The newsletters below are listed in chronological order (newest to oldest) by calendar year.
Newsletters for Early Years and Childcare providers
An archive of the newsletters for Early Years and Childcare providers.
September 2024
- Issue 39/2024:
- Safeguarding focus - Lockdown processes
- Autumn term 2024 headcount submissions close this Friday
- Autumn term post headcount exceptional payment requests for eligible working families of children aged 9 months to 2 years old
- Ofsted outcomes
- October childcare job fair, Horsham - only a few stalls left
- Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub newsletter - September 2024
- Oral health training
- National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership
- Early Years training - Phonics
- Issue 38/2024:
- Updates to our phone system - possible longer call wait times
- Early Years Funded Entitlement for 2 year olds
- Starting school applications
- New public mental health needs assessment 2024
- Early Years training
- Issue 37/2024:
- Early Years and Childcare advisors corrected contact information for support
- Job centre support with recruitment
- Childcare job fair in Horsham in October - meet job seekers
- Wellbeing and exercise in pregnancy programme
- National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)
- Autumn early years and childcare networks
- Early Years training
- Special newsletter - Applications open for wraparound childcare programme funding
- Issue 36/2024:
- Business focus - Marketing your early years and childcare business
- Early Years Funded Entitlement autumn term actuals - now open
- Early Years Funded Entitlements for working families
- Claiming disability access fund
- Early Years Funded Entitlement leaflet for parents and carers - digital copies available
- Setting support phone line reminder
- Fire safety training
- Oral health pilot
- PACEY Childcare and Early Years awards 2024
- Early Years and Childcare 2024/2025 training and events brochure
- Special Newsletter - Update on support from Early Years and Childcare advisors
August 2024
- Issue 35/2024:
- Safeguarding focus - Updated Prevent referral form
- Right from the Start: Early Years and Childcare Strategy
- Applications open for Wraparound Childcare Programme Funding
- Registering as a childminder and nanny
- Ofsted updates - returning the ID checking form to Ofsted
- Join the West Sussex Multiply Bus for a week of learning and fun
- Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub newsletter - August 2024
- Early Years training
- Issue 34/2024:
- Childcare Expansion Forum - joining opportunity extension
- Information for childcare providers in West Sussex - new website
- Ofsted updates - what early years providers and practitioners need to know
- Childminders - new to Ofsted inspections, what do you need to know?
- Autumn Early Years and Childcare networks
- Issue 33/2024:
- Early Years Funded Entitlement for working families - autumn term deadline
- Applying for Early Years Funded Entitlement when on parental leave
- Universal Early Years Funded Entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds - eligibility codes not required
- Do Something Big campaign - advertising vacancies
- PACEY's first childcare and early years conference
- Special newsletter - Emergency planning and response
- Issue 32/2024:
- Business focus - maintaining quality early years and childcare provision in the face of workforce challenges
- Setting support phoneline - downtime and changes to operating hours
- European Early Childhood Education Research Association conference 2024 - Brighton
- Brighton and Hove childminder conference - November 2024
- Childcare Expansion Forum - opportunity to join
- Making Every Contact Count training
- Special Newsletter - Final reminder - Early Years Funded Entitlement payment consultation closes Friday 2 August
July 2024
- Issue 31/2024:
- Safeguarding focus - Emotional abuse - childhood verbal abuse
- Reminder to have your say on Early Years Funded Entitlement payments
- Advanced warning - Online provider portal downtime
- Check Early Years Funded Entitlement codes for working families
- Childcare Expansion Forum - opportunity to join
- Free training from Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
- Issue 30/2024:
- Online provider portal downtime
- Reminder to have your say on Early Years Funded Entitlement payments
- Reporting changes to your Ofsted registration
- Ofsted Early Years and Childcare Enforcement policy updates
- Ofsted News e-magazine
- Kent Early Years Stronger Practice hub newsletter - July 2024
- Issue 29/2024:
- National Wraparound Childcare Programme Update
- Letter from Sussex Police regarding FGM/C
- Early years and childcare training booking portal now live
- National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership
- SEND and inclusion newsletter
- Summer reading challenge
- Issue 28/2024:
- Recruitment and support - advertise your job vacancies
- Early years training moving to new platform - final reminder
- Reminder to have your say on EYFE payments
- Childcare expansion forum - opportunity to join
- Early years training
- Special newsletter - Update on support from your Early Years and Childcare Advisors
- Issue 27/2024:
- Updated safeguarding letter for parents/carers
- Early Years Funded Entitlements - parental leave
- Early Years Funded Entitlements for working families temporary codes
- Action required - checking codes for Early Years Funded Entitlements for working families
- Childcare Expansion Forum updates
- Spring term network presentations
- Early Years training moving to a new platform
- Early Years training
June 2024
- Special newsletter - Early years and childcare training moving platforms
- Issue 26/2024:
- Safeguarding focus - Water safety - always supervise children around water
- Consultation open - Early Years Funded Entitlement payments
- Heat health alerts - Yellow
- Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Showman terminology
- Dingley's promise - Fostering meaningful inclusion in Early Years Settings
- Early Years training
- Special newsletter - Early Years funded entitlement payment consultation
- Issue 25/2024:
- Early Years funded entitlement autumn 2024 term Estimates now open
- New Early Years Funded Entitlement leaflet
- Business opportunity in Shoreham-by-Sea
- Childcare Expansion Capital Funding - expressions of interest
- Gypsy, Roma and Traveller month - June 2024
- Ethnic Minority Traveller Achievement Service resource
- Early Years training
- Issue 24/2024:
- Business focus - Changes to holiday entitlement
- Sign up arrangements regarding Early Years Funded Entitlement for 9 month olds
- Post Headcount Exceptional Payment requests for children starting between 6 May to 14 June
- Early Years Funded Entitlements for 9 month olds - key messages for parents/carers
- Childcare Expansion Capital Funding - expressions of interest
- Early Years Foundation Stage Leaders Network slides
- Masters in Early Years Education with Early Years Teacher Status
- Early Years training
- Issue 23/2024:
- Online provider portal downtime
- Early Years Funded Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds - summer term payments
- Business opportunity for Early Years Provision in Horsham
- Starting school
- Get ready for summer - Encourage families to check vaccinations are up to date
- Oral health support in Early Years
- Early Years training
May 2024
- Special newsletter - Childcare expansion capital grants - Expression of interest
- Issue 22/2024:
- Safeguarding focus - Coping with a crying baby and safer sleep resources
- Advanced warning - Online provider portal downtime
- Early Years Evidence Store expands to explore self-regulation and executive function
- Final reminder Ofsted's Big Listen consultation - for adults and children
- Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub newsletter - May 2024
- Early Years training
- Issue 21/2024:
- Free communication friendly spaces event - change of time
- Help for early years providers - new nutrition content
- New Ofsted blogs
- SEND and Inclusion newsletter - May 2024
- Reminder - Ofsted's Big Listen consultation
- Reminder - Early Years Foundation Stage safeguarding consultation
- National Smile Month 2024
- Early Years training
- Issue 20/2024:
- Business focus - Free business planning courses
- Online provider portal downtime
- Termly provider update
- Final reminder - Wraparound programme funding
- Reminder - Consultation on an experience-based route for Early Years practitioners
- Coping with a crying baby and safer sleep - Free webinar
- Childminding week 2024
- National numeracy day 2024
- Now module available - Effective curriculum and assessment
- Virtual school newsletter
- Early Years training
- Issue 19/2024:
- Summer term 2024 headcount submissions close this Friday
- Update on the expansion of childcare
- Contact number for FE Finance
- Advertise your job vacancies on the West Sussex County Council website
- Tools for schools website migration
- Wraparound programme funding
- Final reminder - Childminder consultation
- Consultation - Experienced based route for Early Years practitioners
- Free communication friendly spaces event
- Early Years training
- Issue 18/2024:
- Wraparound programme funding - Expression of interest
- Ofsted Big conversation
- Starting school vaccinations
- Reminder - Childminder recruitment and retention consultation
- Early Years training
April 2024
- Special newsletter - Wraparound programme funding - Expression of interest
- Issue 17/2024:
- Safeguarding focus - Unregulated medical treatment for children
- Online provider portal downtime
- Help us to help you - eligibility code queries
- Fire safety in Early Years and Childcare settings
- Transition events
- Early Years Foundation Stage consultation - Safeguarding requirements
- Early Years training
- Special newsletter - Online provider portal downtime
- Special newsletter - Relocation of Jessie Younghusband Primary School
- Issue 16/2024:
- Early Years Funded Entitlement Summer term actuals
- Validating 2 year old working families eligibility code
- Early Years Funded Entitlement leaflets for parents
- Claiming Disability Access Fund (DAF)
- Transition events
- Department for Education roadshow - new date
- Oral health in Early Years pilot programme
- Brilliant babies to terrific toddlers - A tool for reflection
- Early Years training
- Issue 15/2024:
- Business focus - Sign up to offer tax-free childcare
- Validating 2 year old working families codes
- Ofsted update
- Reminder - Childminder recruitment and retention consultation
- Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub newsletter and new supportive document for providers
- Early Years training
- Issue 14/2024:
- Safeguarding focus - Dangers of laundry capsules
- Accepting your provider declaration and estimate payments
- Validating 2 year old working families codes
- Transition events
- Pre-school immunisations
- Ofsted's Big Listen consultation - for adults and children
- Free trees for schools, nurseries and community groups
March 2024
- Issue 13/2024:
- High volume of calls and emails
- Final reminder to check Early Years Funded Entitlement codes
- Childcare Expansion Provider Forum update
- Are parents/carers in your setting confused about the new childcare offers?
- Department for Education provider roadshows - postponed
- Review of the ordinarily available inclusive practice guide
- Billingual support for Chagossian families
- Ofsted updates.
- Issue 12/2024:
- Contacting the Local Authority Designated Officer
- Warning - Online provider portal downtime
- Early Years Funded Entitlement eligibility codes - summer term deadline
- New funding policy and invoice templates available
- Childminder consultation
- Early Years training.
- Special newsletter - Early Years Funded Entitlement - Indicative Budgets 2024-25
- Issue 11/2024:
- Business focus - Funding for apprentices in your setting
- Warning - Online provider portal downtime
- Outcomes Framework for children and young people - parent/carer survey
- Department for Education Provider roadshows
- Transition events 2024
- Department for Education COVID recovery programme
- Jobcentre plus - support with recruitment
- SEND and inclusion newsletter - March 2024
- Fraud guide for businesses.
- Issue 10/2024:
- Early Years Funded Entitlement Summer 2024 term estimates now open
- Early Years Funded Entitlement for working families - reminding parents to check and reconfirm their codes
- Checking Early Years Funded Entitlement codes
- Advanced warning - Online provider portal downtime
- Network meeting presentations
- New Ofsted early years blog post - Ofsted priorities for the early years sector
- Early Years training
- Lose weight for free!
- Special newsletter - Provider Declaration 2024-2025 - existing Early Years Funded Entitlement providers only
February 2024
- Special newsletter - New parent declaration form now available - existing Early Years Funded providers only
- Issue 9/2024:
- Safeguarding focus - Free county lines video and resource pack
- Early Years funded entitlement - Provider Declaration
- Online Provider Portal downtime
- Ofsted inspections - Support from the Early Years and Childcare team
- New resource to support practitioners with Early Years Foundation Stage assessment
- Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub newsletter - February 2024
- Early Years training.
- Issue 8/2024:
- Business focus - Changes to your Ofsted registration
- Early Years funded entitlement - Spring term payments
- Do you know someone who deserves an honour?
- Ofsted curriculum roadshows in West Sussex
- Foundation years live - March events
- Webinars on personal, social and emotional development and maths mastery
- Early Years training.
- Special newsletter - Clarification on level 3 qualifications and offering Early Years Funded Entitlements (EYFE)
- Issue 7/2024:
- Statement from the Department for Education on charging
- Level 3 qualifications and offering Early Years funded entitlements
- Early Years Funded entitlement eligibility checker updated
- Notice of planned downtime
- Early Years Foundation Stage Leaders Network slides
- Final chance for free training and support
- Early Years Conference - Embracing Inclusivity
- SEND and Inclusion newsletter
- Early Years training.
- Issue 6/2024:
- 2 year old funding
- Letter from Department of Education to Early Years and Childcare providers
- Early Years and Childcare newsletter web page
- Jobcentre Plus - support with recruitment
- West Sussex Health Visiting and School Nursing services survey
- Early Years in Mind new guide on self-regulation
- Early Years in Mind survey
- Newsletter from Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
- Learning and Development Gateway - new payment system live
- Webinars from WORTH services
- Early Years training.
January 2024
- Issue 5/2024:
- Safeguarding focus - NSPCC case reviews on parental substance use
- Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Final call - Expansion of childcare offers survey
- National Early Years recruitment campaign
- Increase in measles cases in Europe
- Transition for children starting school in September 2024
- How parents apply for eligibility codes
- Early Years provider emails hacked
- Early Years in Mind
- Early Years in Mind speech and language webinar recording
- Cancellations and substitutions - Early Years training
- Early Years training.
- Special Newsletter - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Issue 4/2024:
- Online Provider Portal downtime
- Free Entitlement funding rates 2024-25
- Termly childcare provider form
- Funding support for medical training
- Update to Early Years inspection handbook
- Funding support for medical training
- Learning and Development Gateway payment update
- Childcare Expansion Forum update
- Follow the Family Information Service Facebook
- Department for Education experts and mentors programme.
- Special Newsletter - Free Entitlement funding rates 2024-25
- Issue 3/2024:
- New 2 year old Free Entitlement for working families - issues when applying
- Advanced notice of planned downtime
- Expansion of childcare funding offers update - Schools forum and proposed funding rates
- New parent declaration form - coming soon
- Early Years Foundation Stage Leaders Networks
- Early Years Professional Development Programme - closing soon
- The Big Ambition - Early Years responses needed
- How to use research evidence in practice
- Early Years training.
- Issue 2/2024:
- Expansion of childcare offers survey
- Expansion of childcare funding offers update - proposed funding formula and Free Entitlement rates
- Starting school applications - five days to go
- Transition events
- Wellbeing webinar for practitioners
- Free professional development course for Early Years leaders
- Early Years training.
- Issue 1/2024:
- Mandatory Early Years census and Free Entitlement Spring term actuals
- Expansion of childcare funding offers update
- Understanding changes to the EYFS
- Starting school applications - 12 days to go
- Updated guidance - working together to safeguard children
- Admission arrangements consultation
- Bilingual support with school applications
- Best start in life part two
- Early years training.
December 2023
- Number 297:
- Safeguarding focus
- New Early Years Foundation Stage statutory documents published
- Speech and language support in the Early Years
- Free Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disabilities training
- SEND and Inclusion newsletter
- Free workshops - cost of living support for children and families
- Prevent duty guidance updated
- Updates to GOV.UK login for training
- Early Years training.
- Number 296:
- Advanced notice - mandatory Early Years census 2024
- Coping with crying and safe sleep for babies training
- Ofsted curriculum roadshows in West Sussex
- Final reminder - the Big Ambition survey
- Stronger Practice Hub new website
- New Foundation Years blog post - national professional qualification in Early Years leadership
- Network meeting presentations
- Ofsted FAQ videos
- Early Years training - e-learning modules available.
- Special newsletter: Online Provider Portal downtime
- Number 295:
- Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Final reminder - childcare expansion forum invitation
- Early Years Alliance - webinar on childcare expansion
- Provider survey - childcare expansion
- Childminder agencies - changes to guidance
- Updated - childminder start-up grants
- Updated Ofsted guidance - checks on household members and visitors
- New mental health support resources for babies and children
- Early Years training.
November 2023
- Special newsletter: Childcare expansion - funding rates and timeline of events
- Number 294:
- Final reminder - renaming Free Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds
- Advanced notice - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Invitation to join childcare expansion forum
- Final reminder - consultation on mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse
- Tiny Happy People Champion training
- Autumn statement 2023
- New traveller education support Early Years leaflet
- Ofsted annual report
- Early Years training.
- Number 293:
- Online Provider Portal downtime
- Final reminder - submit Spring term estimates
- Your view on renaming Free Entitlement for 2,3 and 4 year olds
- Invitation to join the childcare expansion forum
- Early Years capital funding
- Reminder - consultation on the mandatory reporting on child sexual abuse
- Oral health promotion
- Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub newsletter
- Early Years Professional Development Programme
- Support from Early Years and Childcare advisors when working with parents/carers
- Early Years training - new payment system coming soon
- Early Years training - booking and cancellation reminder.
- Special newsletter: Ofsted area SEND inspection survey
- Number 292:
- Free Entitlement Spring term estimates now open
- 30 hour codes - Spring term deadlines
- Consultation on reporting of child sexual abuse
- Holiday activity and food winter bookings
- Schools forum representative - a message from Claire Kenyon
- Upcoming changes to Early Years Childcare funding - survey now closed
- Right from the Start: Early Years and Childcare strategy event
- Practitioner wellbeing support resource
- New projects launched evidence-informed programmes
- Top three tips for preventing tooth decay - translated infographics
- Early Years training.
- Number 291:
- Final reminder - Your Voice Matters - upcoming changes to Early Years and Childcare funding
- Schools Forum representative results
- Updated Ofsted poster for parents
- Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) exemptions guidance
- Reminder Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP) - free professional development
- Childminder mentor programme
- Early Years experts and mentors programme
- New early maths module added to Department for Education (DfE) online training
- Best start in life - a research review for early years (part two)
- Early Years training
- Number 290:
- Weather warning
- Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Reminder - Your Voice Matters - upcoming changes to Early Years Childcare funding
- Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) consultation response
- Stronger Practice Hub - webinar
- Ofsted webinars
- Early Years training.
October 2023
- Special newsletter: Your Voice Matters - upcoming changes to Early Years Childcare Funding
- Number 289:
- Safeguarding focus - reducing parental conflict
- Free Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds - Autumn term payments
- Advanced notice - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Reminder - Early Years representative for Schools Forum ballot now open
- Early Years change of age range consultation - West Sussex Schools
- Childminder network meetings
- Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) leader networks
- Early Years (EY) Education Recovery Programme - finding the support that is right for you
- Early Years training.
- Early Years special broadcast (ballot now open - Early Years representative for schools forum)
- Number 288:
- Final reminder - the West Sussex Early Years and Childcare strategy survey
- Setting support phone line - connectivity issues
- Flu immunisation for Early Years Settings including Childminders
- West Sussex Safeguarding Childrens Partnership (WSSCP) Safeguarding week 2023
- Early Years Alliance (EYA) nutrition support programme
- The Big Ambition survey
- Foundation Years online event recording
- Learning and Development Gateway booking guidance
- Early Years training.
- Number 287:
- Measles and MMR vaccination
- Experts and mentors programme
- Reminder - West Sussex Early Years and Childcare strategy survey
- Advanced warning of downtime
- Update - childminders start-up grant
- Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
- Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP)
- Dingley’s Promise - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) national research
- Early Education and Childcare Coalition
- Early Years training.
- Number 286:
- Changes to raising safeguarding concerns for children
- Warning - online provider portal downtime
- Keeping us updated with your staff changes
- Early Years representative for the schools forum
- Starting school applications
- Black history month 2023
- Physical development in early childhood - Early education blog
- Early Years training
- Mental health matters in West Sussex.
- Last updated:
- 1 October 2024