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Early Years, Childcare, and School Readiness Service (CambsEYC)

News Round-Up

April 2026

Best Start in Life Delivery Plan.

MP letter to sector on safer sleep.

Screen time guidance for under-fives.

Shaping crisis and resilience funding.

Childminding Week (11-17 May).

Safeguarding and child protection.

Order your free printed resources.

Fostering sessions and events.

Best Start in Life Delivery Plan

Cambridgeshire County Council has published its new Best Start in Life Delivery Plan to improve outcomes for children and families, outlining how local services will work together to give children the best possible start in life.

Two adults and two children sitting in a classroom

The plan sets out a shared commitment to improve early years development, reduce inequalities, and make support easier for families to access.

A central feature of the plan is the opening of five Best Start Family Hubs across the county — in Cambourne, Cambridge City, Ely, Huntingdon, and Wisbech. These hubs will provide joined‑up access to health, early years, parenting, and community support.

The plan also strengthens support for home learning, speech and language, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) pathways, perinatal mental health, and infant feeding, with a new digital offer launching in 2027.

Families can read the full Best Start in Life plan and find out more about local support on the council website.

MP letter to sector on safer sleep

Olivia Bailey, Minister for Early Education and Minister for Equalities at the Department for Education (DfE), has written a letter to early years providers. The letter sets out the intention

to amend the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework, to clarify safeguarding requirements for children’s sleeping arrangements.

The amendments will make safer sleep requirements explicit within the EYFS framework. The new framework is expected to come into force from September 2026, subject to parliamentary process, although providers are already expected to be compliant with the requirements.

Minister Bailey has emphasised that providers must ensure children are placed down to sleep safely, in line with NHS safer sleep guidance. This includes placing babies on their backs, in a clear, separate sleep space, with appropriate bedding and regular supervision. The updated wording has been developed with input from The Lullaby Trust, medical experts, and Ofsted.

Further amendments will clarify requirements for childcare on domestic premises and include a link to updated guidance on screen time and online safety.

Read the full MD Letter. Size: 156KB File format: pdf

Screen time guidance for under-fives

The government has published new, evidence-informed baby and toddler screen time guidance to help parents and carers of children under five navigate screen time.

A colourful digital poster from UK Government and NHS titled "A Guide to Screen Time Under 5s" features a cartoon brain character holding a tablet and waving.

Digital screens are now a normal part of family life. The early years are, however, critical for development – 90% of a child’s brain development occurs by age five, making it a critical period for the development of social, emotional, and cognitive skills.

The advice is informed by recommendations from an expert panel and has also been developed with parents. It is designed to provide practical, clear, and straightforward advice to help families make informed choices that support their child’s development during the years that matter most.

To support the promotion of this campaign and the new guidance, a suite of resources is available for download from the Department of Health and Social Care Campaign Resource Centre.

Healthy Start

On Monday, 6 April 2026, Healthy Start payments increased, meaning eligible parents will get a little more money towards the cost of fruit, vegetables, and milk for their children.

Families already in receipt of Healthy Start will automatically receive this additional money on their Healthy Start card every four weeks.

Healthy Start card mascot and other foodstuff cartoon characters.

If you believe a family may be eligible for Health Start but is not claiming, encourage or support them to visit the Healthy Start website for more information on how to get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start).

Shaping crisis and resilience funding

A new Crisis and Resilience Fund has been made available to local authorities in England to support low-income households facing a financial shock and to fund activity that builds individual and community financial resilience.

A person filling out a form on a clipboard with a pen

This funding covers the period from Wednesday, 1 April 2026, to Saturday, 31 March 2029.

The council is seeking feedback from local partners and organisations to understand how this fund can be administered most effectively. The Feedback from schools: Shaping the Crisis and Resilience Fund form has been designed to capture ideas and feedback from those working in schools to help shape the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Please share your insights, expertise and priorities by Thursday, 30 April 2026

SENIF cut-off date, May 2026

Special educational needs inclusion fund (SENIF) is a contribution towards meeting the needs of the child, and the amount is being increased to £7.50 per hour for the financial year 2026-27.

The number of hours of funding received depends on a child’s funding entitlement and the rate awarded.

A teacher and three children engaged in an alphabet learning activity on a classroom floor. Colourful flashcards with uppercase and lowercase letters are spread out, with the teacher holding a card and children actively participating, highlighting an interactive early childhood education setting.

The number of hours of funding received depends on a child’s funding entitlement and the rate awarded.

The next cut-off point for new SENIF requests is Friday, 8 May 2026. Please ensure all new SENIF requests are submitted using the provider portal by this date. Please ensure all parts of the request form are fully completed, and if requesting rate 3, please remember to include a copy of the child’s latest risk assessment. Requests received will be discussed at a SENIF panel meeting in May, ready for funding to commence after the May half-term 2026.

From Friday, 22 May 2026, the provider portal will no longer be available to submit SENIF or Exceptional Needs Funding requests. If you would like to submit a new request after this date, please email it to ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

If you have any questions about SENIF, please contact the team at ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Families Information Service

The Cambridgeshire Families Information Service (FIS) provide information, advice and guidance to families across Cambridgeshire.

Their advice is free, confidential, and impartial.

The FIS manage the Cambridgeshire Childcare Directory and offers brokerage support for families with children and young people with SEND from birth to 25.

They can help with finding childcare, understanding childcare funding options, childcare for children with SEND, and the SEND Local Offer.

For information on childcare and early learning, contact the FIS team: Lisa Watson, Families Information Coordinator, and Tracey-Ann Grant, Childcare Brokerage Adviser - SEND. Email fis@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, telephone 0345 045 1360, or connect with @CambsFIS via Meta socials.

Childminding Week (11-17 May)

Coram PACEY's Magic of Childminding campaign celebrates the vital role childminders play in supporting children, families and communities across England and Wales and encourages more parents to choose childminding as an option for their family.

A child and an adult engaging with a colourful globe in an indoor learning environment, with other children and adults interacting in the background

With spotlights on some incredible childminders and new case studies on the positive impact of childminders in areas such as SEND, family support, caring for babies and many more, we want more families to understand the benefits of choosing a childminder and how childminding settings enrich the lives of families and children.

This is also a love letter to the childminding profession. We want childminders to feel seen, valued and supported by the early years sector and public because without childminders, we would lose the magic of these home-from-home settings that all children and families deserve to experience.

CambsEYC will be promoting the campaign in the run-up to and during Childminding Week across Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Please look out for these social posts and reshare them in your channels.

We appreciate your support in bringing the conversation to the fore and in helping spread the word about the Magic of Chldminding.

Under twos in the outdoors

The month's CambsEYC blog post explores how outdoor environments play a vital role in the development of children under two, offering rich sensory opportunities that cannot be replicated indoors.

For babies and toddlers, being outside supports early physical development as they reach, crawl, pull themselves up, and take first steps on natural, uneven surfaces. The outdoors stimulates curiosity: rustling leaves, changing light, birdsong, and shifting weather all invite children to look, listen, and explore. These early encounters strengthen cognitive connections, supporting early language as adults narrate what the child notices.

Outdoor spaces also promote emotional wellbeing. Fresh air, natural light, and freedom to move at their own pace help young children feel calm and regulated. Secure, responsive adults can use these moments to build warm relationships through shared attention and gentle interactions. With thoughtful planning including safe spaces, simple natural materials, and unhurried time, the outdoors becomes a nurturing extension of the under‑two’s learning world.

Discover more on CambsEYC blogs.

Play sessions for children

Cambridgeshire Child and Family Centres offer regular groups and services which help our youngest children make positive transitions to preschools and reception classes.

Two young children playing with brushes in a large black tray filled with white sand

Stay and play type sessions provide children with opportunities to play alongside and with their peers, interact with new adults, share healthy snacks, listen to and explore stories, practice their mark-making and test out lots of the physical skills needed for getting up, out and about.

Also on offer are a range of workshops on toileting, bedtime routines, and communication to help parents and carers support their children to develop skills that will help them be ready for their next steps in life and to meet with others to share experiences and tips in a friendly environment.

For further information about Child and Family Centre groups, check your local centre’s 'What’s On' publication on Facebook, or email your local centre – Contact details and links are available on the Child and Family Centres | Cambridgeshire County Council website.

Community Outreach Service

The Talking Together in Cambridgeshire (TTiC) Community Outreach Service aims to collaboratively support and develop the skills of parents of children from birth to five years, and those leading community groups for families with children from birth to five years.

TTiC will be visiting early years community groups across Cambridgeshire to chat with parents and carers about simple, effective ways to support their child’s early communication, language, and literacy development. This includes fun, practical activities that promote communication and language skills – and engaging training sessions tailored just for parents and carers.

TTiC will also be providing free training* opportunities for community groups working with families with children from birth to five. This training will build on their existing knowledge and boost their confidence in sharing key messages with families in their communities.

*Available to:

Cambridgeshire early years community groups, supporting families with children from birth to five, that are constituted as charities, community, or voluntary organisations. Support will be prioritised in line with identified target areas.
Cambridgeshire Libraries, family-facing staff.
Cambridgeshire Child and Family Centres, family-facing staff.

To register your interest, please complete the Community Outreach Service: Webinar follow-up - Expression of Interest form.

Children's literacy at home

As part of their ongoing work in this National Year of Reading, the National Literacy Trust (NLT) has recently published Parents support for young childrens literacy at home in 2025.

Size: 5 MB File format: pdf

The report looks at how parents support early learning and literacy at home and how this has changed since 2019. The report is intended for parents and carers of children aged five and under, as well as those interested in understanding and supporting early home-based literacy practices.

Make sure to check the NLT’s Go All In campaign website for resources to support your work with families (0-5).

Preparing for School launch

The Government has launched Preparing for School – part of the wider Best Start in Life campaign – to support parents in preparing their child for starting school this September. The campaign highlights that being prepared is about developing everyday skills, not just having the right uniform.

At the heart of the campaign is the Steps For School Song – a new music video featuring a rap by award-winning teacher-turned-rapper MC Grammar. The video highlights simple, practical steps parents can practice with their child to support their development and build confidence and independence.

We would greatly appreciate your support in sharing the video and the new Preparing for school - Best Start in Life webpage, which brings together helpful guidance and tips, across your channels.

Starting Reception

Starting school is an exciting milestone. To help make the transition into Reception as smooth and positive as possible, the Starting Reception free online resources offer practical guidance for parents and carers.

For early years settings, the resources will support outcomes from the successful early years settings framework:

Inclusive practice: practitioners have high aspirations for all children.
Inclusive practice: settings ensure that all children are provided with opportunities to meet their full potential.

The resources are designed to support parents and carers in preparing their child for school, offering simple activities, helpful advice and clear guidance on the key skills and routines that help children feel confident and ready for their first day.

For example, children being able to use the toilet independently and having healthy routines such as brushing their teeth is an important part of getting ready for starting school. The following Starting Reception guides have been provided:

We encourage you to share the resources with parents and carers.

Safeguarding and child protection

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Learning has published a new series of Talk PANTS videos.

Illustration of colorful children’s underwear hanging on a clothesline with letters on each pair spelling out "TALK PANTS" and a sign below reading "AND HELP KEEP CHILDREN SAFE."

Talk PANTS is an NSPCC campaign to keep children safe from sexual abuse and includes a range of resources to help teachers, schools and early years settings deliver age-appropriate sessions with children.

The new videos are funded by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and include an introduction to what Talk PANTS is. They also feature videos for use with children aged between three- to five-years-old, five- to seven-years-old, and seven- to 11-years-old, as well as children with SEND and additional support needs, aged four- to 11-years-old, to help them understand Talk PANTS.

All resources use age-appropriate language, without mentioning sex and are available via PANTS resources for schools and teachers.

Child Safety Week June 2026

Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) annual community education campaign Child Safety Week takes place from Monday, 1 June 2026 to Sunday, 7 June 2026. This year’s theme is Making Prevention Possible, and CAPT are on a mission to empower families to make simple changes without feeling overwhelmed.

Free Child Safety Week resources are available to download from the CAPT website to help you get involved. The resources include an information pack, parents’ pack, supporters’ logo and poster.

You can get involved by simply sharing CAPT’s important safety advice with families in your setting, local area, or online. Each message shared helps children lead active, healthy lives, safe from serious injury.

Please visit the CAPT website to learn more about Child Safety Week and how you can get involved.

Order your free printed resources

As the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) move towards a digital-only offer, they are taking the opportunity to run down the stocks of free, printed resources currently available on the Campaign Resource Centre.

Black and white heraldic emblem featuring a crowned lion on the left and a unicorn on the right, both standing on hind legs and supporting a central shield with intricate designs.

If there are printed resources you would find useful for your work, now is a great time to place an order. Some items are in limited supply, and the DHSC expect demand to be high over the coming months, so do place an order while stocks are available.

The currently on-stock printed resources available to order include:

Better Health Smoke Free.
Start for Life.
Top Tips for Teeth.
Childhood Nutrition and Obesity.
Every Mind Matters.

You can access all the free resources by signing in or creating an account for the Campaign Resource Centre. From a verified account, you can order items by using the ‘add to basket’ feature next to the resources with physical assets available. If you run into any issues or have any questions, please email partnerships@dhsc.gov.uk.

Fostering sessions and events

Do you want to find out more about fostering? Why not come along to one of our free information sessions?

Photograph of three people walking on a sidewalk beside a street with green bike lanes and trees in the background. One person has their arm around another, suggesting a close relationship, while the third carries a bag, indicating a casual outdoor setting during daylight.

Cambridgeshire County Council holds regular sessions and events, both virtually and face-to-face, where a fostering recruitment officer, a social worker and one of our experienced foster carers will give an informal presentation to explain everything you need to know about fostering.

You will have the opportunity to ask any questions and to talk one-on-one with a member of the team to see if we can help you further.

At our virtual events, we also hold 'private virtual rooms' after the presentation if you would like to talk more about fostering.

Visit Cambridgeshire County Council Fostering Information Session Registration to book your free place on the dates below:

Monday 11 May, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm.
In-person session on Monday, 18 May 2026, from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm at The Lamb Hotel in Ely.
Tuesday 16 June, 12 noon to 1 pm
Wednesday 15 July, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm

Email fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Telephone 0800 052 0078.

Our News

Education Update from Service Director, Sarah Callaghan:

Education Services in Cambridgeshire are undergoing a large-scale redesign, creating the opportunity to join up services to work in a more integrated way to streamline support to schools and settings. It is proposed that four geographical localities in the county will become ‘hubs’ via which services can be effectively delivered, following a ‘team around the school’ and ‘team around the family’ model. The redesign, which affects around 290 staff across Education, including special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), will reflect the principles of Inclusion For All, our agreed framework for enabling all children to thrive, as well as aligning closely with the Education White Paper, published on on Monday, 23 February 2026 ‘Every child achieving and thriving’, and the Government Consultation – ‘SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First’, building additional capacity for SEND caseworkers and Educational Psychologists. Additional funding has been committed to ensure there is additional capacity in areas where the support to children and young people is not good enough currently, to improve the timeliness and quality of support.

Any proposals for change can create uncertainty; we have built in opportunities to ensure all staff have their voices heard. This is a genuine consultation to determine how to improve the experience for children and young people in Cambridgeshire. Feedback from colleagues will be considered before any final decisions are made. The process for consultation is taking place over 45 days; it is fully supported by Cambridgeshire County Council Human Resources (HR) and will include whole service meetings, which have already taken place, team meetings and individual members of staff meeting with HR colleagues. There is also a dedicated inbox for questions and comments, and Frequently Asked Questions. Trade unions have been engaged to support the process. The consultation period closes on Saturday, 25 April 2026, and no decisions will be made until all feedback has been considered.

The proposed redesigned Education Service is being shared with schools. Key features in the structure will allow services to be more responsive to need and will bring services working with the same families together, offering more integrated support.

The proposals aim to respond to the need to create sufficient capacity in the areas we need it most, to improve the experience for children and young people. The redesigned service emphasises SEND support rather than Education, Health, and Care Plans. SEND support will be offered sooner and more effectively, and capacity will be added to case workers and Educational Psychologists, mirroring the national focus on mainstream inclusion.

You can find out more about our Education Service Redesign and National Reforms document for schools. Size: 1,397KB File format: pdf

Share your good news with CambsEYC

Contributions for News Round-Up should be between 150 and 300 words and include a high-resolution image. All photographs must have parental permission to publish for any children shown. The editors reserve the right to edit articles for length and content to meet the audience's needs. Please submit your news items to eycinfo@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.