1

Nottingham City Early Years Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

It’s hard to believe that a whole month of 2020 has seemingly disappeared and the festive break seems a very long time ago!

So much is happening over the coming months we so as always our newsletter brings you of information about events, important dates, safeguarding training, updates on local and national news and lots more!

We have also continued to feature an Early Years Newsletter Quiz with a prize for all 15 correct answers which are all in this issue. So when you have five minutes see how much you have found out!

We hope the coming months go well for you and I am sure we will see you soon at one of our training sessions, networks, business meeting or the conference.

We continue to value your honest feedback, please do this by emailing your comments to earlyyears@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Best wishes,

The Early Years Team

Safeguarding and SEND Best Start Workforce Development Early Outcomes Fund Local and National news

January 2020

All Sector Issue 10

Inside this Issue!

2020 Spring Edition

2

Best Start

The Right Support in the Right Place at the Right Time

Many families across the city, are accessing the Best Start partnership services. In order to keep up with the demand, Children’s Centres will be offering more programmes and activities such as the Peep Learning Together in the New Year.

Peep supports parents and carers with children from pregnancy to school age, to encouraging their child’s learning and development.

Delivered over 12 weeks, the programme allows carers/parents and their children to learn together through a range of topics and tips to make the most of everyday learning opportunities at home. Which, we all know can have a huge impact on children’s development – listening, talking, playing, singing and sharing books and stories together.

Peep sessions are split into 3 age range groups:

Peep Watch Me Grow (from birth to 9months) Peep Inbetweenies (9 months to 18months) Peep Getting Ready for Nursery (18 months – 2 years+)

What have participants said about Peep?

“I learned a lot of new things about my child and now do more with them at home.” “I was a little bit nervous about starting Peep at first but after coming along to all the sessions I

have enjoyed it so much and feel more confident.” “Peep has helped my son to build his confidence with other children, interact more, and become

more social.” “Great advice and support from the staff who delivered the group.”

Please spread the word to the families that access your setting or school.

To find out more call the Family Support Worker’s on the numbers below.

Bulwell - 0115 8833540 Aspley – 0115 8763888 Hyson Green – 0115 8838202 St Anns – 0115 8761700

3

Firstly a huge thank you to all those of you who took part in interviews, visits and group discussions as part of the Peer Challenge in October 2019. After an intensive three days, we have had some very positive feedback identifying some key areas of suggested development. One such suggestion is for the development of a 0-5 Early Years Strategy, with a focus on speech, language and communication, and the development of a Speech, Language and Communication Pathway.

This dovetails easily with the Early Outcomes Fund work, a collaborative project with colleagues in Leicester and Derby City Councils which also focuses on developing Speech, Language and Communication strategies and pathways.

Both these government Social Mobility Programmes are working towards achieving the government’s ambitious target for 86% of children to achieve a good level of development, closing the word gap in the Early Years.

Since the last newsletter, we have undertaken a significant piece of audit work to map current speech, language and communication related activities and gaps across the city, which will support the development of information and resources in an easy to navigate pathway for parents and professionals alike. We held a regional development day with a wide range of colleagues at the end of November to look at how we can move this forwards as a collective agenda. This was a brilliant event where we heard from colleagues in Worcestershire about how they developed their SLC Pathway and how it is embedded across their Early Years System. We also identified what ‘good’ provision would look like across a child’s ages and stages of development, at different levels of universal, targeted and specialist services and agreed future areas for consideration.

We will be following up the content of the pathway and how we embed it locally as part of our Early Outcomes Fund work over the coming months with our next Pathway Workshop planned with partner agency, Better Communication, at the end of this month.

www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people

www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people www.smallstepsbigchanges.org.uk/biglittlemoments

As part of the universal resources for all parents/carers and professionals there are some excellent examples for ideas to increase speech, language and communication skills of all young children both from the Government’s Hungry Little Minds Campaign and locally through the Small Steps Big Changes Campaign, Big Little Moments

Furthermore, the BBC have recently added to these resources with their Tiny Happy People initiative, which is aimed at developing language skills in young children, modelling activities from pregnancy through to 18 months old. We are contacting other Early Outcomes Fund areas who have successfully embedded Tiny Happy People as part of their pathway development to see how best we can share these important messages locally and as part of our range of materials.

Further updates will be included on our website and through our regular Stay Connected bulletins so please make sure you’re subscribed to receive them!

www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people www.smallstepsbigchanges.org.uk/biglittlemoments

An Update on the Peer Challenge and Early Outcomes Fund

4

13th March 2020 - Last remaining places, bookings close 2nd March

'Good early years education is the cornerstone of social mobility. Children with strong foundations will start school in a position to progress, but too many children still fall behind early, and it is hard

to close the gaps that emerge. We need to tackle these development gaps at the earliest opportunity, particularly focused on the key early language and literacy skills,

so that all children can begin school ready to thrive. ' Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential

DfE December 2017

Kym Scott – Early Years Trainer, Consultant and Conference Speaker Interactions Matter! – The role of the adult in extending children’s vocabulary in the Early Years. During her time supporting schools and settings Kym’s r consistent experience has found that the best early years practitioners are those who understand the importance of supporting children’s learning and development by engaging in high quality conversations with them. We are delighted to welcome Kym back to Nottingham for a second year. Using her wealth of knowledge Kym is working on something very unique for us, if you missed Kym last year, this annual conference is a must!

Ben Kingston-Hughes of Inspired Children Ltd Words of Joy - The fundaments neuroscience of communication and supporting the well-being of Children. Ben has been working with us for a few years delivering a wide range of practical training for PVI nurseries and schools. Ben has had a long interest in neuroscience exploring how the brain works. He imparts his knowledge through practical, enjoyable training courses and conference appearances. He has also recently been successful in winning a 2019 National PlayWork Award.

Trisha Lee of Make Believe Arts Helicopter Stories – Letting Imagination Fly! We are excited to welcome Trisha who is famous for developing the technique of Helicopter Stories will be sharing it with us. Helicopter Stories is based on a Storytelling and Story Acting curriculum of renowned Early Years practitioner Vivian Gussin Paley. Trisha will be our last keynote of the day presenting a very different, very interactive hour long keynote - we can't wait!

Workforce Development

Talk with Me, Read with Me, Listen to Me…..INSPIRE ME! Speech, Language and Literacy in the Early Years

5

Our Seminars/Workshops:

1. Kym Scott - Key features of effective interactions in the Early Years – An opportunity for self evaluation This session will build upon Kym’s keynote and will focus on the different roles that adults can fall into when interacting with children in their self-initiated learning. A self-evaluation tool will be provided and delegates will have opportunities to evaluate a range of real footage of adults involved in conversation with children.

2. Ben Kingston Hughes - Expanding on his keynote...Words of Nurture Secure attachments and emotionally secure environments are key components in the development of language. This workshop shares heart-warming examples of how a single positive adult in a child’s life has enabled them to overcome overwhelming barriers to communication and how those positive adults have had profound and life-changing impact on the child. Expect some unique approach from this seasoned workshop leader!

3. Language to Learn - Supporting the Development of Speech and Language Speech sound difficulties in the early years can have a significant impact on the development of a child’s later literacy skills. This informative and interactive seminar is delivered by Independent Speech Therapists Mhairi Davis and Liz Wood from Specialist Communication provider ‘ Language to Learn’ and will provide participants with increased confidence in their knowledge of speech sounds norms, identifying and supporting speech sound difficulties and to know when to refer on for Specialist Support.

4. Write Dance Is an exciting music and dance approach to develop the skills needed for writing. This session will support practitioners to apply the Write Dance approach and method that will provide movement opportunities so children can develop the physical skills needed to develop their handwriting skills. The movement will be driven by the music and the underlying principle is enjoyment to build confidence. Settings and schools have found these sessions extremely valuable and fun!

Venue: Nottingham Conference Centre, Burton Street, NG1 4BU Refreshments and Registration: 8:30am, conference closes at approximately 3:45pm Delegate Fee: Please see our website, fees held for the 5th year running! Delegate Fee includes:

Three fabulous Keynote Early Years Key note speakers A choice of two out of four workshops/seminars Two course lunch in the Old Chemistry Theatre Delegate pack and one of our legendary delegate bags! All day refreshments A selection of prizes throughout the day Activity and resources ideas as well as access to local suppliers A valuable opportunity to network with colleagues

Please Note Due to changes at the venue places are limited – Please book your place now! www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/cpd-training/early-years-annual-conference-friday-13th-march-2020/

6

For more course detail and to book on any of the below courses go to: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/cpd-training/ Course Sector Day Date EY Leadership Network PVCI Thursday 06 February Introduction to Working with babies PVCI Tuesday 11 February Maths F1 Schools Tuesday 11 February DSL Network PVCI Thursday 13 February Record keeping and report writing PVCI Thursday 13 February The Principles of Safer Recruitment PVCI/CM Tuesday 25 February Every interaction counts! Schools Tuesday 25 February New to SENCO PVCI Wednesday 26 February Basic Safeguarding Children PVCI/CM Monday 02 March Marvellous Maths! PVCI/CM Tuesday 03 March EYFS Briefings Schools Friday 06 March EYFS Briefings Schools Friday 06 March Paediatric First Aid All sectors Saturday 7 & 14th March Safeguarding Children Refresher PVCI/CM Tuesday 10 March Annual Conference All sectors Friday 13 March Working with babies Advanced for L3 PVCI Tuesday 24 March Refresher Early Years Funding Workshop PVCI/CM Thursday 26 March New Provider Early Years Funding Workshop PVCI/CM Thursday 26 March Safeguarding Children Refresher PVCI/CM Thursday 02 April 2020

On 7th January 2020 the DfE updated the lists of qualifications that meet the DfE criteria for counting in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework staff : child ratios. Updates have also included making the explanation at the top of the qualification spreadsheet clearer, as follows:

The Qualifications listed below, have been assessed by DfE as meeting all of the Early Years Educator criteria. They therefore allow those who have successfully achieved them to practice in the level 3 ratios

To note: Some qualifications have a higher overall qualification level than level three but they are approved for level 3 ratio purposes only

T Levels in Early Years Education and Childcare will be taught from September 2020. They will meet the Early Years Educator criteria and allow those who have successfully achieved them to practice in the level 3 ratios

A link to the approved updated qualification list and more information about T levels can be found on our Early Years website: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/cpd-training/early-years-qualifications/

Early Years Training: Spring Term

National update: EYFS staff Child ratios - DfE approved qualifications

7

Areas to be covered:

Listening and attention Moving and handling Managing feelings and behaviour Making relationships Reading Writing People and communities Shape, space and measures

F2 teachers are required to bring information and evidence for a boy who is assessed to be working within the ELG, or thereabouts.

Evidence can include:

o Observations (incidental/planned) o Annotated photos o Samples of work (capturing the ‘wow’ moments) o Parent’s voice o Child’s voice o Professional voice e.g. TAs/Childminder/lunchtime supervisors, o Assessment records- Reading records, Phonics/Maths assessments or trackers

We will be running 6 sessions on the following dates

Friday 20th March Monday 23rd March Thursday 26th March

9:00-12:00 9:00-12:00 9:00-12:00

1:00-4:00 1:00-4:00 1:00-4:00

There is limited internet access at the venue so please print off any electronic evidence.

To book your place select and click on the link:

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/cpd-training/schools-and-academies-eyfs-teaching-and-learning-cpd-opportunities/agreement-trialling-dates/

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/856885/EYSP_handbook_2020.pdf

F2 Agreement Trialling

8

Safeguarding Children and Young People from Child Sexual Exploitation Training Session

Participants are expected to have undertaken some level of broader safeguarding training, and to have completed the e-learning on Child Sexual Exploitation which can be accessed by clicking: http://cse.brook.org.uk/

Places available on: 18th September 2020 OR 10th December 2020 (March and June fully booked)

Time: 9:30am – 4:15pm Venue : Loxley House

For more information download the flier from our DSL resources webpage: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/safeguarding/pvci-dsl-network/dsl-resources/

Please note this is not organised by the Early Years Team, to apply for a place please go to NCSCP website

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/information-for-residents/children-and-families/nottingham-city-safeguarding-children-board/safeguarding-training/

Safeguarding Children

NEW! Essential Free Briefing Recommended by NCSCP Record Keeping and Report Writing

90 minute briefing 1pm -2:30pm (after DSL Network 13th February) If you have not attended previous dates please book on via

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/cpd-training/pvci-nurseries-pre-schools-childminders-and-oosc-practitioners/record-keeping-and-report-writing/

The Safeguarding News Bulletin keeps subscribers updated on local events and news.

To subscribe go to www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/children-and-families/nottingham-city-safeguarding-children-board/resources-for-professionals/ncscb-newsletters/

Spring Term DSL Network 13th February 2020

9:30am – 12:30pm

Basford Hall Conference Centre

Please Note: To ensure we have enough resources and the venue can accommodate all delegates PVI Nurseries have their place reserved.

Please email eytraining@nottinghamcity.gov.uk to confirm that you will be attending.

This course provides an in depth understanding of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) indicators and risks, grooming models including the use of the internet,

and equips participants with the knowledge and confidence to manage disclosures and suspicions of CSE effectively and in accordance with LSCP procedures.

9

Safeguarding Children

1 in 4 women will be abused by a partner, ex or family member at some point in their lives and on average 2 women a week lose their lives because of domestic violence.

Working primarily in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, Equation delivers education to the whole community to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence, promote gender equality and raise aspirations for healthy relationships. We provide practical tools and guidance to support the well-being and safety needs of survivors.

DSLs will recall Equation presenting at one of our DSL Network a while ago, they provide a range of free training which you can apply for via their website. www.equation.org.uk/training/

Equation’s goal as a charity is for everyone to have equal, healthy relationships, in a society free from domestic abuse, sexual violence and gender inequality.

Empowering the Workforce to deliver Excellence in Safeguarding Practice 10th – 14th February

This week long event is open to everyone who works within the Children’s and Adults Workforce in the City of Nottingham, including Local Authority, Health, Schools, Police, Private, Voluntary and Community Agencies.

During the week the following sessions are on offer;

Learning from Reviews Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Young Carers: Who are they and how can we support them? Domestic Abuse in Same Sex Relationships Learning from IICSA Safer Sleeping

To find out more about these sessions and how to request a place, please click on the website links below;

www.nottinghamchildrenspartnership.co.uk/integrated-workforce-development/events-and-seminars/every-colleague-matters-event-10-to-14-february-2020/

Costs: On this occasion NCSCP are pleased to confirm there is no charge for attendance on the sessions for this event. The event is being supported by the Violence Reduction Unit and Nottingham City Council. Places will be allocated to ensure there is a wide range of organisations represented from across the city and participants are requested to share their learning with colleagues. This event has been developed with the Nottingham City Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to the workforce, and to keeping our children safe.

10

SEND News

Do you Claim DAF? The Disability Access Fund (DAF) provides additional funding to support early years providers make reasonable adjustments to enable children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) access their funded early year’s entitlement hours. The Disability Access Fund is £615 per year for eligible children. You can claim DAF if: The child is in receipt of the three and four year old early education funding, is not attending a reception class in a primary or infant school/academy and is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

How to claim? Providers should speak to parents to find out if their child is eligible for the DAF and submit a copy of the DWP Award letter ‘About Your Claim’ Providers must ensure parents complete the DAF declaration which can be found in the Parent and Provider Agreement for Free Entitlement Hours for Eligible 2, 3 and 4 Year Old Children, and the DAF application form www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/equality-and-inclusion/early-years-send-fund/ Providers must also gain evidence that the child is in receipt of DLA and parental consent for it to be shared with NCC.

SEND Funding Process and key Dates for Autumn Term Funding

Step 1. In the lead up to the funding dates, setting identify children’s needs and complete the SEND Funding Application form submitting to eyfssend@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Step 2. Between Monday 23rd March 2020 and 12pm on Friday 27th March 2020 EYFS SEND Support Workers contact settings to complete the moderation process. This will take approximately 15min per application. All applications must go through this process before being submitted to the panel. If the child receives support from EYFS home visitors or a team within the Inclusive Education Service settings should contact the named worker to complete the moderation process.

Please Note: This is a very busy time and any applications that come in after 12pm on Friday 27th March will go to the panel unmoderated which could result in a delay or no funding being allocated.

Step 3. Settings make any recommended amendments and share with parents. Setting submits completed applications by 12pm on Friday 3rd April 2020. Applications received after this time will be sent as a late request which again could result in a delay or no funding allocation being made.

Step 4. Panel meet Monday 27th April 2020 and the outcome of this will be sent to you via email from educationhln@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Please remember emergency requests can only be submitted for children not in setting at the time of the last panel meeting. If you are unsure of any aspects of the funding process or the dates please contact the EYFS SEND Support Workers at your earliest convenience

11

2, 3 and 4 Year Old Funding

Estimate Payments: Your estimate payment is split over 2 months this term. The first part of the estimate was paid on 31st December 2019, a further payment will be paid on 1st February 2020.

Balance Payments: Your balance payment will be on 15th March 2020. Please remember that where your estimate payment has covered your autumn term claim, you will not receive a balance payment and may receive an invoice if the estimate is above your total earnings. Portal Opening and Closing

The portal for Spring Term claims closed on 29th January. Please remember that the portal is always open for 30 hour code checking and updating.

Many thanks to the providers who have used the portal for the first time and those that have persevered through the technical issues that some have encountered. For future use of the portal

please refer to the user guide and provider agreement.

Adjustment Form:

Following feedback, we have recently changed the adjustment form to ensure that settings receive a copy of what they have submitted.

Please remember to only use this form after the confirmation report stage as these are classed as late amendments and therefore will not be included in your main payments. As stated in the provider agreement, late claims can only be made during the term that the child started and so adjustment forms need to reach us before the 31st March. Any forms received after this date will not be processed. .

30 Hours: A reminder that any new 30 hour codes for this term need to be valid from 31st December 2019 or earlier. Please remember that if a child is in the grace period, you cannot claim if it is the first claim or they have moved during the grace period.

There are still a number of providers who are unaware of whether they are the ‘extended’ or ‘universal’ provider when splitting the 30 hours entitlement with another setting. This is parents’ choice and simply means: ‘Universal’ – the standard 15 hours that all 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to. If parent falls out of 30-

hour eligibility, they will only keep 15 universal hours. If you claim for universal, you will keep the funded place.

‘Extended’ – the extended 15 hours which children are only entitled to if parents meet the eligibility criteria. If parents fall out of this criteria at the rechecking stage, this part of the offer will cease at the end of the grace period date. If you claim for extended you could lose the funded place. It is crucial that this is agreed before you take a child on; the easiest way to capture this is by using the Parent Agreement Form supplied to you in your Provider Agreement Pack, which specifies this question. If you wish to use your own Parent Agreement then this must include a question around this

12

New Provider Early Years Funding Workshop: 2, 3 and 4 year old claiming process Course Length: 3 Hours Course Leaders: Funding Team

Audience: New childcare providers and/or New to the technical system those intending to claim funded places

Workshop Overview: Designed by the Early Years Funding Team this workshop provides an essential foundation on the fundamental workings of the claiming process. In order to receive funding It is a Providers Statutory Duty to submit accurate data returns. This interactive session will help delegates to fulfil this Duty by exploring all areas of the funding system including the Early Years Portal. Alongside the guidance supporting The Provider Agreement, this course will develop providers knowledge and confidence across all aspects of the funding process. Cost: FREE Date: Thursday 26th March 2020 Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Refresher Early Years Funding Workshop: 2, 3 and 4 year old claiming process

Course Length: 2 Hours Course Leaders: Funding Team

Audience: Established funded childcare providers who wish to refresh their knowledge of the claiming process Workshop Overview: Designed to help providers to refresh their knowledge around the funding process, this short interactive workshop will provide delegates with a reminder of the main actions required when accessing the Early Years Portal. Established funded providers are aware that it is their Statutory Duty to submit accurate data returns. Alongside The Provider Agreement, this refresher session will help providers to fulfil this Duty

Cost: FREE Date: Thursday 26th March 2020 Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm

Venue for both workshops: Top Valley Learning Centre Park Vale Academy Top Valley Drive, NG5 9AZ

ESSENTIAL TRAINING

for FUNDED PROVIDERS

13

Welcome to…. Vanessa Foxall, Early Years Specialist who joined the team at the beginning of January.

Early Years News

Vanessa has worked in Early Years for a number of years and with a range of sectors including the PVI and schools.

Vanessa will be working with our Senior Early Years Specialist Caroline Vissani and the rest of the team on a range of topics. She is really looking forward to meeting practitioners at our forthcoming events and moderation visits.

We hope to run a regular feature on caring for the environment, in the last issue we ran a feature on charity shop treasures which was very well received.

Charity Shop Treasures Live! Following the positive feedback from the feature in our autumn newsletter we put our heads together and had another idea to bring you ‘Charity Shop Treasures Live!’

ECO-Schools Eco Schools is a global programme engaging 19.5 million children across 67 countries, making it the largest educational programme on the planet.

For nearly 25 years Eco-Schools has been empowering children to drive change and improve their environmental awareness through the simple Seven-Step framework in order to achieve the international Eco-Schools Green Flag award. Some city schools and settings have already enrolled. If you want to find out how to do so please see link below. The ambition is that every child has the chance to learn about the environment and the role they can play in improving it. www.eco-schools.org.uk/eyfs-pathway/

www.keepbritaintidy.org/our-cause/educate-future-generations

Caring for the Environment

Team members will be displaying some of our finds in the exhibitors room at our forthcoming conference.

We will also be donating a bundle of treasures as one of the prize draws, so make sure you come and visit us!

14

Our book review is back this term and the reviewer is:

Peter McConnochie: Head of Access to Learning, Children and Adults

I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words by Michael Frith and

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson

Early Years Book Review

When I was a very young child, my grandparents used to read me ‘I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words’ by Michael Frith. It was published in 1973 and is slightly older than me but I still have my first copy today on my bookshelf and still read it with one of my children. It’s ideally suited to the 2 to 5 early reading age range and will help to develop vocabulary through the engaging story of a boy who is teaching his remarkable dog 100 new words that we can enjoy seeing the dog act out! The 100 new words are all coloured red to count as you read through and the story depicts a range of funny scenarios that will entertain you as you read along, learn a range of everyday and new words and enjoy the colourful illustrations.

A real classic children’s book that is still fresh after all these years and became a favourite for my own children as well as myself!

I have lots of favourite books and keep finding new stories and picture books that I love. However, one of my favourite ones is “The Snail and the Whale” written by Julia Donaldson and wonderfully illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The story follows the adventures of a restless snail who is keen to explore the wide world far from his rock in a dock. After reading it you will be able to recite the rhyme and the story from memory and enjoy the glorious illustrations.

The book weaves magical descriptions and clever rhymes with tales of the marvellous world around us. A story of adventure, friendship and the clever ingenuity of a snail to save his friend the whale from danger never disappoints. Julia Donaldson has written several other fantastic stories that have been illustrated by Axel Scheffler I particularly enjoyed finding hidden characters from the other stories as I read the Snail on the Whale.

15

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Changes to offer for Aspley, Bulwell, Hyson Green &

Arboretum and St Ann’s

Since 2015, Small Steps Big Changes (SSBC), have funded Dolly Parton Imagination Library books to children living in the communities of Aspley, Bulwell, Hyson Green & Arboretum, and St Ann’s; this has led to over 3000 families having the chance to read and share stories together. But we think we can do better…

We are now expanding our offer to more families by extending the way families can sign up to receive books.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books are provided to children from birth to the age of five. SSBC families are currently offered the books at any time between birth to six months by Health Visitors; this is usually done at the 6-8 week visit.

We know this is a great way of getting books to children, however, we also know that some families in our communities, for example those who move into ward with babies older than six months, or who may not have accessed the Health Visiting team, miss out on this great opportunity.

Because of this we have therefore reviewed our sign up process and are now offering all families living in an SSBC ward with children up to the age of four the opportunity to register to receive the books directly (Health Visitor will still sign families with children up to the age of six months up). To receive books families must live in one of the four SSBC wards, with a child under four (books will continue to be delivered up to a child’s 5th birthday). If they meet these criteria they can contact the team either by phone on 0115 88 3742 or by email at ncp.ss.bc@nhs.net to register.

By expanding our offer in this way we will significantly increase the number of books supplied to children in our wards, which in turn will lead to more families having the opportunity to enjoy books and develop a love of reading.

News from Small Steps, Big Changes

Partner and National News

Small Steps Big Changes Hot Topic: ‘A conversation on Mental Health’ #Howareyoudad? Founder of Fathers Reaching Out, International Fathers’ Mental Health Day and #Howareyoudad campaign / Co-founder of Dad Matters UK / Author of Daddy Blues / Inspirational Father of the Year 2012. Please join us to hear Mark share his personal experience of post-natal mental health. Tuesday 11th February 2020

12.30 pm – 2 pm at SSBC, Nottingham Community and Voluntary Services, NG1 3FB

Please visit the website www.smallstepsbigchanges.org.uk or contact the team at ncp.ss.bc@nhs.net for details on how to book.

16

This Department for Education (DfE) publication provides information on a survey of parents with children aged 0 to 4. It covers parents’ use of childcare and early years provision, and their views and experiences, including:

o what childcare is used by different types of families; o what childcare is used by different types of families and children o changes in take-up of childcare over the years; o parents’ reasons for using or not using childcare and for choosing particular providers; o parents’ views on the providers they used and on childcare provision in their local area in

general; o the perceived impacts of the 30 hours of childcare policy on families and children; o the influence of childcare arrangements on mothers’ decisions about whether to go out to work

and working patterns; o children’s use of digital technology in the home learning environment.

The aim of the project was to improve attainment outcomes by increasing the number of children who ate a healthy breakfast. The findings suggest that, where improvements are seen, it is not just eating breakfast that delivers improvements but attending a breakfast club. This could be due to the content of the breakfast itself or to other social or educational benefits of the club.

The report and update can be accessed at the link below.

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/projects-and-evaluation/projects/magic-breakfast/#evaluation-conclusions

Childcare and Early Years Survey of parents in England

The Endowment Foundation (EEF) has published a revised report of its evaluation of school breakfast clubs, following the notification of an error by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) in its evaluation. The Magic Breakfast project provided schools with support and resources to offer a free, universal, before-school breakfast club, including to all Year 2 and Year 6 pupils.

Evaluation of school Breakfast Clubs update

17

Early Years Newsletter Spring Term Quiz

1. What date do 30 hour codes need to be valid from in order to claim this term?

2. What is the closing date of our Annual Conference?

3. Name the national and local resources including the recent initiative for parents/carers/practitioners to increase the development of speech, language and communication?

4. What essential training do funded providers need to attend?

5. When will ‘T Level’ qualifications be delivered?

6. What are one of the things that the Early Years Team are doing to support caring for the

environment?

7. Which term are you applying for if you submit to the April 2020 SEND Funding panel?

8. What changes have SSBC made with regard to the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library offer?

9. Who has reviewed books for this issue of the newsletter?

10. What was one of the suggestions from the Peer Challenge?

11. Name the ways that the Early Years Team regularly communicates with settings and schools?

12. What partnership aims to offer ‘The Right support in the Right Place at the Right Time’?

13. What DfE report contained the statement ‘We need to tackle these development gaps at the earliest opportunity, particularly focused on the key early language and literacy skills, so that children can begin school ready to thrive’

14. For the Agreement Trialling sessions what information and evidence do F2 practitioners need to bring, pertaining to whom?

15. What briefing recommended by the Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership should you attend if you missed previous sessions; and when is the next one?

Email louise.meadows@nottinghamcity.gov.uk with the answers to claim your prize!

18

Follow us!

Keep up to date with our latest news via our Twitter feed? @Earlynottingham

For all your up to date news and CPD www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears/

For fortnightly Bulletins – sign up to Stay Connected!

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKNCC/subscriber/new?preferences=true

19

Our Summer Newsletter will be published at the beginning of May 2020

Please remember, if you would like us to feature anything for example, a great idea or activity you would like to

share, a case study ,book review, feedback about an event or an event that you are putting on, let us know

and where possible we will include in the next issue.

Email: eytraining@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

With Newsletter Feature in the subject header.

20

EYFSP available to download

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/858652/EYFSP_Handbook_2020v5.pdf

Contact Us…

The Early Years Team, Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG

Calls for Evidence/Consultations/Publications

Email: earlyyears@nottinghamcity.gov.uk Website: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/earlyyears