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

News Round-Up

 November 2024

They manage the Cambridgeshire Childcare Directory and offer one-to-one support for families with children and young people from birth to 25.

Their advice is free, confidential, and impartial.

The FIS can help with finding childcare, understanding childcare funding options, childcare for children with special educational needs and disabilities (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 find them on Facebook - please like, follow and share the CambsFIS page.

Key highlights include increased funding for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) programs, aimed at providing better support and resources for children with additional needs.

The budget also introduces new measures for childcare, making it more affordable and accessible for families. Additionally, private schools will now be subject to VAT, which is expected to generate additional revenue for public education.

These changes reflect the government’s commitment to improving educational outcomes and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all students.

The Education Hub blog post, 'What does the Budget 2024 mean for education?' provides further details .

A significant addition is the introduction of the 'childminders without domestic premises' category, expanding the scope for childminders to operate in non-domestic settings. This change aims to provide greater flexibility and support for childminders, enhancing the availability of childcare options for families.

Ofsted has also opened registrations for this new type of childcare provider, and updated all other guidance impacted by this, including guidance on childcare on domestic premises to allow for increasing to five people the maximum number of people providing childcare on domestic premises provision.

For more details, visit the EYFS statutory framework webpage on GOV.UK.

This initiative is part of the Breakfast Clubs Universal Offer, aimed at ensuring all children have access to a nutritious start to their day.

Providers interested in participating are encouraged to complete the Breakfast Clubs Universal Offer Early Market Engagement Interest Form to learn more about upcoming opportunities.

This move is expected to enhance the availability of breakfast provision across schools, supporting children’s health and learning outcomes. By engaging a diverse range of providers, the DfE aims to create a robust network of Breakfast Clubs that cater to the needs of all students.

The event is a unique opportunity to gain insights directly from the Minister and to ask questions about policies and initiatives that impact the sector. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a conversation with the Minister, discussing key issues, recent developments, and plans for early education. 

To participate, register for the event on Eventbrite.

As is already the case, these nurseries can be school-run or delivered by private and voluntary providers or childminders on the school’s site. They can also cater for any early years age group, providing there is local demand. 

The cut-off point for applications is Thursday, 19 December 2024. Further information and guidance about how to apply can be found on the Education Hub blog post 'Nurseries in schools: everything you need to know.'

Please note, the application process makes clear that any school bid needs Local Authority (LA) support. If you are considering applying for funding and have not yet contacted the LA, please email 

earlyyears.service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk in the first instance for specialists who can help you.

For support with Early Years Expansion visit the CambsEYC dedicated webpage, on the Cambridgeshire Learn Together website.

This is a mandatory supplement to support children in deprived areas to take up their early years funding. CambsEYC are considering updating the way this is calculated and would like to ask your views on how it should be calculated in the future.

Please could you take a few minutes to fill in a short questionnaire:

• Settings – Deprivation Supplement Consultation.
• Childminders – Deprivation Supplement Consultation.

Your views will be collated and shared with the EYPRG. Any decisions around changes will be communicated in a timely manner.

The EYPRG are all volunteers and meets three to six times a year to review changes to the local funding formula for early years. It also advises on, and contributes to, consultation processes. It helps develop guidance on funding issues. It advises on increasing the take up of early years funded places. To minimise time commitment, meetings are held online.

The group appoint their own sector members by democratic process. There is currently a vacancy for a member to represent PVI preschools in Cambridgeshire. If you would like to be nominated for this key opportunity to represent the sector, please contact earlyyears.service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

The CECQC are a NCFE/CACHE accredited Centre with ‘Excellent’ outcomes delivering entry level to level 3 Early Years Qualifications which are full and recognised licences to practice.

The CECQC provide two bespoke career pathways:

1. For people considering early childhood careers from 19 years plus. 
2. For people already working in the early years sector to develop their skills and knowledge.

For more information on qualifications and training dates, please visit cecqc.co.uk, email eycqualifications@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, or telephone 01223 706 349.

The festival will also highlight how 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five can be used, by parents and carers across Cambridgeshire, to create new stories based on everyday activities, help build memories and bring families together.

Ahead of the festival, on Tuesday, 11 February 2025, those working with families of children from birth to five, are invited to join a ‘Stories from Objects’ workshop with Nicola Wallis of The Fitzwilliam Museum to learn how everyday objects can be used as a tool to tell stories.

More information will be added to Festival of Stories website over the coming months. In the meantime, if you have any questions. Please contact helen.wootton@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

These sessions are to run exclusively across Cambridgeshire (not including Peterborough) between Wednesday, 19 February 2025 and Friday, 21 February 2025.

Community groups interested in hosting funded storytelling sessions are expected to ensure that their venue is suitable, the event advertised, and support is provided for other areas of the event, as required.

Feedback forms will also need to be collected from parents and staff and shared with TTiC upon completion of the event.

If you would like to host a funded storyteller as part of the Festival of Stories, the closing date for applications to be received is Monday, 2 December 2024. Applicants will be advised whether their application has been successful by Monday, 16 December 2024.

For more information about this opportunity and the Festival of Stories see the website www.bit.ly/Festivalofstories.

The LoveReading4Kids Funding for Schools Scheme aims to help schools to provide children with a range of non-curriculum books to improve their reading standards, particularly amongst children experiencing disadvantage or underrepresentation.

Areas for consideration include schools with income deprivation or cultural deprivation, FSM, IDACI, literacy levels, and schools looking to improve standards.

The grants awarded are issued as credit to be spent on  lovereading.co.uk or lovereading4kids.co.uk and should be spent within six months of being awarded.

Applications can be submitted at any time, with decisions taking up to three months. Please note, PTAs are not eligible to apply, the application needs to come directly from the school. 

n receipt of SENIF, please look out for a SENIF review Microsoft Form which will be sent out to you by email at the end of November 2024.

In Cambridgeshire, early years and childcare providers who are registered to take early years funding can apply for SENIF for children who are on the Early Support Pathway/known to Sensory Support Services and require provision more than that which is ordinarily available.

The next cut-off point for new SENIF requests is Friday, 6 December 2024, please ensure new SENIF requests are submitted using the provider portal by this date. If requesting rate three, please remember to include a copy of the child’s latest risk assessment. Requests received will be discussed at a SENIF panel in December 2024 ready for funding to commence in January 2025.

For children who are already in receipt of SENIF, please look out for a SENIF review Microsoft Form which will be sent out to you by email at the end of November 2024.

• Developmental information in the context of the EYFS – This could be in the form of a copy of the child’s latest EYFS summative assessment and/or if in use a copy of the Cambridgeshire early years developmental journal (previously known as the PDJ). If submitting the developmental journal, please also include the completed developmental profile summary page.
• Targeted observations to illustrate concerns identified.
• Individual risk assessment/reduction plan you have in place, or if in place any enhanced support strategies you are using to support positive interactions.
• Assess, Plan, Do, Review documentation to date – Individual Child Plans, current targets, and any related items.

ENCo Surgeries provide an opportunity to discuss any queries you may have and get tailored support for your provision. 30-minute slots are available via Microsoft Teams, and can be booked through booking and reservations for Early Years Workforce Development, Equalities and Inclusion – Please provide a brief summary of the discussion focus when booking.

There are still spaces available for the next ENCo Surgery, which takes place on Wednesday, 27 November 2024. So, why not take this chance to enhance your EDI practices and ensure your provision is inclusive and supportive for all.

1. Supporting children's mental health and wellbeing in the early years* provides practical recommendations to help support young children’s mental health, drawn from the latest research. *Size: 5.0MB File format: pdf
2. Improving early education through high-quality interactions focuses on boosting children’s thinking and learning through meaningful interactions like scaffolding, shared attention, and back-and-forth conversations.

The EEF early years evidence and resources are designed to give staff working in all types of early years settings practical guidance and support on key areas for teaching and learning. They cover a wider variety of topics to help you make meaningful improvements within your provision and support great learning and development opportunities for two-to-five-year-olds.

Every year, thousands of schools, organisations and communities get involved to share important road safety messages, remember people affected by road death and injury, and raise funds to help Brake care for more road victims and campaign for safe roads for everyone.

You can get involved by providing an opportunity to introduce key road safety concepts in a fun and engaging way, and reinforcing simple practices like holding hands while crossing the street and using pedestrian crossings – these lessons can make a big difference for young children.

To help ensure our children learn these vital safety skills early on, the charity offers free support, tools and resources for communities, schools and businesses. Visit the Brake website for more information.

This informative vodcast discusses a series of best practice questions with Alex Robinson (Early Years Policy Advisor – DfE) and Ellen Lithgow (Public Health Engagement Manager – The Lullaby Trust), sharing up-to-date guidance for early years educators on creating safe sleep environments for children aged from birth to five in their settings.

The vodcast also explores essential topics such as sleeping arrangements and positions guidelines, how to keep a baby’s temperature at a safe and comfortable level, smoking risks, and more information about saving lives.

The Lullaby Trust have provided additional resources to support families:

• Poster for Childcare Providers Size: 122KB File format: pdf
• Safer Sleep for Babies – A Guide for Professionals Size: 1,075KB File format: pdf

The film features a couple of time-hops, telling the stories of two people, Will and Zara (now adults) that were fostered as children by Mike and his wife. The film also shows the key role birth children play as part of a fostering household.

‘Everything’ was developed with foster carers and people that have care experience, providing superb insights into the reality of fostering. It is the seventh film produced by a growing partnership of councils and children’s trusts to promote local authority fostering. The ‘Everything’ project is the largest collaboration yet, with participants from Cumbria to Devon and Lancashire to Essex.

To find out more about fostering visit the Fostering & Adoption webpage, and follow the Cambridgeshire County Council Fostering Service on Facebook @CCCFosteringService and/or Instagram @CambsFostering.

You can also email fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, telephone 01480 372 5360, or text FOSTERING to 60777.to make an enquiry.

The campaign focuses on preventing winter illnesses, coping with the cost of living, and staying safe during the colder months. It aims to provide practical help and guidance to help residents navigate the issues that face so many people at this time of year. 

Throughout the Holidays, CambsEYC will be highlighting free and low-cost activities linked to 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five to support parents and carers in helping their child learn and develop over the festive period.

For more information about the campaign watch the Cllr Sanderson, Independent Group Leader and Chair of the Communities - #BeWinterWise launch video on YouTube, and make sure to look out for #BeWinterWise on social media and please reshare the messages among your networks.

Your News

Cambridge Kids Club is thrilled to announce that Adele, Senior Playleader at their Histon settings has been honoured with the prestigious ‘Manager of the Year’ award for 2024.

The award recognises individuals who provide exceptional leadership and support to their clubs, balancing the needs of children, parents, staff, and the wider community.

Over the past year, Adele stepped up to lead the club during a period of rapid change, doubling both staff and child attendance while maintaining high standards of care. They navigated the club’s expansion after the sudden closure of another local provider, ensuring a smooth transition for new families. Adele’s leadership and creativity, particularly in reorganising play spaces and fostering team development, have made a significant impact on the entire community.

Adele's commitment to safeguarding and child well-being, combined with their ability to empower her team, set them apart as a leader who genuinely cares about delivering the best outcomes for all.

Cambridge Kids Club are proud to celebrate Adele’s well-deserved recognition as 'Manager of the Year' and thank them for their ongoing dedication to the club and the local families they serve.

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

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