Newsletters for Early Years and Childcare providers
An archive of the newsletters for Early Years and Childcare providers.
The newsletters below are listed in chronological order (newest to oldest) by calendar year.
Early years and childcare newsletter
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March 2026
- Issue 12/2026:
- Working together to safeguard children 2026 - updated statutory guidance
- Update on post headcount exceptional payments request forms processing times
- Launch of the West Sussex SEND Strategy 2026 to 2030
- New Ofsted blog post - scam text messages claiming to be from Ofsted
- Updated guidance for childminders on household expenses
- Digital tools webinar for early years and wraparound providers
- Childminder‑led language enrichment webinar
- Early Years training
- Grow, learn and flourish West Sussex Teaching School Hub - March 2026 newsletter
- Special newsletter: Provider declaration 2026 to 2027 - processing update
- Special newsletter: Meningitis outbreak
- Issue 11/2026:
- Safeguarding Focus: Monitoring child absence in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage
- Provider declaration 2026 to 2027 reminder
- Have you completed the Early Years Education and Childcare Workforce review?
- Church Lane Nursery celebrates national award win
- Join the West Sussex Virtual School for breakfast this summer
- White paper on education reform - open consultation
- Education Endowment Foundation: Take part in a funded research project and build strong vocabulary from the start
- Strengthening professional connections for foster carers and kinship carers
- Early Years training
- Issue 10/2026:
- Good level of development focus - Using Early Years Pupil Premium to narrow the attainment gap
- Important action for existing Early Years Funded Entitlement providers
- Common error when submitting your provider declaration form
- Early Years Network Group - update
- Tax-Free childcare
- Starting reception webinar and new toothbrushing guide
- Maths champions programme
- Early Years training
- Special newsletter: Indicative budget report 2026 to 2027
- Issue 9/2026:
- Business Focus - Free cyber security support for businesses
- Early Years Funded Entitlement - summer term 2026 estimates now open
- Early Years Funded Entitlement for Working Families eligibility codes
- Webinars available - completing your annual provider declaration
- Have you completed the Early Years Education and Childcare Workforce review?
- Grants and funds available to support outdoor education
- Parental conduct
- Early Years and Childcare Inclusion/Special Educational Needs Network
- Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: summer term training and networks
- Early Years training
- Special newsletter: New provider declaration
- Issue 12/2026:
-
February 2026
- Special newsletter
- New Early Years Funded Entitlement provider declaration coming soon
- New parent declaration form
- Term dates: summer 2026 to summer 2027
- Summer 2026 - Increase in funded term time only claimable weeks
- Webinars available - completing your annual provider declaration
- Issue 8/2026:
- Early help focus - Best Start Family Hubs
- White Paper on Education Reform - Update from Claire Hayes, Assistant Director of Education and Skills
- Early Years Funded Entitlement - Indicative budget report
- Wraparound parent survey
- 23rd National Playwork Conference for early years and wraparound care settings
- Ofsted guidance on school-based early years and childcare settings
- The second early years education and childcare workforce review has landed
- Transition events
- Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: summer term training and networks
- SEND and Inclusion newsletter
- Early Years training
- Issue 7/2026:
- Safeguarding Focus - DBS launches new podcast for employers and safeguarding professionals
- Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Product recall - non-sterile alcohol-free wipe products
- Celebrating early years in West Sussex: share our new videos
- Guidance for childminders using non-domestic premises
- Ofsted launches new QR code badges for promoting inspection findings
- Help for early years providers: Toilet training guidance
- Pearson National Teaching Awards – entries now open
- Virtual School Theraplay-Informed workshops
- Early Years training
- Issue 6/2026:
- Product recall: Aptamil and Cow and Gate First Infant Milk and Follow on Milk formula
- Fully Funded MA in Early Years Education with Early Years Teacher Status - applications now open
- Wraparound Childcare Parent Survey - reminder
- Updated Quality Improvement Principles - The National Children’s Bureau
- New podcast for early years practitioners
- Maths Champions - professional development programme
- Virtual school newsletter
- Early Years training
- Special newsletter - Updated statutory guidance for early education and childcare 2026
- Issue 5/2026:
- Business Focus - Employment Rights Act 2025: What providers need to know
- Small Hands, Big Planet: Climate action workshop for early years educator
- Product recall: Hobbycraft “giant box of craft"
- Do you have any staff vacancies to fill?
- Early years education and childcare jobs fairs
- Bursaries for Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector
- Ofsted inspections since November 2025
- Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub virtual training and networks
- Early Years training
- Special newsletter
-
January 2026
- Special Newsletter - Scam alert: Fake Ofsted suspension messages
- Issue 4/2026:
- Safeguarding focus
- Spring term 2026 termly census and actuals - deadline this Friday
- Product recall: Aptamil First Infant Formula (800g)
- Early Years Education and Childcare Conference 2026 - last chance to secure an early bird space
- Termly provider update
- Checking Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) codes
- Celebrating early years in West Sussex - watch our new videos
- Nominate a colleague for a King’s Birthday Honour
- New training to help every child and young person thrive
- Issue 3/2026:
- Starting school applications - window has now closed
- Early Years initial teacher training
- Wraparound Childcare Parent Survey; Early Years Skills Bootcamp
- Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub - Makaton training
- Call for early years apprentices and practitioners to share their story
- Words for life - a useful resource to share with families
- Wellbeing and Climate Action; Early Years training
- Special Newsletter - Online Provider Portal is now available
- Special Newsletter - Early Years Funded Entitlement rates 2026 to 2027
- Issue 2/2026:
- Starting school applications - window closes tomorrow
- Important safety alert - check your formula now
- Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Why a SEND information report matters
- Bursaries for Level 3 Diploma for working in the Early Years sector (Early Years Educator)
- Apply to become an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub - deadline approaching
- New potty training guide launched for settings and families
- Keeping your setting healthy this winter
- Early Years training - submitting actuals claims and census details webinar
- Early Years training - new ideas and activities for the children in your setting
- Issue 1/2026:
- Spring term 2026 census and actuals claims - action required
- Spring headcount date; Starting school applications - one week to go
- Mythbusting Early Childhood Development: writing
- Share your experience as an Early Years Teacher
- Supervised toothbrushing programme
- Update to Portage referral criteria
- Early years qualification requirements and standards: minor changes
- checking qualifications are full and relevant
- Important changes to the childhood vaccination schedule
- Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub updates
- Early Years training
-
December 2025
- Issue 50/2025:
- Safeguarding focus - New weekly online safeguarding drop-in sessions
- Christmas and New Year opening times
- Submitting actuals claims and census details webinar
- Starting school applications
- Recent updates to Ofsted guidance
- Vaccine hesitancy e-module now live
- New disability guidance and training
- Designated Safeguarding Lead networks 2026 - secure your space
- Keynote speaker confirmed for West Sussex Early Years Education and Childcare Conference 2026
- Cyber Security: ministerial letter to small businesses
- Childcare Works - free resources
- Early Years training
- Special newsletter - Funding rates and timeline of events
- Issue 49/2025:
- Early Years Funded Entitlement spring term estimates - deadline this Friday
- Spring headcount date
- Checking eligibility for Early Years Funded Entitlement for Working Families
- Ofsted regulation changes
- Newly Qualified Starters Programme
- Tax-Free Childcare
- Disclosure and Barring Service campaign: understanding the legal duty to refer
- Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub newsletter
- SEND and Inclusion newsletter
- Early Years training
- Issue 48/2025:
- Business Focus - Business fees and rates - update
- Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Important: Changes to Early Years Census processes
- Apply to become an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
- Reminder of upcoming Early Education and Childcare Statutory Requirements - from January 2026
- Updates from the Education Endowment Foundation
- Paediatric Oral Health Access and Prevention Programme
- Could you offer work experience placements?
- Spring Early Years Foundation Stage leaders networks - secure your space
- Early Years training
- Issue 50/2025:
-
· Issue 47/2025:
- Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Early Years Funded Entitlement - spring term 2026 estimates open
- Early Years Funded Entitlement for working families eligibility codes
- Early Years Funded Entitlement number of weeks in spring term
- Starting school applications
- Admissions consultation
- Updated children's vaccine schedule resources
- Kent & Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub Webinars
- Have your say on the future of local government in West Sussex
- Early Years training
Issue 46/2025:
- Safeguarding Focus - lockdown processes
- References
- Safeguarding and child protection refresher and Designated Safeguarding Lead training
- Early Years Funded Entitlement - spring term 2025 estimates now open
- Starting school applications help from the Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service
- Best Start in Life - supporting parents from pregnancy to childcare
- You are invited - strengthening support for families event
- Supervised toothbrushing champions
- SENCO/INCO network meeting slides
- Sustainability Support for Education free email series
- Early years training
Issue 45/2025:
- Get winter ready - support for you and the families in your setting
- More opportunities from the Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub
- Carbon Literacy training
- Get free climate action support for your setting from a Climate Ambassador
- Early years training - last chance to secure a free space
Issue 44/2025:
- Business focus - Can you offer work experience?
- Early Years Funding Team new email is live
- Rethinking the recruitment and retention of staff
- Early Years Senior Leader Apprenticeship
- Wraparound Childcare Programme Funding
- Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub newsletter
- Early years training
Early years funding newsletter
-
- Early Years Funded Entitlement updates - video
- Spring term 2026 actuals claims - action required
- How to check and submit 2 year old Local Authority Issued Early Years Funded Entitlement codes
- Term time only settings claiming 12 weeks in Spring 2026
- Updated guidance and resources for Early Years Funded Entitlement claims
- Early Education and Childcare Statutory Requirements - from January 2026
- Maximum hours per week for each type of funded entitlement
- Parent declaration forms
- Early Years Pupil Premium
- Claiming Disability Access Fund
- Applying to amend your Early Years Funded Entitlement offer
- Help us to answer your queries more efficiently
-
- Autumn term 2025 actuals claims - action required
- Guidance for submitting actuals
- Launch of monthly payments
- Maximum hours per week for each type of funded entitlement
- New feature: checking Local Authority Issued Early Years
- Funded Entitlement eligibility
- Parent declaration forms
- Early Years Pupil Premium
- Claiming Disability Access Fund
- Guidance on optional consumables charges
- Applying to amend your Early Years Funded Entitlement offer
- Help us to answer your queries more efficiently
-
- Summer term 2025 actuals claims - action required
- Parent declaration forms
- Early Years Pupil Premium
- Claiming Disability Access Fund
- Inclusion Funding - changes for summer term 2025
- Monthly payments - progress update
- Changes to the statutory guidance
- Applying to amend your Early Years Funded Entitlement offer
- Help us to answer your queries more efficiently
-
- Consultation on Early Years Funded Entitlement payment schedules - update
- Mandatory Early Years Census 2025 - action required
- Spring term 2025 actuals claims - action required
- Working Families eligibility codes
- Parent declaration forms
- Early Years Pupil Premium
- Claiming Disability Access Fund
- Help us to answer your queries more efficiently
Out of school newsletter
-
March 2026
- 2/2026
- Employment Rights Act 2025 - What providers need to know
- Out of School Alliance - free membership offer
- Tell us which schools you provide pick up and drop off for
- New training to help every child and young person thrive
- Parental conduct
- Tax Free childcare
- Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: summer term training and networks
-
January 2026
- 1/2026
- Wraparound Programme Funding - Management information spring return
- Wraparound Childcare Parent Survey
- Wraparound Childcare Programme Funding - deadline
- Holiday Activity and Food programme - expression of interest
- Out of School provider training opportunities
- Out of School Networks; Use your free, funded Paediatric First Aid place - reminder
- Why a SEND information report matters
- Weekly online safeguarding drop-in sessions
- Making a safeguarding referral; Setting support phone line
- Childcare Works - free resources
-
- Wraparound Programme Funding - Management information autumn return
- Wraparound Childcare Programme Funding - final deadline
- Tell us which schools you support
- Leases and licenses
- Wraparound Childcare Toolkit
- Setting Support phone line
- Careers in early years and childcare website
- Out of School (Wraparound Childcare) Impact Survey
- Out of School Networks
- Use your free, funded Paediatric First Aid place - reminder
- Out of School provider training opportunities
-
September 2025
- 5/2025
- Wraparound Programme Funding Grant
- Monitoring visits
- Wraparound Childcare Programme Funding - Management
- Information autumn 2025
- New networks for Designated Safeguarding Leads
- Early Years Training - free paediatric first aid training
- Out of School providers networks and training
- Out of School Alliance - one year free membership
- Are you interested in a Level 2 Playwork Apprenticeship?
- Termly Provider Update
- Careers in early years and childcare website
-
June 2025
- 4/2025:
- National Wraparound Childcare Programme Grant Funding
- Monitoring visits
- Management information survey - grant funded providers only
- Working together to safeguard children update
- Out of School Alliance - one year free membership
- Careers in early years and childcare website
- Early Years training - funding for one free paediatric first aid training per setting
-
May 2025
- 3/2025:
- National Wraparound Childcare Programme Grant Funding
- Childcare Expansion Capital Grant Funding - applications open for further projects
- Leases and licenses
- Careers in early years and childcare website
- Out of School Alliance - one year free membership
- National Wraparound Childcare Programme - information for maintained schools and academy trusts
- Supporting wraparound providers to provide inclusive provision
- Training opportunities for wraparound and out of school providers
Early years and childcare workforce newsletter
-
September 2025
- 1/2025
- Department for Education new strategy - Giving every child the best start in life
- Level 3 qualifications for early years educators
- Apprenticeships
- Early years teacher degree apprenticeship
- Funded SENCO training for early years settings
- Early years skills bootcamps
- National programme qualifications 2025 to 2026
- Early years qualifications standards update
- Safeguarding reforms and recruitment references
- Safeguarding policies and new recruits
- Jobs in early years and childcare bulletin update
- Training opportunity - rethinking the recruitment and retention of staff
- Funded course to support your childcare business