The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently undertaking a market study into early years education and childcare services in England for children aged birth to four years, including childminders, nurseries, and school-based settings. As part of this work, a small number of childcare providers within the local authority area have been selected at random to receive a formal request for information.

The CMA is seeking to understand the financial position of different types of childcare providers and the impact of changes to government funding arrangements. The information gathered will help inform the CMA's assessment of whether the childcare market is functioning effectively and identify any areas where improvements may be needed. Providers have been selected using contact details held on Ofsted's Early Years Register and the Get Information About Schools database, and the CMA has made clear that selection does not indicate any concerns about an individual provider.

The request for information is being made under Section 174 of the Enterprise Act 2002 and is therefore a statutory, legally binding requirement. The CMA has also offered support to providers through telephone calls and Microsoft Teams meetings and has provided a dedicated contact email ChildcareMS@cma.gov.uk, for any queries or assistance.

Special educational needs inclusion funding (SENIF)

The next cut-off point for new SENIF requests is Friday, 4 December 2026. Please submit all new SENIF requests by this date.

Please ensure you complete all parts of the request form, and if requesting rate 3, include a

copy of the child’s latest risk assessment. We will discuss received requests at a SENIF panel meeting in December, so funding can commence in January.

For children already in receipt of SENIF, or exceptional needs funding (ENF), review forms will be sent out to you by email in late November so that you can tell us what funding is required for the spring funding period 2027. The cut-off date for the review forms will be Friday, 4 December 2026.

SENIF and ENF requests must be submitted by email to ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Please contact us if you have any queries.

Updated school-age childcare allergy safety guidance

The Department for Education (DfE) have updated the Delivering school-age childcare provision: non-statutory guidance for schools and trusts, to strengthen the information on allergy safety in before- and after-school childcare.

The updated Food and Nutrition section makes clear that schools’ arrangements for supporting pupils with allergies apply to school-age childcare, including provision delivered by an external provider. Schools should ensure staff delivering food provision are included in allergy awareness training, are familiar with the school’s allergy safety policy, understand how to recognise and respond to allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, and have access to appropriate medical equipment.

Should you require further support, please contact the EarlyYears.Service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Volunteer guidance for childcare settings

From Tuesday, 1 September 2026, volunteers carrying out regulated activity with children must have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with children's barred list information, even if they are supervised.

This change applies across early years and childcare provision, including holiday clubs and wraparound care.

Providers should review their arrangements for volunteers and ensure anyone undertaking regulated activity is appropriately checked. It is an offence for a barred person to engage in regulated activity, or for someone to permit them to do so.

Occasional volunteers

Parents or carers who help occasionally, for example at fundraising events or school trips, are not affected by this change. The requirement applies to volunteers who work with children frequently, including:

More than three days in 30 days, or
Overnight between 2 am and 6 am.

Volunteers applying for an Enhanced DBS check should consider joining the DBS Update Service, which is free for volunteers and allows checks to be kept up to date.

When recruiting volunteers, settings should follow safer recruitment practices, including clear role descriptions, risk assessments, induction arrangements and appropriate safeguarding checks.

Banned breed dog guidance

Keeping children safe around banned-breed dogs in the home - new government guidance from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

From Sunday, 1 November 2026, owners of banned breed dogs must ensure that any child under 12 is not left in close contact with their dog in a private place, such as a home or garden, without appropriate adult supervision.

The above guidance provides information to help owners of banned breed dogs understand the new legal requirement relating to children under 12 and appropriate adult supervision.

It also includes examples of steps all dog owners may wish to consider to reduce the risk of unsupervised contact between children and dogs in the home.

Early Support

The Early Support Pathway supports children from birth to the end of Reception who have, or may have, a disability or significant additional needs and require specialist support from education, health, and care services.

If providers or schools are unsure whether a referral is appropriate, they can acess

Photograph shows hands of people across different ages and skin tones layered together outdoors against blurred green grass. Composition conveys unity, community, intergenerational connection, and mutual support.

special educational needs and disability (SEND) surgeries to discuss concerns and seek advice at booking and reservations for Early Years Childcare and School Readiness Service. Parental consent is not required, as no personal information is shared. However, in the interests of transparency, we encourage settings and schools to keep parents informed about any advice being sought.

Cambridgeshire now has four Early Support Advisers who triage referrals and help families and professionals access appropriate advice and support. Advisers can discuss children who have been referred to the pathway and guide referrals that have been accepted or declined.

For further information or to contact your Early Support Adviser, please email early.support@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Best Start Family Hubs

Five new Best Start Family Hubs have opened in Cambourne, Cambridge, Ely, Huntingdon, and Wisbech, marking an important milestone in delivering the Best Start in Life programme across Cambridgeshire.

The hubs replace the existing Child and Family Centres in these locations and continue to provide support for expectant parents, babies and young children from pregnancy to age five.

Photograph showing a circular purple sign identifying Best Start Family Hub Cambourne, funded by UK Government.

Services include Stay and Play sessions, health advice, infant feeding support, early learning opportunities and parenting guidance.

Over time, support will expand to include families with children and young people up to age 19, or up to age 25 for those with SEND. Existing Child and Family Centres across the county will become Best Start network sites, ensuring families can continue to access support in their local communities.

Best Start Family Hubs are free to use and bring a range of services together, making it easier for families to access joined-up support, advice and guidance when they need it.

Please help raise awareness of the new offer and signpost families who may benefit.

Find out more at Best Start in Life | Cambridgeshire County Council.

Family Help pilot

The Family Help and Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPT) pilot went live on Monday, 5 October 2026. The pilot aims to test, evidence and embed the new Family Help model and aspects of the MACPT within Cambridgeshire’s Children’s Services, using teams in the East of England to trial this.

Photograph shows a person kneeling outdoors, embracing two young children among evergreen trees. Children wear winter hats and coats, while the adult wears a red knit hat and mustard sweater, creating a warm family moment in a forest setting.

What will be trialled during the pilot:

The introduction of Family Help Lead Practitioner (FHLP) ways of working.
The Lead Child Protection Practitioner (LCPP) role and aspects of the MACPT.

A Family Help Pilot Guidance Manual has been developed to support delivery of the pilot. The manual provides information on the pilot's structure, outlines key practice changes, and explains the new roles introduced as part of the pilot. It also includes useful links to existing practice resources and guidance to support practitioners throughout implementation.

Best Start in Life Inclusion Practitioners

Best Start in Life Inclusion Practitioners (BSIP) are now in post and form part of the Early Years SEND Team. Based within Best Start Family Hubs, BSIP provide advice, guidance, and support to families of children with emerging additional needs or identified SEND.

Working closely with colleagues across the Early Years SEND Team and Family Hubs, BSIPs help families access the right support at the right time. They can offer early intervention, signposting, and practical support to improve outcomes for children and their families.

Further information about the BSIP role, referral routes, and how practitioners can work with the team will be shared as it becomes available.

Christmas HAF programme

The Cambridgeshire Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme runs from Monday, 21 December 2026 to Thursday, 31 December 2026.

Colourful promotional graphic for “Cambridgeshire Holiday Activities & Food Programme.” Large yellow and teal lettering sits beside paintbrush, pencil, carrot, shuttlecock, and other activity-themed illustrations.

Pupils in receipt of Targeted Free School Meals (FSM) are automatically eligible. Families experiencing financial hardship may also be eligible for discretionary funding through a referral from your school or another professional.

Eligible children can access either a registered holiday scheme or a family experience for up to 16 funded hours, including a nutritious meal and a wide range of fun and enriching activities.

Eligibility vouchers will be issued to parents and carers of children receiving Targeted FSM on Monday, 9 November 2026, by email or text. Schools will be emailed a link to apply for discretionary funding by Monday, 9 November 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact the HAF Team at HAF@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Fulbourn childcare opportunity

Fulbourn Parish Council and Morris Homes are working together to develop a new community centre on the former Ida Darwin Hospital site in Fulbourn. Cambridgeshire County Council is supporting the project as the building will include space suitable for early years and childcare provision.

Fulbourn Parish Council village sign, featuring, decorative foliage, and architectural motifs in detailed black-and-white linework.

We are exploring opportunities for an early years provider to use the space, with provision expected to open in autumn 2027. The accommodation includes a main room of approximately 74 m² and 97 m² of indoor space in total, including three children's toilets. The setting could accommodate up to 26 children and operate between 8 am and 6 pm. Facilities will include a kitchen, toilets, storage and an enclosed outdoor area.

Resources and furnishings will not be provided but may be stored on site. Depending on operating hours, some equipment may need to be packed away to allow for other bookings. As this is a new provision, TUPE will not apply.

To express interest, please contact PlacePlanningReferrals0-19@cambridgeshire.gov.uk by Thursday, 12 November 2026. Further information, including rental details, will then be provided.

New adoption campaign

A new adoption recruitment campaign, Every Day is Everything, has launched to help find loving, permanent homes for children waiting to be adopted across the UK.

Supported locally by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Adoption Service, the campaign highlights the importance of finding families for children waiting to be adopted and challenges common myths about adoption. Its message is simple: there is no such thing as a "perfect" adopter. What children need most is love, commitment and stability.

Currently, 35 children across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are waiting to be adopted, including sibling groups, who often face longer waits to find a suitable family.

Colleagues are encouraged to help raise awareness by sharing information with friends, family and their local communities.

Anyone interested in finding out more can email adoptionenquiries@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, call 0300 123 1093 or visit cpadoption.co.uk.

You can also watch the Every Day is Everything campaign video. The campaign highlights that every day matters for children waiting for a permanent family and encourages more people to consider adoption.

Aiming High Early Years Stronger Practice Hub

The Aiming High Early Years Stronger Practice Hub provides support for early years practitioners and childminders across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Central Bedfordshire. Support includes professional development, resources, practical guidance and opportunities for tailored support.

Childlike hand-drawn cartoon drawing shows a smiling figure with round head, oval body, stick arms, legs, and uneven feet. Bright green tilted rectangle forms background, while black outlines, facial features, and simple limb details create playful artwork.

The Hub aims to elevate childcare standards by connecting local providers with evidence-based practices and expert mentorship. Attendees of the upcoming November sessions will gain valuable insights into funded training programmes, peer-to-peer networking circles, and bespoke advice tailored to individual setting needs.

Whether you operate a large nursery or run an independent childminding business, these briefings will clarify how to access free support structures designed to improve outcomes for young children.

By partnering with local authorities, the network ensures that all guidance aligns with current regulatory frameworks, helping practitioners confidently navigate modern early years challenges.

Online briefing sessions are being held from Tuesday, November 2026 to Thursday, 5 November 2026 for anyone who would like to find out more.

For further information, contact AimingHighEYSPH@caverstede.peterborough.sch.uk.

Talking Tennis: enhancing high-quality adult-child interactions

Talking Together in Cambridgeshire is offering a two-part interactive course that focuses on how we can become increasingly responsive to young children's needs in our interactions with them to support their language acquisition:

Graphic title card promoting a community conversation initiative called “Talking Together in Cambridgeshire.” Three overlapping speech bubbles display orange, magenta, and purple text on a dark blue rounded background.

Monday, 19 October 2026, and Monday, 2 November 2026, from 4.15 pm to 6.15 pm at Oasis Child and Family Centre, Wisbech, and online via Microsoft Teams.
Monday, 8 February 2027, and Monday, 22 February 2027, from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm at The Fields Child and Family Centre, Cambridge, and online via Microsoft Teams.

The aims of this course will support practitioners to:

Explore why high-quality interactions matter, including the evidence behind responsive, back-and-forth “serve and return” exchanges and their impact on children’s communication and language development.
Reflect on your own interaction style and how it influences children’s engagement, confidence and participation.
Learn about interaction strategies used in initiatives such as ShREC, supporting consistency with wider Cambridgeshire practice.
Consider how to adapt strategies for different ages and stages, ensuring relevance for learners from birth to five, including Reception-aged children.
Identify ways to embed interaction-rich practice across daily routines, play, and curriculum activities.

This course is aimed at family-facing early years practitioners who work with children from birth to five, across early years settings and schools, including Reception classes, childminders, and community groups.

To learn more about this course and book a place, please view the Cambridgeshire Learn Together Professional Development Programme, Communication, language, and literacy.

Embracing the outdoors

CambsEYC are offering a new course for all early years practitioners to look at the benefits of outdoor play for adults and children on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, from 9 am to 12 pm, at Milton Country Park, Cambridge CB24 6AZ.

The aims of this session are to:

Photograph of a potted plant with green, palmate leaves showing vivid red-orange edges and tips. Close-up view highlights leaf coloration and textured foliage against a blurred garden background.

Review evidence, research and knowledge on the outdoor world, specifically in the early years.
Join us to gain new skills and ideas to use with all children in the early years.
Develop a fondness for being outdoors for practitioners and children.

Please note that as this session will be outdoors, suitable footwear and clothing are strongly recommended.

To book a place, please visit booking and reservations for Early Years Childcare and School Readiness Service, Forest School.

To learn more about this course and further training opportunities, please view the Professional development programme on the Learn Together Cambridgeshire website.

Development of attention and its role in communication, language, and self-regulation

Talking Together in Cambridgeshire is offering a two-hour online course that provides early years practitioners with a practical, evidence-based introduction to how children’s attention develops and why it matters for communication, language, and self-regulation:

Monday, 16 November 2026, from 4.15 pm to 6.15 pm online via Microsoft Teams.
Monday, 7 December 2026, from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm online via Microsoft Teams.

The training will explore how environmental factors, adult interactions, and emotional regulation influence children’s ability to focus and engage.

The aims of this course will support practitioners to:

Understand how young children’s attention systems develop.
Explore connections between attention, communication, language, and regulation.
Identify key environmental and interactional influences on attention.
Learn practical, evidence-informed strategies that support sustained attention and co-regulation in early years.

This course is aimed at family-facing early years practitioners who work with children from birth to five, across early years settings and schools, including Reception classes, childminders, and community groups.

To learn more about this course and book a place, please view the Cambridgeshire Learn Together Professional Development Programme, Communication, language, and literacy.

Enhancing your home learning offer to support children's Best Start

Explore our Supporting home learning webpages to access a range of materials to develop your home learning offer for families:

Photograph showing a child in a colourful plaid shirt and jeans pulling on a white sock on to their foot on a white wooden floor. A second white sock lies nearby.

50 Things to Do – free resources to share with families, showcasing low- or no-cost activities and events across Cambridgeshire to support children’s holistic development.
Learn more about what we mean by home learning and how you can strengthen your offer by exploring the Supporting home learning webpage or watching the short webinar, Home Learning Offer Sep 26.
Explore the Starting Reception webpages, with guidance and resources for practitioners to support families in the four key areas of skills for starting reception:

Growing Independence.
Building Relationships and communicating.
Physical development.
Healthy routines.

Peep Learning Together Programme (LTP) – funded course with a £300 bursary to upskill family-facing partners to strengthen families' home learning environments in five key areas linked to the early years foundation stage (EYFS). Watch an overview of the Peep LTP in Cambridgeshire.

Tummy time

With safer sleep guidance for babies becoming statutory in September 2026, parents and educators may be less likely to place babies on their fronts, and there is increasing debate about doing so before babies can move into the position independently.

Baby playing with colourful toys on a blue mat.

However, when babies are awake and closely supervised, tummy time remains an important way to support physical development. It helps strengthen the neck, back, shoulders and arms, building the foundations for rolling, sitting and crawling. Evidence also suggests it may reduce delays in movement skills, head flattening and later coordination difficulties. 

Tummy time should begin gradually, starting with just one or two minutes several times a day and increasing as babies become more comfortable. For newborns, tummy time on an adult’s chest or shoulder can feel reassuring and encourage head lifting. From one to two months, short floor sessions on a firm, safe surface can be introduced. Making tummy time interactive through talking, singing, eye contact, toys and praise helps keep babies engaged and motivated. Always supervise closely and stop if a baby becomes tired or distressed. 

Read more about tummy time, why it matters and how to make it enjoyable on CambsEYC blogs.

BBC Children in Need

In a time when so many families and children need support, BBC Children in Need is incredibly grateful to early years providers and settings for the efforts they make to raise money for BBC Children in Need.

Thanks to the continued support of all the incredible supporters, BBC Children in Need is currently able to support over 1,400 projects, and in the last year has supported 363,000 children and young people.

As this year is the National Year of Reading, we are encouraged to explore the joy of books, and nurseries and pre-schools are being challenged to take on the CBeebies Big Read challenge. To get involved and discover more fundraising activities and resources, visit the website.

BBC Children in Need is back on Friday, 13 November 2026.

Together, we can make a real difference to young lives in the UK.

Baby Week 2026

Baby Week aims to make the UK the best place to grow up by celebrating the services that support families and promoting the best start in life for every baby and young child.

Colourful anniversary graphic celebrates “Baby Week” with a large “10 years” milestone. Overlapping teal, orange, green, purple, and pink circles feature bold lettering, abstract shapes, and “Celebrating” text against a grey checkerboard background.

Launched in Leeds in 2016, Baby Week now takes place in 24 localities across the UK, with partner cities and counties going one step further to bring sectors together, reduce barriers to access and promote the best start.

This year’s theme, Chat, Play, Read with Me: Together We Build the Best Start, shines a light on the simple, everyday interactions that help babies and young children learn, communicate and thrive.

To help you make the most of Baby Week and build understanding of why the earliest years matter, explore the Cambridgeshire - Baby Week 2026 programme and help spread the message that #LittleMomentsMatter.

Baby Week takes place from Saturday, 14 November 2026 to Friday, 20 November 2026

Celebrating excellence in early years education

Cambridgeshire Early Childhood Qualifications Centre (CECQC) highlights another successful external quality assurance review, showcasing the centre's continued commitment to delivering high-quality early years education and training. The review confirmed that assessment and quality assurance practices are robust, learner-focused, and fully meet awarding organisation requirements, with no actions required following the visit.

Highlights from the review

Outstanding quality assurance

Assessment and internal quality assurance practices were recognised as being consistently effective and reliable.
Assessment decisions sampled were confirmed as accurate and in line with qualification standards.
No actions or remedial activity were required following the review.

Excellent learner-centred practice

Learners benefit from a wide range of assessment methods that support different learning styles and needs.
Assessors were praised for providing clear, constructive, and encouraging feedback that supports learner progression and achievement.
Evidence demonstrated strong links between theory and professional practice within early years settings.

Strong team collaboration

Effective communication, standardisation activities, and continual professional development were highlighted as key strengths.
Staff demonstrated a proactive approach to maintaining quality and supporting continuous improvement.
Internal quality assurance feedback was recognised for being accurate, developmental, and supportive of assessor growth.

Positive Impact on Learning

Learner work showcased creativity, reflective practice, and professional understanding.
Assessors were commended for nurturing critical thinking and helping learners develop confidence in their professional skills.
The overall approach was recognised as empowering learners to grow, succeed, and achieve their qualifications.

A reason to celebrate

This successful outcome reflects the dedication, professionalism, and hard work of everyone involved in delivering and supporting early years qualifications. The review recognised a culture of continuous improvement, strong educational practice, and a shared commitment to enabling learners to thrive. Achieving a review with no actions required is a significant accomplishment and a testament to the high standards maintained across the provision.

Start your early years journey with us

If you are considering a career in early years education and childcare, we'd love to hear from you. We offer a range of qualifications designed to support learners at different stages of their professional journey, whether you are just getting started or looking to develop your skills further.

Our current programmes include:

These qualifications provide learners with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to progress within the early years sector and make a positive impact on children's learning and development.

Interested in finding out more? Get in touch with our team today and take the first step towards a rewarding career in early years education.

Website: cecqc.co.uk

Email: eycqualifications@cambridgeshire.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:

Thursday, 15 October, 12 noon to 1 pm.
Monday, 16 November, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm.
Wednesday, 9 December, 12 noon to 1 pm.

Email fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Telephone 0800 052 0078.

Share your good news with CambsEYC

Contributions for News Round-Up should be approximately 300 words and include a high-resolution image. In line with current safeguarding guidance, please do not submit face-on images of children or young people for publication. Suitable alternatives include images of activities, children's hands, artwork, resources and learning environments. Images must have the appropriate permissions in place where children are featured. 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.

Stay connected with CambsEYC online

Manage your subscriptions

Unsubscribe from all future emails

This email was sent to eycinfo@cambridgeshire.gov.uk using Microsoft Dynamics on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council.

New Shire Hall, Alconbury, PE28 4YE