The NHS offers the flu vaccine each autumn or early winter to protect children from flu, which can lead to serious complications like pneumonia. Vaccinating children also helps protect vulnerable groups such as babies, pregnant people, and older adults.

It is recommended for:

Children aged two to three years, on 31 August 2025.

School-aged children, Reception to Year 11.

Children aged six months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions.

Most children receive the vaccine as a nasal spray, with an injection available if needed.

Vaccinations in pregnancy - NHS
Pregnancy weakens immunity, increasing the risk of infections like flu and complications such as pneumonia. Recommended vaccines include:

Flu vaccine – Safe at any stage, reduces risk of severe illness.

Whooping cough vaccine – Ideally, between 16 and 32 weeks, passes protective antibodies to your baby.

RSV vaccine – Offered from 28 weeks, helps protect babies from severe respiratory infections for six months after birth.

Live vaccines, such as MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) or yellow fever, are generally avoided – always consult your midwife or GP.

Please encourage your families to book as soon as they are eligible, rather than waiting for an invitation.

Find out more at NHS vaccinations and when to have them - NHS.

Designated Safeguarding Lead data collection 2025

The CambsEYC Safeguarding Team are currently collating information to ensure that we have relevant and up-to-date information regarding the Designated Safeguarding Leads at your setting.

This information may be needed for the sharing of information with you from other agencies, for example Education Safeguarding Team, for Op Encompass and MARAC notifications, MASH Navigators, Children's Social Care, LADO, and so forth.

Please could you complete the Designated Safeguarding Lead Data collection 2025 Microsoft Form at your earliest convenience, but by Friday, 28 November 2025 at the latest.

School-Based Nursery Capital Grant

The Department for Education (DfE) is offering up to £150,000 in capital funding for eligible state-funded primary-phase schools and maintained nursery schools to create or expand nursery provision.

This is the second phase of the School-Based Nursery programme, building on last year’s grant and placing a stronger emphasis on supporting disadvantaged families to access early years education. Funding can be used for projects such as new nursery spaces, refurbishments, or improvements that increase capacity and quality of provision.

Applications must be submitted by Thursday, 11 December 2025. Do not miss this opportunity to enhance your nursery provision and help more children get the best start in life.

For full eligibility criteria and guidance, visit School-based Nursery Capital Grant 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK.

Consultation for nursery schools and classes

The Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) School Admissions Team is coordinating a formal consultation on admission arrangements for mainstream schools within the local authority area for the September 2027 intake.

The consultation will take place until Monday, 22 December 2025.

Community and voluntary-controlled schools:

Hardwick and Cambourne Primary School - PAN reduction from 105 to 90.
Priory Junior School – Change to over subscription criterion (4 - CCC Consultation Co-Ordinated VC and Community Admissions Policy 2027-28). Size: 488KB File format: pdf.

The consultation admissions policy for nursery schools and classes for 2027 - 2028 can be found at Determined Admissions Arrangements for 2027-28 | Cambridgeshire County Council.

Own admission authorities who are consulting on any changes will have information on their websites with contact information on whom to respond to.

If you would like to respond to this consultation, then please email admission.policies@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

New Best Start in Life campaign communications toolkit

The DfE has now released its campaign communications toolkit to help promote 'Best Start in Life', which aims to increase awareness of the importance of the early years in a child’s development and the role of early years education.

We would appreciate your support to help promote the campaign by using the toolkit resources on your own channels, promoting the Best Start in Life website – bringing together trusted advice, support and guidance for parents, and also sharing ‘The Story of You: Best Start in Life’ video – celebrating the joyful journey of the early years of childhood. The powerful film, narrated by familiar and expert voices including Oti Mabuse, Mummy Pig, Billie Shepherd, Ms Apple, Tay Kabs, and Professor Sam Wass, highlights to parents the vital role they play in their child’s life and the support available.

Free breakfast clubs to support families with the rising cost of living

The government has announced more free breakfast clubs to tackle cost of living head-on.

Evidence shows breakfast clubs boost attendance and attainment, giving children the best start in life.

From April 2026, an additional 500,000 children will benefit from the Best Start programme, with priority given to schools where at least 40% of pupils receive free school meals.

Backed by £80 million investment, the initiative aims to save parents up to

£450 a year and provide an extra 95 hours of childcare, helping working families manage busy mornings. This move builds on wider measures like expanded free school meals and funded childcare.

Schools will receive increased funding, including £1 per child and £25 per day for staffing and administration, ensuring clubs can offer healthy, varied breakfast options.

Applications for the next wave of 500 schools are now open, with further rollout planned for September 2026.

Parenting and family support in Cambridgeshire

The CCC local Health Visiting team, funded by Public Health, provides regular health and development reviews, as well as support and advice on issues such as infant feeding, child development, and the overall health and wellbeing of the family.

More information can be found on the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children's Health website.

Local Child and Family Centres provide a fun, friendly and safe space where families can learn and develop in a supportive environment. They offer groups, events, activities and support for families, promoted on the Cambridgeshire Online Directory, as well as through Cambridgeshire Child and Family Centres' social media pages.

Families can also find helpful information on the Family Hubs - Start for Life offer, which sets out the services and support available to parents and their families from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday.

Pinpoint – Cambridgeshire's parent carers' forum

Navigating the landscape of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can be daunting for parents and carers, which is why making sure they have the right support is key to helping their child or young person thrive.

Pinpoint is the local Parent Carer Forum and information hub for all things SEND. Their expert knowledge and information sessions offer trusted guidance from professionals who know what matters most – support that is consistent, compassionate, and it is completely free.

Pinpoint is passionate about making sure parents feel informed, supported, and connected. They offer monthly, online peer support – a space to meet other parents who truly understand the journey. As well as weekly, in-person Parent Connect sessions across Cambridgeshire, offering families a warm welcome, a cup of tea, and a chance to chat.

For more information and how to book, visit Events - Pinpoint.

Community Outreach Service

The Talking Together in Cambridgeshire

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.

Adult showing letters on a A4 sheet of paper to infant children

The service visits parent and toddler 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 for parents and carers.

Free training opportunities will also be provided 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.

For more information about the offer, please visit the Community Outreach Service on the Learn Together website.

Developing your home learning offer

As early years practitioners, we play a pivotal role in shaping the early experiences of young children. 50 Things to Do Before You're Five offers a valuable resource to support families.

It provides a curated list of 50 fun, low or no-cost activities designed to foster children's development through play, language, and exploration. By supporting parents to integrate these play-filled activities into their daily routines, you are strengthening your home learning offer, promoting families’ engagement in meaningful interactions that support development.

For ideas for integrating 50 Things to Do into your home learning offer, please view Supporting Families with 50 Things to Do Before You're Five*, a multi-use resource designed for you to share with families, showcasing free activities that support child development and parental wellbeing.

*Size: 429KB File format: pdf

Your linked early years adviser can further advise on strengthening your home learning offer for families. You can also explore further resources, information and CPD on the 'Supporting Home Learning' Learn Together webpage.

New equalities training for playworkers and Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme providers

Many across our sector will be familiar with the Equalities Named Co-ordinator (ENCo) training course. The early years version is a six-part online

course which has been developed to cover a wide range of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) related aspects of practice and will help the named ENCo to fulfil the role within their setting.

We have recently developed this training to meet the needs of our playworkers and HAF programme providers with a focus on the delivery of good quality EDI practice within a play context.

If you are interested in attending this training and fulfilling the role of ENCo in your play-based provision, then please book onto our brand-new two-part course, which will be delivered in spring 2026. The two-part course will be delivered online, with each session lasting two hours. There will be some takeaway tasks to complete between the sessions. Both sessions must be attended to complete the course. Details can be found in the Wraparound, and playwork section of the Professional Development Programme.

Reflecting on practice: Christmas

As the festive season approaches, it is a great time to pause and reflect on what Christmas means for the children and families in your setting. Not every family celebrates in the same

way, or at all. So how can we make this time inclusive and meaningful for everyone?

The latest Cambridgeshire ENCo (Equality Named Coordinator) - Knowledge Hub blog explores practical ideas, from managing decorations and planning activities to rethinking concerts and gifts, all with an emphasis on inclusion and sustainability. It encourages practitioners to consider sensory needs, cultural diversity, and the importance of focusing on the process rather than the product in festive activities. These reflections help create environments where every child feels valued, respected, and able to enjoy the season in their own way.

Read the full blog on Knowledge Hub: Reflecting on Practice - Christmas.

Play first, write later: Why play is the foundation of early writing

Before children can become confident writers, they need time and space to play.

Child creating colourful chalk drawings on a paved surface filled with playful designs

Our latest blog explores how play lays the essential groundwork for writing by developing language, imagination, fine motor skills and problem-solving. From building towers to running pretend shops, every playful moment strengthens the skills children need to put their ideas into words.

The blog also highlights how the Characteristics of Effective Learning, playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically, are lived out through play and directly shape children’s writing development. You’ll find practical ideas for linking play to writing, such as role-play areas, storytelling, outdoor literacy, and mark-making opportunities, all rooted in meaningful contexts.

Discover how you can nurture confident, creative writers by valuing play as much as pencil practice. Read the full blog to explore why play really is the starting point for writing success at CambsEYC blogs.

Celebrate STEM learning with young children

November has been a great month for celebrating science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) and encouraging the next generation of innovators with both National STEM Day and Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, highlighting the exciting opportunities in STEM.

To keep the momentum going, explore Cambridgeshire STEM in the Early Years for practical activity ideas and resources to help spark children’s curiosity in your setting. From simple experiments to building projects, each little step supports young learners to develop problem-solving skills and inspire a love for learning.

STEM activities do not have to be complicated – everyday experiences like sorting, measuring, and exploring nature can build strong foundations for future learning. By weaving STEM into play, practitioners help children develop confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their education and beyond.

Early years maths training programme

Improve children's outcomes by embedding maths into play and activities, through becoming a Maths Champion in your setting.

A person sitting on the floor reading a book with children

Free for eligible providers in England, the Maths Champions programme is an online professional development programme developed by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) with funding secured by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and the DfE.

The programme aims to increase practitioner knowledge, awareness and confidence in supporting early mathematics to improve outcomes for children. Participating nurseries will nominate a Maths Champion and Deputy Maths Champion who will lead the programme, supporting and driving improvement.

As an NDNA Maths Champion, you will support your team to evaluate and develop their knowledge, understanding and practice in relation to early years’ mathematics, to increase their confidence in supporting and teaching children in this area.

You will support staff to develop an enabling environment resulting in high-quality maths experiences being available throughout the day, providing children with the best possible start in their mathematical development.

Find out more about the programme at Maths Champions - bespoke early years maths training, telephone 01484 407 075 or email maths.champions@ndna.org.uk.

Communication, language, and literacy training courses

To help support families with young children aged birth to five, nurture their children's communication, language, and literacy development, these upcoming courses running from January to February 2026 are designed to deepen your understanding:

Talking Tennis: Building on our interactions with young children. Monday,19 January 2026, and Monday, 2 February 2026 at Oasis Child and Family Centre, Wisbech, from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.
Speech and Language UK's Early Talk: Supporting communication and language. Tuesday, 20 January 2026 at Sunley House, Papworth Everard from 9.30 am to 4 pm.
Hanen's Teacher Talk Module 1: Encouraging language development in early childhood settings. Monday, 26 January 2026 at St Ives Library from 10 am to 5.30 pm.
An Introduction to Making it REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy). Thursday, 12 February 2026 at Ely Library from 10 am to 5 pm.

To learn more about each of the courses, including costs of places, please visit the Communication, language, and literacy section of ourProfessional Development Programme. Please note, free training places are available on each of the courses above for those working with us through our Community Outreach Service.

Forest School Spring Network 2026

Come and join us on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, to share the latest updates of Forest School practice, network with other Forest School educators, and, as always, enjoy snacks and drinks around the fire. This network is suitable for Level 3 Forest School Leaders, Level 2 Forest School Assistants and those offering outdoor learning in Cambridgeshire.

A group of people sitting on mats by a lake

Our topic of discussion will be how we can support the early years foundation stage nutrition guidance for early years during Forest School.

Venue hosts will be Meadow Lane Day Nursery, and we will be joined by Verity Windmill from Windmill Yoga, who will be giving a practical demonstration in outdoor children’s yoga.

To book a place, please visit Booking and reservations for Early Years Workforce Development, ‘Forest Schools.’

Please note, if you have purchased the Forest School membership package, remember that as part of the membership offer, you are entitled to two free network places.

For further training opportunities, please view the Professional Development Programme on the Learn Together website.

Sign up to save lives with the Fire Kills campaign

The government’s Fire Kills campaign launched on Monday, 17 November 2025. Teachers can access free, curriculum-aligned lesson plans and resources on fire safety and other safety topics via the education arm of the campaign website

at StayWise - Saving Lives Through Education.

Resources are ready for use in classrooms or as homework and help learners make safer choices. They include interactive activities, videos, and guidance designed to make fire safety engaging and memorable for all ages. These tools also support wider learning on emergency awareness and personal responsibility.

Register for free and explore the full collection of resources available. Together, we can empower children and young people to stay safe and prevent tragedies because every lesson could save a life.

Help keep children safe from dangerous toys this Christmas

The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) provides essential advice for parents on some of the biggest toy safety risks to children, including button batteries, magnets, water beads, and other dangerous baby products.

Many parents and carers assume that if they can buy a toy for their child, then it must be safe. But sadly, there is an increasing number of unsafe toys being sold online, which can be deadly. And, with many families feeling the pinch this Christmas, the appeal of cheap toys could have fatal consequences.

You can help warn families about the dangers of buying cheap toys online with the CAPT toy safety fact sheet. It is free to download and full of top tips for buying safe toys.

To learn more about dangerous toys and how to avoid them, CAPT also has more detailed safety advice to offer, including:

Your News

Cambridgeshire celebrates Baby Week for the first time

Cambridgeshire County Council proudly took part in Baby Week for the first time, celebrating the early years and the vital first 1,001 days of a child’s life. This year’s theme, “Healthy Parent, Healthy Baby”, highlighted the importance of supporting parents to give children the best start.

Families across the county enjoyed free and low-cost activities, including Rhymetime, sensory play, and parent-and-baby swimming sessions. Launch events in Wisbech, Huntingdon, and Cambridge featured stalls from Child and Family Centres and local partners. The week ended on a high with inclusive Baby Raves, fun sensory sessions promoting babies’ development through music and play.

Professionals also joined webinars and talks exploring parent-infant relationships and early years best practice.

Want ideas for supporting your child’s learning at home? Visit Supporting Home Learning for tips and activities.

A baby with a colourful circle and text. Text reads: BABY Week Cambridgeshire, 14-20 November 2025. Events and activities for professionals, parents, carers, and under five's. Baby Week brings sectors and services together to promote the 'Best Start in Life' and raise awareness about the importance of early childhood. babyweek.co.uk/cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire County Council, early years childcare and school readiness service

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News Round-Up

November 2025

Protect young children and pregnant women this winter.

Designated Safeguarding Lead data collection 2025.

School-Based Nursery Capital Grant.

Consultation for nursery schools and classes.

New Best Start in Life campaign communications toolkit.

Free breakfast clubs to support families with the rising cost of living.

Parenting and family support in Cambridgeshire.

Pinpoint – Cambridgeshire's parent carers' forum.

Community Outreach Service.

Developing your home learning offer.

New equalities training for playworkers and Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme providers.

Play first, write later: Why play is the foundation of early writing

Celebrate STEM learning with young children.

Early years maths training programme.

Communication, language, and literacy training courses.

Forest School Spring Network 2026.

Sign up to save lives with the Fire Kills campaign.

Help keep children safe from dangerous toys this Christmas.

Your News.

Protect young children and pregnant women this winter

Designated Safeguarding Lead data collection 2025

School-Based Nursery Capital Grant

Consultation for nursery schools and classes

New Best Start in Life campaign communications toolkit

Free breakfast clubs to support families with the rising cost of living

Parenting and family support in Cambridgeshire

Pinpoint – Cambridgeshire's parent carers' forum

Community Outreach Service

Developing your home learning offer

New equalities training for playworkers and Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme providers

Reflecting on practice: Christmas

Play first, write later: Why play is the foundation of early writing

Celebrate STEM learning with young children

Early years maths training programme

Communication, language, and literacy training courses

Forest School Spring Network 2026

Sign up to save lives with the Fire Kills campaign

Help keep children safe from dangerous toys this Christmas

Your News

Cambridgeshire celebrates Baby Week for the first time

Share your good news with CambsEYC

Stay connected with CambsEYC online