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If you have queries about Early Years places for children from the Ukraine, please share the details with your key contact.

For support in finding places, families or providers can ring 01296 38 7000/7111 or email the Early Years Service at brokerage@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Alternatively, families can complete this online form to ask for help: Apply for some help finding childcare

Important - For children coming from the Ukraine, please add the code UKR to the comments box under the child’s name on the form.

Two year old funded children

If the child is 2 the family are required to get a funding code as per the process for all 2 year old funded children. Families can get their code by applying online 2 year old Early Years Education online application or by ringing the team on 01296 38 7000/7111 and they support in completing the form over the phone.

If the child is 3 or 4 years old they will receive up to 15 hours of free education entitlement. If the parents of 3 and 4 year olds are working, they may qualify for the extended entitlement of up to 30 hours. Providers can give the family a funding form to complete so that they can receive a funded place, however you may need to support the family to complete the form

The LADO Service has made changes to the terminology used for LADO Meetings.  All LADO Meetings are now known as Allegations Against Staff & Volunteer Meetings (ASV Meetings).  These changes have been made in order to streamline process and ensure a clear separation between meetings about Allegations against Staff and Volunteers and Child Protection Strategy Meetings.

DfE has published a new guide for parents, produced by Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre. What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage (formerly ‘What to expect when’) guides parents through what to expect with their child’s development. It aligns with the new Development Matters to help practitioners engage with parents about their child’s development

DfE has also published a new guide produced by Pen Green Children’s Centre, 'A Celebratory Approach to Working with Children with SEND – Giving additional support in the Early Years' (formerly 'A Celebratory Approach to SEND assessment in the Early Years') to help practitioners who may be supporting children who require additional help or children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.   

Updated posters for education and childcare settings have now been published.  There are 3 posters available at Infectious diseases: schools and other childcare settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) which summarise some of the health protection guidance for education and childcare settings:

1. Poster 1 – Managing infections in schools (black background) – original posters design kept and wording aligned to education and childcare settings (removal of ‘school(s)’)

This is available for settings to order printed copies from Home - Health Publications (Managing infections in education settings - signpost poster V1 - Health Publications)

2. Poster 2 - Managing infections in schools (white background/green writing) – original poster design kept and wording aligned to education and childcare settings (removal of ‘schools’)

This format has a white background making it suitable for settings to print as required.

3. Poster 3 - Should I keep my child off school? (white background/green writing) – new poster created that summarises the exclusion periods for infectious diseases.

This format has a white background making it suitable for settings to print as required.

Careers in Childcare sessions offered by PACEY A series of virtual information sessions aimed at parents and JCP claimants now available, see attached flyer for more details. Pacey is working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus and MITEY (men in the early years) to promote careers in childcare. Information sessions are held via Microsoft Teams and open to anyone interested in finding out more about the range of job roles available, the skills and attributes needed, the likely set up costs, required training and where to go for further information. How to book: Send the referred person’s name, email address and preferred date to support@pacey.org.uk to receive an email advising them how to join. Available 12th December 2021

Careers in Childcare sessions - PACEY

From September 2021, all early years providers must follow the new early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework. The key aims of the reforms are to:

• improve child outcomes at age 5, particularly in early language and literacy, especially for disadvantaged children; and
• reduce workload, such as unnecessary paperwork, so that practitioners can spend more time interacting with the children in their care.

The Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) will be statutory in schools from September 2021, the assessment and reporting arrangements to be used by headteachers and schools for the RBA have been published.

Useful tips for Online Safety, and Training Information and Online Safety Considerations for Managers and Practitioners