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

News Round-Up

January 2026

Increase in childhood infections prompts vaccine call.

Get free Healthy Start vitamins.

Support and guidance information.

Final chance to share your views on the staffing of breakfast clubs.

Do something BIG - national recruitment campaign.

Working with babies and children under two years old.

Understanding Ofsted report cards.

Creating calm: Why routines matter more than you think.

The importance of getting children outside in winter.

Helping keep children safe from serious accidents this winter.

Baby sleep pillows: safety alert.

Music Nest coming spring 2026.

Introduction to Making it REAL.

Under-five’s emerging neurodivergence.

Cambridgeshire County Council Fostering Service.

Increase in childhood infections prompts vaccine call

Childhood infections like measles and whooping cough continue to spread in our communities,

with outbreaks linked to nurseries and schools across the country, particularly affecting young children.

Such infections can have a huge impact on children’s lives. They can miss out on school due to time spent unwell, be hospitalised, and even experience lifelong complications and disability.

If a child is not vaccinated, they are not protected.

It is important for parents to take up the offer of the free NHS childhood immunisation programme as soon as they are offered it, to ensure their children have the best protection.

However, if a parent or their child has missed a vaccine, it is never too late to check if they can catch up.

Please share with families in your setting that we are calling on all parents to check their child’s red book to see if their children have missed any vaccines or check with their GP if they are unsure.

The full immunisation timetable and information on how to book is available at nhs.uk/childhoodvaccinations.

Get free Healthy Start vitamins

If you know any families who receive NHS Healthy Start payments, it may be helpful to remind them that they are able to access free vitamins. Young children and babies may not get enough vitamin A and D even if they are eating well. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may not get enough vitamin C, vitamin D, or folic acid.

There are two vitamin products available:

Healthy Start women’s tablets.
Healthy Start children’s drops.

Families should be directed to their midwife or health visitor, who can tell them where to get their free vitamins.

Alternatively, they can also find out who stocks Healthy Start vitamins at Find healthy start vitamins services - NHS.

Families Information Service

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

They manage the Cambridgeshire Childcare Directory and offer brokerage support for families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) 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 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 them on Facebook – please share the CambsFIS page.

Support and guidance information

The Cambridgeshire Playworkers Knowledge Hub for holiday activities and food (HAF) programme, and wraparound providers,

is a private group for networking and sharing good practice ideas. The group offers regular updates on upcoming events, training opportunities, and a place to access relevant information and resources to support your provisions. For example, signposting and referring parents to support and guidance information: Library - Cambridgeshire HAF & Wraparound Providers - Knowledge Hub.

For information about joining the Knowledge Hub, contact HAF@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Final chance to share your views on the staffing of breakfast clubs

The Department for Education (DfE) are working with the Open Innovation Team to understand how primary school breakfast clubs are staffed

and delivered. This work will support the expansion of the free breakfast club programme.*

Whether your school runs a large, small, or informal breakfast club, your experience will help shape future DfE policy, guidance, and support for schools.

This is not limited to Early Adopter Schools - all schools are welcome to take part. The DfE would love to hear from school leaders and support staff in state-funded schools that currently run or plan to run a breakfast club and are particularly keen to hear from teaching assistants and support staff. Participation is voluntary, and all responses are anonymous. No individual school will be identified.

Please complete the survey: DfE Research on Breakfast Clubs - Understanding Workforce Perceptions (Page 1 of 6) by Friday, 30 January 2026.

*Everything you need to know about free school breakfast clubs – The Education Hub

Do something BIG - national recruitment campaign

Do Something Big - Childcare and early years recruitment campaign, aims to promote careers in early years and childcare and challenge stereotypes by highlighting the important contribution early years practitioners and childcare professionals make in preparing young children for learning in school and beyond.

The Do something big - Early Years Careers website includes information on early years work, routes into the sector and real-life stories. It also provides links to the Department for Work and Pensions’ Find a Job platform, advertising local early years roles, and a platform for settings to list their own vacancies – watch the Find a Job service - Employer help video tutorials on listing job adverts.

For help and support with promoting your recruitment activity, view the Recruitment resources - Early Years Careers website, and download the free campaign toolkit to amplify the ‘Do something BIG’ message.

Working with babies and children under two years old

Ready to take your early years expertise to the next level?

Unlock your potential with an NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Working with Babies and Children under two years.

This professional development qualification is designed to enhance your skills and advance your career by providing you with the knowledge to develop:

An understanding of EYFS statutory requirements.
Knowledge of key guidance, such as Development Matters.
Practical skills to deliver outstanding care.

Funding is available for applicants*:

19 and over and working in a Cambridgeshire setting for six months plus.
Work with babies and children under two.
Can attend two daytime sessions in January and March 2026.
Have internet access and a laptop for an e-portfolio.

*To learn more, visit the Cambridgeshire Early Childhood Qualifications Centre, email eycqualifications@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Understanding Ofsted report cards

For guidance on the outcome of your Ofsted inspection, when you have one, view Understanding Ofsted report cards and grades. The GOV.UK webpage explains the new Ofsted report cards and includes a video on what has changed from the old system.

Sharing the information with parents will also help them to understand the Ofsted report cards, ready for when their children move onto reception.

Creating calm: Why routines matter more than you think

Our new CambsEYC blogs post explores why predictable routines are the quiet power behind high-quality early years practice.

A group of young children and a teacher raising their arms in the air

Far from being simple organisational tools, routines create a sense of safety and belonging that helps children regulate emotions, build confidence, and engage in learning.

When the day flows with clear, consistent steps – arrivals, care moments, transitions, and group times – children can relax and focus, freeing their minds for play, problem-solving, and conversation.

Everyday routines also offer rich opportunities for language development, independence, and thinking skills. By planning routines with intention and adapting them for individual needs, practitioners can turn ordinary moments into meaningful learning experiences.

The blog encourages reflection: Are your routines calm, inclusive, and purposeful? Do they support wellbeing for children and staff? Small changes – like a steady greeting or a familiar song – can transform practice and improve outcomes for every child.

The importance of getting children outside in winter

With the snowy, wintry weather we have been experiencing the past few weeks, you might have heard "It's too cold to go outside".

A group of children running in the woods

But winter, outdoor experiences provide unique developmental benefits that cannot be achieved indoors. Here are a few:

Winter sunlight supports the immune system and bone health, building resistance to seasonal illness.
Cold environments naturally increase alertness and concentration.
Overcoming weather challenges builds confidence and perseverance.
Reduces the likelihood of illness spreading, due to spending less time indoors where germs circulate more easily.
Reduces seasonal depression in children and adults.

It can be a challenge to start increasing the time spent outdoors in the weather, so alongside the benefits, here are some top tips for Winter Outdoor Play:

Layer up - Lots of breathable layers plus hats, scarves, gloves, keep children warmer than one coat.
Small handwarmers can be useful to be kept in pockets or wellington boots.
Waterproof layers are essential to allow children to splash and dig freely.
Keep spare clothes, children, and staff included - extra gloves, socks and towels are particularly handy.
Warm up afterwards - soups, hot drinks or blankets are great to reset bodies.

Helping keep children safe from serious accidents this winter

The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT)

has created a brand-new information page explaining the risks and the simple things we can all do to keep children safe from serious accidents this season, as the weather gets colder and winter creeps in, new hazards for children emerge.

Please read the CAPT Winter safety guide: Top tips for keeping children safe this winter, and share with your communities to help raise awareness.

Baby sleep pillows: safety alert

A safety alert has been issued warning parents and carers not to use baby sleep pillows for under-ones. These soft pillows and cushions are often marketed for baby sleep or as somewhere for a baby to be left unsupervised. But this can cause suffocation or overheating, and babies have even died.

We urge anyone who works with families to tell parents to stop using these products straight away.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards has instructed businesses to remove unsafe products from the market and not to sell or market pillows for babies under one year old. But many of these sleep pillows are already in families’ homes. And some are still available to buy online with misleading information that encourages unsafe sleep practices.

Please help to spread the message that these products are dangerous and should never be used for babies under one.

Further details are available at capt.org.uk/baby-sleep-pillows-warning..

Music Nest coming spring 2026

Colleagues at Cambridgeshire Music have been working to develop an exciting new project, the Music Nest – a new music group supporting young children with additional needs.

Promotional graphic for The Music Nest, a music program by Cambridgeshire Music, announcing its launch in Spring 2026. Features logos of The Music Nest and Cambridgeshire Music on a blue background with a purple badge highlighting the launch date

The Music Nest is a pilot programme for children aged two to four, offering a warm and welcoming environment where each child’s individual strengths and challenges are nurtured. Through engaging, music-based activities, children and their families can connect, grow, and build confidence together.

Each session includes interactive, tailored music-making led by an experienced music therapist with expertise in child development, musicianship, and psychology. Sessions are kept intentionally small, groups of three to five children, to ensure individual attention and support.

Families also enjoy relaxed social time to play, chat, and share experiences. In addition to exploring music and games that can be continued at home, the sessions aim to support early communication, social interaction, and emotional wellbeing.

For more information, visit The Music Nest / Cambridgeshire Music.

Email: cm@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Telephone: 0345 045 7371.

Rhyme Time for All

Did you know that singing rhymes and songs with your child is one of the best ways to support their early communication and language development?

Photograph collage showing diverse family moments: a person playing a guitar with a child, a person lifting a toddler in the air, and a person holding a baby

Rhyme Time for All is a free resource packed with ideas, videos, and tips to make rhyming fun and easy at home. On the website, you will find:

Simple rhymes and songs for all ages.
Videos to help you learn new rhymes with your child.
Tips on why rhymes matter for speech, listening, and learning.

Whether you are at home, out and about, or looking for a quick activity, these resources help strengthen your child’s language skills and make learning playful.

Explore more free resources on the Talking Together in Cambridgeshire section of the Learn Together website, including Parent resources and Practitioner resources.

Introduction to Making it REAL

Family-facing practitioners, working with families of children two to five years, are offered the opportunity to engage with Introduction to Making it REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy).

Thursday, 12 February 2026, from 10 am to 5 pm at Ely Library, and online, 7 pm to 9 pm, via Microsoft Teams:

Monday, 2 March 2026
Monday, 9 March 2026
Monday, 16 March 2026.

This course enables practitioners to gain an understanding of the REAL approach, identify ways to include it in everyday practice, whilst sharing it with families, building confidence and knowledge to support the home learning environment.

The course will support practitioners to:

Boost children's communication, language and early literacy development.
Work with parents to give them knowledge, skills, and confidence, helping to create positive home learning environments.
Focus on meaningful communication and literacy that children make sense of and enjoy, as part of their everyday lives.
Embed a fun, engaging, inclusive and accessible for all, low or no-cost approach.

To book a place, visit Booking and reservations for Early Years Workforce Development, ‘Communication, Language and Literacy.’

National year of reading

This year is the National Year of Reading, many ideas and resources will be shared throughout the year, highlighting the benefits of sharing books with young children, as well as the importance of reading for pleasure in building strong foundations for learning.

A graphic design featuring bold black text "GO ALL IN." stacked in three lines on a solid yellow background

Find inspiration, activities, and more ways to get involved on the campaign website: National Year of Reading 2026 | Go All In.

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 visit 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 also provide free training opportunities* to help community groups build on their existing knowledge and boost confidence in sharing key messages with families.

*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.

Early Support

If you have a child in Reception, who will be moving into Year 1 in September, that you would like to refer to Early Support, please note the cut-off date for submitting Early Support pathway requests is Friday, 1 May 2026.

A group of young children sitting in a row, clapping their hands

To meet this cut-off date, the Early Help Assessment (EHA) needs to be triaged and authorised by the Early Help Hub before an Early Support pathway request can be submitted. We would encourage you to do this as soon as possible.

To avoid delay:

Please ensure EHAs are a holistic assessment of the whole family, ensuring all siblings are consolidated.
Please explicitly state that the EHA is being completed for the purpose of Early Support.
When making the Early Support Pathway request, please ensure you attach supporting documentation to support the referral, for example, APDR. Developmental information.

If you would like support with any aspect of completing an EHA, please contact the Early Help Support Officers at EarlyHelpSupportOfficer@Cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

If you are unable to meet the Friday, 1 May 2026, cut-off date or you have any queries about Early Support, please contact us in the first instance early.support@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Under-five’s emerging neurodivergence

Please share the following event information with parents: Pinpoint’s participation session for parents on Wednesday, 28 January 2025, from 12 pm to 2 pm, focuses on neurodiversity.

It can be so hard when our child is dysregulated or is not playing like others. What is "normal" when all children are unique?

With so much said around neurodiversity, when our child is struggling, concerns can arise, so let us look at this together.

Sam Asher is here for a fascinating session that will introduce us to emerging neurodivergence in the early years. The session aims to support parents and carers to understand and support these emerging characteristics. So, let us hear the facts, ask questions in a safe space, and discuss with professionals who are there to help our children.

For more information and to book, please visit UNDER 5's PARTICIPATION - Understanding Emerging Neurodivergence Tickets, Wed, Jan 28, 2026 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite. Alternatively, email linda@pinpoint-cambs.org.uk.

Cambridgeshire County Council Fostering Service

Adam Buxton is curious, “How do you know you made the right decision getting into fostering?” Gary’s answer is quick – “Every time I see a child smile.”

Adam Buxton sitting on a gray couch holding a patterned mug, wearing a light blue button-up shirt and dark shorts

Gary and their wife have welcomed numerous children into their home over the years. Some have been horribly neglected and had to look through bins to find food to eat. Some children have never baked a cake, let alone had a cake on their birthday.

It is the everyday things like clean clothes, food on the table or a bedtime routine that can be the big things for a child in care.

Have you considered fostering? Could you make a child smile?

Watch the video, Gary: "Should be able to have a childhood".

Cambridgeshire Fostering service hold regular sessions and events for people who want to find out more about fostering. The free information sessions, held online and face-to-face, explain everything you need to know about fostering and offer the opportunity to ask questions and talk with experienced foster carers, social workers, and recruitment officers.

To book your free place on any of the dates listed below, please complete the Cambridgeshire County Council Fostering Information Session Registration.

Virtual session dates:
Tuesday, 20 January 2026 from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm
Wednesday, 11 February 2026 from 12 noon to 1 pm
Thursday, 19 March 2026 from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm
Friday, 17 April 2026 from 12 noon to 1 pm
Monday, 11 May 2026 from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm
In-person session: Monday, 18 May 2026, from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm at The Lamb Hotel in Ely.

For more information and to have an informal chat, please call 0800 052 0078, email fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, or use the enquiry form at www.fostereast.org.uk/cambridgeshire.

Your News

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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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