promote the 30 hour funding for 3 and 4 year olds, the Early Years Team will be holding a Free Family Fun Day, where parents of pre-school aged children will

May 2018 4

Local and National Updates

be able to come along and find out all they need to know about the funding. Whilst they are gathering information and talking to various people about the benefits and implications of accessing the 30hrs funding, their children can have a fabulous time, exploring some of the exciting activities they could expect to participate in by taking up their funding (plus a few additional surprises!).

We would be very grateful if you could promote this event with any prospective parents who visit or enquire at your setting, or to any families who are not yet claiming 30hrs funding. Perhaps you could include details of the event in your newsletters and correspondence with your families?

We will be distributing leaflets and posters to settings to promote and market this event very soon. Your help and support in marketing this project will hopefully encourage more parents to take up places within your Early Years settings.

30 Hours FUN DAYSaturday 30th June 2018 from 10am-2pm,

feel free to just drop in!

The Radio Wing, Community Hall, Locking Parklands, (old RAF Locking camp) BS24 7AA

Some of the activities on offer:

Forest School activities

Story telling

Messy/creative play

Scrapstore activities

Large Garden games

Children’s entertainment and lots more!

Free refreshments for parents and children.

Volunteering activities being offered to North Somerset Early Years settingsAgilisys and Liberata (North Somerset support services) are seeking ideas for volunteering activities as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) days programme

May 2018 5

Local and National Updates

CSR days involve giving back to the local community by taking part in volunteering opportunities. Some of the activities completed in previous years include:

• Painting fences at the RSPCA Centre in Brent Knoll• Clearing up and building a new poly tunnel at Kewstoke Youth and Community Farm • Gardening and sorting through donations at Weston Hospicecare • Hosting Macmillan’s Big Coffee Morning • Fundraising for Cancer Research and Alzheimer's Society through the ‘Summer of Love’ campaign.

If you have an idea, and would like this to be considered, please contact the Early Years Advice Line 01275 888300 and we will pass this on

EQUALITY EDUCATION

‘World Day for Cultural Diversity’ - 21st May 2018“The day provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural

diversity and to learn to ‘live together’ better.”

“…enhances our understanding and acceptance of different cultures.”

“…values a culturally diverse learning environment.”

“…supports EYFS Framework ‘Enabling Environments’, e.g. ‘people and communities’ and ‘self-confidence and self-esteem’.”

In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in its resolution 57/249, declared 21st May to be the ‘World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development’.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) in partnership with UNESCO and a wide coalition of partners from corporations to civil society is launching the world campaign “Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion”, aimed at engaging people around the world to Do One Thing to support Cultural Diversity and Inclusion.

Join the worldwide campaign, ‘Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion’, like the Facebook page and encourage your neighbours, your family, your friends, your colleagues and the

May 2018 6

Local and National Updates

children and families of your school or setting to ‘Do One Thing to support Diversity and Inclusion’ on World Day for Cultural Diversity on 21st May.

Every one of us can do at least ONE thing for diversity and inclusion; even one very little thing can become a global action if we all take part in it.

“Do One Thing for Diversity and Inclusion!”

Ten simple things your School or Early Years Setting can do to celebrate ‘World Day for Cultural Diversity’ on 21st May

1. Visit an art exhibition or a museum exhibition dedicated to other cultures.2. Invite a family or people in the community from another culture or religion to share the

day with you in your school or setting and to talk to the children about their culture, religion or language.

3. Share a book from another country, culture or religion.4. Play a sport related to a different culture or country (e.g. karate, kabaddi, criquet,

petanque)5. Cook traditional food from different cultures.6. Explore music from different cultures.7. Invite bilingual adults from your community to share stories or songs in languages other

than English.8. Teach children about the great thinkers of other cultures (e.g. Confucius, Socrates,

Avicenna, Aristotle, Ganesh, Rumi).9. Take children to visit a place of worship different than yours and participate in the

celebration.10. Introduce children to traditional celebrations from other cultures; learn more about

Hanukkah or Ramadan or about amazing celebrations of New Year’s Eve in Spain or Qingming festival in China.

For further information contact:

Stephen Bray (Equality Education)

equalityeducation@outlook.com

May 2018 7

Local and National Updates

May 2018 8

Childminding Updates

Local Childminders featured in national publicationsCongratulations to both Nicky Harper (Clevedon childminder) and Christine Mann (Wraxall childminder) whose outstanding practice has been shared through national publications.

Nicky has featured in the Nursey World series on ‘Managing SEND’ discussing her care for a child with complex needs. If you have a Nursery World subscription, the article can be accessed here.

Christine shared how she used Top up funding to pay for a speech and language therapist to provide some bespoke training for her and her assistants. This has been shared in the Communication Trust publication ‘Overcoming Barriers’.

Fully funded business support training for childmindersWe have arranged for PACEY to deliver 2 workshops in June to help develop childminders business planning skills. Both sessions will take place at Castlewood, you can choose to attend both workshops, or just come to one – although to make the most of workshop 2, you would either needed to have attended the first workshop, or have a current business plan in place

Workshop 1) Creating a business plan Monday 11th June 7-9 Looking at the role of childminders as leaders and managers Purpose of a business plan Marketing and Financial planning

Workshop 2) Developing the business plan in the context of 30 hours funded childcare Thursday 21st June 7-9 Understanding early years entitlement Growing your business model Partnership delivery model

Please book your place via on CPD online.

Preparing for your Ofsted inspection (Childminders)Don’t forget that you can access our new e-learning course that aims to help childminders feel confident and prepared for their Ofsted inspection. It covers: Understanding the Inspection process; Self- evaluation; Getting organisedThe course has been trialled by a variety of local childminders with excellent feedback: ‘I definitely

It takes around 90 minutes to complete, although this may be longer depending on whether you complete the practice self-evaluation activity. The course is FREE to North Somerset childminders, if you are interested, please email rhianon.richards@n-somerset.gov.uk who will give you details for accessing the course.

May 2018 9

Inclusion Supplement

Overcoming barriers – Praise for North Somerset!Rebecca Fisk, Lead Early Years Consultant – Inclusion

I am delighted that North Somerset has recently been on the national radar for great inclusive practice. I am sure you will celebrate with us.

Our children’s centres and a North Somerset childminder from Wraxall, Christine Mann, have been praised in a recent Communication Trust publication. The Communication Trust is a coalition of over 50 not-for-profit organisations which work together to support everyone who works with children and young people in England to support their speech, language and communication.

Their recent briefing paper ‘Overcoming barriers’ presents some of the real-life, innovative solutions around funding, peer-to-peer support and online resources which have helped practitioners overcome barriers to professional development in speech, language and communication. In the report, Christine Mann shares how she used Top up funding to pay for a speech and language therapist to provide some bespoke training for her and her assistants. This has been shared in the Communication Trust publication ‘Overcoming Barriers’.

Nicky Harper, a Clevedon childminder, has featured in the Nursey World series on ‘Managing SEND’ discussing her care for a child with complex needs. If you have a Nursery World subscription, the article can be accessed here.

Thank you for sharing your inclusive practice.

Inclusion Link Programme 2018: Children transferring to primary schools in September 2018

Thank you to all the settings that have returned their completed Link referrals for children transferring to school this year.

Please follow a link to a Reception Intake 2018 form. This is a suggested form for your setting to complete if a child is not eligible for the Inclusion Link Programme and you feel that it would be helpful for the Reception Teacher to visit the early years setting to meet the child and to discuss the child’s transfer into school.

Please note that you must obtain prior written parents’/carers’ permission/consent and you must update this form with your own ‘privacy notice statement’ before use. For further information about what should be included in your privacy notice, visit the Information Commissioner’s Office. Please ensure that parents/carers have read and signed your setting’s privacy notice statement.

Please return this completed form to the receiving school/academy directly.

May 2018 10

Inclusion Supplement

Local area SEND inspections: joint inspections of local area SEND provision

For your information, OFSTED and Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be in our area to carry out the North Somerset local area joint review in the week beginning 14th May. This inspection is to assess the effectiveness of local areas in identifying and meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND and fulfilling the duties set out in the SEND Code of Practice: 0-25 years.

An information leaflet about inspections of local area services for children and young people with SEND can be also accessed on the gov.uk website. This is a recommended read!

The inspection framework and the handbook outlining how the inspections will be carried out are available from the central government gov.uk website.

Thank you, in advance, to all providers that contribute to the inspection.

North Somerset Children’s Centre Speech and Language Therapy Advice Sessions

The dates and details of the advice sessions can be found on the North Somerset Online Directory Local Offer pages.

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May 2018 11

CPD Opportunities

Child Protection Basic Awareness and Refresher TrainingA number of dates have now been published for Child Protection Basic Awareness (3 hour) training for Early Years and Childcare Providers, and the 1.5 hour refresher course (delegates must have previously attended a full 3 hour course in order to attend the refresher).

This training remains free of charge to Early Years and Childcare practitioners.

The dates available are as follows:

3 hr Basic Awareness 19/05/18 Saturday 9:30 – 12:30Castlewood

3 hr Basic Awareness 19/06/18 Tuesday 18:30 – 21:30

If you have any queries about this training or the recommended Child Protection Training for you, then please contact Rhianon Richards on 01275 884214.

CPD CoursesTitle Date Time Venue Link

EYP Network MeetingWednesday 6th June 2018 09:30 – 12:30 The Hive EYP Network

Meeting

GDPR Awareness Thursday 10th May 2018 18.30 – 20.30 The Campus GDPR

Out of School Club Cluster

Monday 14th May 2018 19.00 – 21.00 Castlewood OOS CLuster

GDPR Awareness Thursday 17th May 2018 18.30 – 20.30 Castlewood GDPR

Please keep an eye out for details of the CPD offer for the next academic year which should be available mid-July.

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CPD Opportunities

Springboard trainingSpringboard are running a range of training workshops for the specialist childminder project,

There may be the opportunity for other settings to attend where there are sufficent spaces. Please contact Springboard Clevedon 01275 341113 or email info@springboardweb.org.uk FAO Jo Kingscott to register your interest in attending.

‘Beginners 1 Makaton’ This training will provide a basic understanding of the early Stages of using Makaton. It is a fully certified course and you will be provided with a book containing Makaton signs

Tuesday May 22nd (part 1) and Wednesday 6th June (part 2) 7.30pm - 9.30pm at Springboard, Clevedon £70 per delegate.

‘Introduction to Downs Syndrome’Weds 20th June 7.30pm - 9pm at Springboard, Clevedon £30 per delegate.

‘ Communication Difficulties in Early Years’ Weds 4th July (Part 1) and Weds 11th July (Part 2) 7pm – 9pm , Springboard, Clevedon £45 per delegate.

‘Makaton Refresher’Saturday September 15th 10.00am – 11.30am (participants must have Beginners 1 Makaton cert) Springboard, Clevedon £30 per delegate.

‘Introduction to Autism’Saturday November 3rd 10am - 12am Springboard, Clevedon £30 per delegate

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CPD Opportunities

New Portage Workshop The Portage approach provides positive and effective support to early years

pupils with additional needs. It starts from ‘what the child can do’ (baseline) and includes training in Task Analysis and the use of SMART targets in Individual

Education Plans. Celebrating the child’s success forms a key part of the approach.

It has been very highly valued by those who have undergone the training.

Places can be booked via CPD online or by contacting the Portage Admin Team on 01934 426008 / and 01275 884524 if you do not have access to CPD online.

We advise early booking of this course. Further details will follow once a place has been book

Target Group: Early Years/Nursery staff working with pre-school/early years children with Special Educational Needs. North Somerset Family Support Workers/North Somerset Children’s Centres

When: Tuesday, Wednesday 12th and 13th June 2018 and Thursday 12 July 2018 (half day)

Where: The Hive Business Centre, 6 Beaufighter Road, Weston-super-Mare BS24 8EE

Cost: £180 (including refreshments & a light lunch on the full days and refreshments only on the half day)

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