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Foundation Years October Bulletin | |
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New capital funding for expanding or opening school-based nurseries | |
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Primary-phase schools can apply from now until 19 December for up to £150,000 of capital funding to upgrade spare space to create or expand on-site nurseries. Nurseries can be school-run or delivered by private and voluntary providers or childminders on the school’s site and can cater for any early years age group. In applying for the funding, schools will need to outline how their proposals meet local early years demand and confirm that their local authority is content with their proposal to use surplus space to add new or expanded nursery provision. This first phase will be used to learn for future years to ensure new provision is in the right places and meets the needs of parents and children. More information on the grant and how to apply is available in the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant guidance. | |
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Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) safeguarding reforms from September 2025 | |
DfE continually monitors and reviews safeguarding requirements for early years settings to ensure they are comprehensive and suitably robust to help providers keep children as safe as possible. A consultation on proposals to strengthen EYFS safeguarding requirements was held between 22 April and 17 June 2024, with 1470 responses received.
The Department has now set out its official consultation response. Based on consultation responses DfE will proceed with implementing all of the proposals consulted on, including for: safer recruitment, child absences, safer eating, safeguarding training and paediatric first aid training. Additionally, there are 2 new proposals on providing employment references and to support whistleblowing.
DfE intends to implement the EYFS safeguarding reforms from 1st September 2025.
The consultation response provides further detail on each of the safeguarding changes individually, setting out the responses to the consultation and the reasons behind the decisions made.
This Foundation Years page provides further information and resources to explain the safeguarding changes and help providers understand what they need to do.
Look out for events and webinars which will be advertised on the Foundation Years Website and in the newsletter. | |
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New childminder flexibilities coming into effect from 1st November 2024 | |
From 1 November, we are implementing new flexibilities to help childminders join and stay in the profession, by: - Creating a new category of childminder (childminder without domestic premises) who work entirely from non-domestic premises
- Increasing, from 3 to 4, the total number of people that can work together under a childminder’s registration (including the childminder)
- Giving childminders and providers of childcare on domestic premises (CODPs) more flexibility, allowing them to spend more time operating on non-domestic premises
- Increasing the number of people needed for CODPs to operate to 5 or more people providing care (CODPs that were registered, or applied to register, before 1 November can continue operating with 4 or more people)
We’re also making some clarificatory changes to the EYFS statutory framework, including around the existing qualification requirements for counting in staff:child ratios at Level 6. | |
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Safer Sleeping Practices for Early Years Educators: New Vodcast available | |
Foundation Years has released a new vodcast on ‘Safer Sleeping Practices for Early Years Educators’. This informative vodcast explores a series of best practice questions with the DfE and The Lullaby Trust, sharing up-to-date guidance on creating safe sleep environments for children aged 0-5.
The vodcast explores essential topics such as sleeping arrangements and positions guidelines, how to keep a baby’s temperature at a safe and comfortable level, smoking risks and more.
Watch the vodcast and read the supporting guides by visiting the Foundation Years website. | |
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Ofsted's Early Education research | |
On 8 October, Ofsted published the final part of its three-part research review: Best Start in Life: a research review for early years. Part three focuses on what progress looks like for pre-school aged children in the four specific areas of learning – literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.
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Sharing evidence-informed practice to support early years education and childcare | |
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Help Ofsted to develop their understanding of vulnerability & inclusion | |
In response to the Big Listen, Ofsted has commissioned research on vulnerability and inclusion to inform their inspection and regulatory work in education and children’s social care.
Research in Practice, part of the National Children’s Bureau, is leading a project which aims to help Ofsted develop an evidence-informed conceptualisation of vulnerability and inclusion. As part of this, we are running two series of online focus groups, organised by region between October-November 2024 and December 2024-January 2025. We want to hear from professionals at all levels, across the education and social care sectors.
You can see our series of events and participant information here. To request a place, please complete the expression of interest form here.
For any clarification or questions, please email vulnerabilityproject@researchinpractice.org.uk. | |
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Boost children’s maths and language learning with maths champions | |
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NDNA is thrilled to be recruiting again for their fully funded Maths Champions programme. Places are now available as part of the DfE Accelerator fund for settings across England.
The 12 month online programme will help staff to increase knowledge and become more confident in delivering maths rich day-to-day activities and boost children’s maths and language learning.
To read more about the programme visit the NDNA website or watch this short information video. | |
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The benefits of outdoor play sessions for young families in Bradford | |
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Better Start Bradford’s Better Place project makes improvements to parks and outdoor spaces in the local area, with the aim of providing a healthier and happier environment for expectant parents, babies, young children and families. | |
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How Southend peer support workers are meeting the needs of local families | |
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. | |
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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 | | | |
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