Having trouble viewing this content? View in browser

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

News Round-Up

 January 2025

Inspectors will visit schools and settings to evaluate the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) experience for children, young people, and their families. They will focus on how well needs are identified, the participation of families in decision-making, timely support, preparation for next steps, and community inclusion. The inspection aims to highlight strengths and areas for improvement, providing recommendations for the local area partnership.

This is an opportunity to highlight our collective efforts and identify further priorities to support all children and young people in Cambridgeshire.

You can inform the inspectors about the help and support that children and young people with SEND receive, by filling in the Area SEND inspection for Cambridgeshire Local Area Partnership survey. The survey will remain open until 9 am on Tuesday, 21 January 2025.

Early Support

If you have a child in Reception (who will be moving into Year 1 in September 2025) that you would like to refer into Early Support, please note the cut-off date for this is Thursday, 1 May 2025. We will be unable to process any Early Support Pathway requests received after this date.

If you have any queries about Early Support, please email ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

SENIF

The next cut-off point for new SENIF requests is Friday, 31 January 2025, 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 meeting in February ready for funding to commence on Monday, 24 February 2025.

The EYPRG supports the new rates, emphasizing the importance of early publication to aid sector planning, maximizing base rates for sustainability, and supporting the inclusion of children with SEND.

The new hourly rates for 2025/26 are as follows:

• Three- and four-year-olds: £5.66 (up from £5.40)
• Two-year-olds: £8.15 (up from £8.00)
• Under twos: £11.00 (up from £10.70)

Additionally, the Early Years Pupil Premium has increased to £1 per hour, and Disability Access Funding is now £938 per year for each eligible child. Despite a smaller increase for two-year-olds, the overall pass-through rate is anticipated to be 97.46%, exceeding the required 96%. This ensures sector sustainability while maintaining essential services. For budget support, please contact earlyyears.service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Eligible applicants can receive £600 if registered with Ofsted, or £1,200 if registered with a childminder agency.

To qualify, you must complete your registration by Monday, 31 March 2025 and apply for the grant within two months of registering. The grant is available only to new childminders who have not been registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency in the past 12 months.

This scheme aims to encourage more individuals to become childminders, ensuring high-quality childcare is accessible to families across the country. For more details and to apply, visit the GOV.UK website.

• Teaching Assistants who have expanded their role to include breakfast club duties and can highlight the benefits of this work.
• Passionate wraparound and breakfast club workers, who can share why they love their role and the positive impact it has on their lives and the children they support.
• Schools that successfully run wraparound programmes can demonstrate the positive impact breakfast clubs have on pupils’ wellbeing, attendance, and family life. This could include showcasing fun activities or a feature from a Teaching Assistant.

To help support early years, childcare, wraparound and Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme providers, we have created a brief survey to gather ideas and learn what support is needed from settings: Early Years, Wraparound and HAF Providers Nutritional Guidance Offer.

The survey should only take a minute or two to complete.

Your responses will help us plan the most effective way of supporting this area of practice.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your responses.

They are particularly interested in experiences with funded childcare for children aged nine months to four years and for two-year-olds from families receiving support like Universal Credit.

If you know a parent or provider willing to participate, please contact jessica.walker@education.gov.uk.

These stories will inspire and encourage other parents to apply for childcare support.

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.

Families receive a preloaded Healthy Start card every four weeks, which can be used to purchase essential nutritious foods and vitamins.

Early years providers can help spread awareness about this valuable resource. Encourage families to activate their cards and check their balance by calling 0300 330 2090.

Together, we can support the health and wellbeing of young children in our community.

It is a wonderful way to get children exploring fantastic food and cooking at home or in an early years setting.

You can order a paperback copy or download a free digital version from the Early Education website.

These resources provide valuable guidance for good oral hygiene in children aged from birth to three, three plus, and pregnant women, addressing the impact of poor dental health.

These tips are part of the Better Health Start for Life campaign, please help raise awareness among the families in your early years settings.

The EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers* allows for the administration of both prescription and non-prescription medication with written consent and appropriate record keeping.

The British Medical Association advises that it is unnecessary to get a prescription solely to satisfy nursery or school requirements.

Providers should update their policies to support the administration of non-prescription medication, helping to reduce pressure on the NHS.

*Size: 494KB File format: pdf

Building a strong connection with your baby during this time helps them feel loved and secure, laying the foundation for their future mental health and happiness.

Looking, listening, and warmly responding to your baby makes a significant difference. Parents can mirror their baby’s reactions, comfort them, play face-to-face, and let them take breaks when needed to build strong connections.

The DHSC’s Better Health Start for Life email programme offers trusted NHS advice tailored to the stage of a mother’s pregnancy or baby’s age to support parents in building a strong bond with their baby. For tips and advice, sign up for Start for Life emails.

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.

Events include the 'Stories from Objects' workshop and the 'Take a Walk, Little Bear' sensory storytelling session. These activities will help children see the importance of their everyday experiences and create new stories with their families.

For more information or to get involved, visit the Festival of Stories website. To book a place at either of the online events, please visit Booking and Reservations for Early Years Workforce Development, Festival of Stories.

Please note, that BookTouch (for children who have low vision) and BookShine (for deaf children) are now distributed by Sensory Support Service staff as part of their work with SEN families.

If you have any questions, contact Bookstart@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

This resource offers information, tools, and services to help practitioners foster positive interactions with children.

Additionally, CambsEYC offers free universal training on understanding children's behaviours and interactions. This training is open to all early years practitioners and aims to develop a therapeutic approach to supporting positive interactions.

For more information, visit the Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Practice webpage or contact your Early Years Adviser.

The conference, titled 'Green Beginnings, Sustainable Futures' will feature a range of early years experts and professionals discussing key topics. This event is open to all early years settings, schools, childminders, and professionals.

Do not miss this exciting opportunity to gain experience and network with others in the field. Register now on Eventbrite.

Upcoming events include the 'Environmental Sustainability Conference' on Tuesday, 4 March 2025, and the 'Elements of an Inspiring Baby Room' workshop on Tuesday, 11 March 2025. Both events are free to attend, with lunch and refreshments provided.

The Stronger Practice Hubs offer bespoke support and evidence-informed training opportunities to enhance early years practice. If you are a childminder, working in a PVI or school/maintained nursery class and would like more information and to join the network, please follow the East of England EY Stronger Practice Hub - Sign up link to a Mailchimp form to get in touch.  Alternatively, you can email EastofEnglandEYSPH@highfield.suffolk.sch.uk or telephone 01473 742 534.

This annual event invites nature lovers to spend an hour watching and recording the birds in their gardens, balconies, or local parks. Your participation helps build a picture of how garden birds are faring across the UK.

Last year, over 600,000 people took part, counting 10 million birds. House Sparrows, Blue Tits, and Starlings were among the most spotted species. However, the data also highlighted significant declines in some bird populations, making your contribution more important than ever.

To join, simply sign up on the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch website, get your free guide, and stock up on bird food and feeders. Every bird you count provides valuable insights into the health of our feathered friends.

Let us make this year's Birdwatch the biggest yet.

Your News

Closure of the Teach in Cambs website.

The Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) Schools Recruitment Team have had to make the difficult decision to close the Teach in Cambs website. Since the site was created the DfE’s Teaching Vacancies Service website has been launched nationally, allowing all state-funded schools and trusts in England to list job vacancies for free.

The Schools Recruitment Team feel that this has reduced the need for our local, free virtual vacancy board facility, but would like to apologise to any schools currently advertising vacancies on the site’s virtual vacancy board.

Information currently hosted on the Teach in Cambs website about Cambridgeshire’s Teacher Internship Programme and the Level 6 Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship can now be found on the Cambridgeshire Maintained Schools Apprenticeship Guidance, and a wealth of information about training to be a teacher is available at Get Into Teaching GOV.UK.

CCC would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that all Cambridgeshire maintained schools are free to advertise Education Support Jobs, including Teaching Assistants, Lunchtime Supervisors, etc. on the Jobs and careers with Cambridgeshire County Council vacancy advertising platform, by submitting a Maintained School Recruitment Form.

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.

Stay connected with CambsEYC online

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

New Shire Hall, Alconbury, PE28 4YE