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Foundation Years December Bulletin | |
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Apply to Become an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub | |
Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs help early years settings and childminders adopt evidence-informed improvements, promote system leadership, and build networks for sharing effective practice. As one Hub explains: "It is a privilege to be an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub working with an incredible work force, helping to connect practitioners with the support, evidence and community they need to thrive. We work to bring people together, share what works, and help strengthen practice in ways that make a real, lasting difference for children across our region." There are currently 18 hubs across England, and in line with the Best Start in Life strategy, we are expanding. Applications are invited from group-based or school-based providers with strong leadership and a drive for excellence. Apply by Friday 16th January 2026. More details and the application link are here. Application questions? Email EYSPH.applications@education.gov.uk. | |
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Nominee training for early years inspections | |
We’ve published a training video explaining the new role of nominee for early years inspections under our renewed education inspection framework. The role of the nominee is to support with communication, coordination and collaboration throughout the inspection. This is set out in our early years inspection information. The nominee role is not compulsory. We won't expect childminder settings to have one and settings will not be disadvantaged if they choose not to have a nominee. You can watch the video on our YouTube channel here. | |
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The Early Years Operating Guide now includes links to additional guidance for inspectors: · Principles for carrying out early years inspection and regulatory work without notice · Principles for deciding when more than one inspector is needed for early years inspection and regulatory activity We’re sharing this information to ensure transparency about our approach in these situations. | |
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Special Approach to Making it REAL open access webinars | |
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Sustainability of Funding – Guidance and Resources | |
Childcare Works have created recorded guidance and resources for providers, schools and childminders to use when navigating the sustainability of early years funding, and to support in adopting a whole-business perspective when it comes to funding. You can find these on the HUB.
These resources recognise the diversity of the early years sector and focus on the practical tools that can be applied to a range of contexts. They are designed to support providers in feeling more confident with planning, decision making, and sustaining high quality childcare provision and include:
· Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): understanding the predictable value of a child’s funded journey from 9 months to school. · Portfolio Economics: recognising how funding rates and ratios work together in group-based providers to balance costs and income across age groups. · Cashflow Predictability: using regular funding payments as a stable foundation for staffing, planning, and quality. | |
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How I became a Maths Champion – and anyone can! | |
“When I was told I was going to be a ‘Maths Champion’, my first thought was ‘no, I’m not.’” “I just felt this programme was not for me, this was for people who know more about maths than me. But by the time I completed the training modules, I realised actually I was the perfect candidate for this programme.” Early Years Lead Practitioner Adele Younger on how the free Maths Champions programme gave her new confidence and transformed her learning environment. | |
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Foundation Years is funded by the Department for Education and brought to you by Begin Bright. |
Our mailing address is: foundationyears@beginbright.com | | | |
