Foundation Years November Bulletin

DfE and Ofsted updates

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Frameworks 1st November Update

Sector updates

New guidance for early years professionals from the Education Endowment Foundation
Early Years SEND Partnership Training and Seminars
Expanded support opportunities available for registered practitioners on the Early Years Professional Development Programme
Nottingham’s Family Mentor service – making a real difference
Supporting Early Minds Webinar
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DfE and Ofsted updates

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Frameworks 1st November Update

From 1^st November, changes to the EYFS frameworks have become statutory.

Changes to the Childminder framework include:

Clarification that the framework applies to childminders both with, and without, domestic premises.
Confirmation that childminders who are registered without domestic premises need to inform parents and carers that they cannot provide any provision from domestic premises (unless they hold a separate domestic premises registration for the specific premises).

Changes to the Group and School-based providers framework include:

Clarification on the qualification requirements for staff counting in the level 6 staff:child ratios in early years settings.
Minor changes to both frameworks include clarifications to existing policy, spelling and grammar.

Please ensure that you familiarise yourself with the new requirements to ensure that you are complying with your statutory duty.

Ofsted have also published a short video which helps outline these changes and what they mean for existing childcare providers. Keep up to date with further information by subscribing to email alerts about new and updated guidance.

Read the updated framework here

Watch the short video here

Sector updates

New guidance for early years professionals from the Education Endowment Foundation

The Education Endowment Foundation has updated their Early Years hub with two new practical guides to help support evidence-informed practices in early years education.

Supporting Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing summarises research evidence for supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young children.
Improving early education through high-quality interactions builds on the ShREC approach, and emphasises extending children’s thinking and learning, scaffolding, shared attention, and back-and-forth conversations. The guide sets out clear and practical steps for practitioners to follow.

Link to the Early Years Hub

Early Years SEND Partnership Training and Seminars

The EYSEND Partnership are offering plenty of training and seminars for early years educators and parents/carers, which can be accessed via our training calendar. Some of the upcoming free training and events include:

Workshops for Parents and Carers, hosted by Contact and Speech & Language UK:
- Money Matters 03 December 10:00 am
- Introduction to Speech and Language Challenges 03 December 7:00 pm

Meeting the Needs of Every Child training, Click here to find out more and register today.
Early Years Education Entitlement Seminar Click here to find out more and book your place today.

Link to the training calendar

Expanded support opportunities available for registered practitioners on the Early Years Professional Development Programme

The Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP) has recently launched additional catch-up webinars to support practitioners who registered for the programme but are not fully on track with their learning.

Lauren, Support Team Manager for the EYPDP, highlighted that these new sessions are part of an ongoing effort to provide accessible, flexible learning opportunities for practitioners juggling demanding roles.

"These catch-up webinars are designed to help practitioners stay on track, especially those who might have faced barriers to attendance. We’re committed to offering support through every stage of the programme."

If you have registered for the EYPDP and require assistance, please contact the support team at EYPDPsupport@edt.org. For further information about the programme, please visit www.earlyyearspdp.com.

[Please note, the EYPDP is no longer accepting new registrations.]

Find out more

Nottingham's Family Mentor service - making a real difference

The Early Years Alliance and A Better Start Southend offer focussed support to families of children with social and communication needs living in Southend.

The service provides information and support in accessing SEND services and activities in the local area as well as holding sensory stay and play sessions and workshops throughout term time and holiday which are for the exclusive use of the families supported.