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Foundation Years June Bulletin | |
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Department for Education Early Education and Childcare Provider Regional Roadshow | |
The Department for Education’s final two Early Education and Childcare Provider Regional Roadshow for group-based setting leaders and managers are taking place in the Northeast and Northwest.
The Northeast event is on 26 June in Newcastle at Copthorne Hotel.
The Northwest event is on 8 July in Manchester at the Midland Hotel.
This event is a great opportunity to engage with DfE to share your ideas, successes, concerns and challenges and help shape government’s current and future early education and childcare policy. You will also hear about the plan for the Best Start in Life pillar of our Opportunity Mission and the activity underway to meet the expanded childcare entitlements from September 2025. You will network with other setting leaders, Local Authorities and organisations which support the sector.
We welcome representatives from each local authority.
For queries, please contact EY.STAKEHOLDERS@EDUCATION.GOV.UK. | |
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Please help us by completing the Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers | |
IFF Research recently wrote to early years providers, asking them to take part in our latest "Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers".
This is the biggest survey of childcare providers in England. It collects vital information about the early years sector. Its results are published as Official Statistics and used to develop and evaluate policy. Please help us by completing the survey by 11 July. IFF Research sent instructions on how settings can take part online, at a time that’s convenient to them. If you need these re-sending, please contact childcareproviders@iffresearch.com. | |
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Watch Now - Nurturing Nutrition: Event recording and resources available | |
Foundation Years is pleased to share the recording and supporting slides from the recent live event: Nurturing Nutrition – Building Healthy Foundations in the Early Years.
Hosted by Begin Bright, this informative session featured insights from the Department for Education, Ofsted and early years nutrition experts. The event explored the importance of nutrition in early childhood and provided practical strategies to support healthy eating habits in early years settings.
Whether you attended live or are catching up, the recording is a great opportunity to reflect on your current practice, gain expert guidance and access useful resources that promote children’s health and wellbeing.
We encourage all early years educators, setting leaders and support staff to watch and share the materials with their teams. | |
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New Ofsted research report | |
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Boost children's maths and language learning with Maths Champions | |
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We are thrilled to be recruiting again for our 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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New funded opportunity for early years professionals from the EEF | |
The Education Endowment Foundation has launched a new funded opportunity for early years professionals to become Evidence Advocates.
The opportunity is open to early years professionals from all types of settings — including childminders — across every region of England. The roles offer a unique opportunity to support the use of evidence to improve outcomes across the sector. As part of their role, Evidence Advocates will: - support the design and delivery of evidence-based professional development - help create and improve high-quality resources - assist with quality assurance of early years materials - champion evidence use across the sector - share practitioner insights to inform future support
If you're passionate about improving early education through evidence, please do consider applying.
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Boost children's language skills with Early Talk Boost | |
Created with educators for educators, Early Talk Boost helps children aged three to four catch up with their peers when they’re struggling with talking and understanding words. It’s exciting, it’s impactful – and it could be free for your setting when you take part in Speech and Language UK’s research project.
The charity is working with the Education Endowment Foundation to better understand Early Talk Boost’s impact. All early years settings in England can take part in the project, except those in the Northeast, North Yorkshire, and Cumbria. For full eligibility criteria, check out their website. When you sign up, you could have the chance to deliver the programme for FREE in your setting.
Early Talk Boost could make a big difference for the children you work with, so don’t miss out.
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Spotlight on Success: Brogan's Apprenticeship Journey | |
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Brogan’s journey into early years education began in 2021 when she enrolled as a Level 2 apprentice. From the start, she showed a natural talent for working with children and a strong desire to learn. Keen to deepen her understanding of child development and teaching methods, she progressed to complete her Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification.
Balancing work and study wasn’t easy, but with determination and support from her training provider, Brogan thrived. She also made the most of additional CPD opportunities to strengthen her skills and confidence.
Now fully qualified, Brogan is flourishing in her role and already looking ahead to future development. “I’ve achieved so much more than I ever expected,” she says. “It’s made me even more passionate about what I do.”
Her story is a fantastic example of what’s possible in early years with the right support, training, and drive.
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Invoicing, Consumables and Charging Structures | |
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Effective management of invoicing and charging structures is crucial for maintaining transparency and fairness as required by the DfE statutory guidance.
This recording considers the requirements of the statutory guidance and explores invoicing good practice. Hear a provider’s first-hand experience of defining consumables vs. equipment and resources, how to develop fair and transparent charging structures as well as considering the importance of monitoring and reviewing charging practices.
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Making Funding Work: The Use of Government Funding as a Sustainable Business Model | |
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In this 40-minute video Lucy Lewin provides viewers with information and strategies needed to make the most of government funding. Lucy discusses the different types of funding streams, how to apply for them, and ways to use these funds strategically for long-term sustainability.
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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 | | | |
