SEPTEMBER 2023
This issue features:
Discover the changes to the EYFS framework - and the future changes planned for 2024!
What's coming up? A bank of resources and materials you can use for teaching in your setting!
Ofsted Updates: The new changes made to the early years inspection handbook for September 2023...
Learn about the PowerUpPact and how parents can use it to start conversations about gaming with their children
The Department for Education have confirmed there will be changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework (EYFS) from September 2023 onwards. Despite the public outcry at one of the most controversial changes, increasing the number of two-year olds staff can legally care for, the amendments have been proposed and approved by Parliament.
From the 4th September onwards, the following change to the staff to 2-year-old children ratio has been confirmed:
During the government consultation, there was concern from practitioners, parents and providers as to the impact of increasing child-to-staff ratio for 2-year-olds. The aim of this was to reduce costs for settings, however many in the industry feel that there are better ways to do this which are not detrimental to the quality of care.
In fact, only 7 to 12% of all settings with 2-year-olds felt the change in ratio would save any money for their setting*.
* Childcare Regulatory Changes: Government Consultation response, Department for Education, March 2023
Childminders can care for more than the specified maximum of 3 young children, when caring for siblings of children they already care for or their own child;
And clarifying that ‘adequate supervision’ while eating means children must be within sight and hearing of an adult (instead of ‘sight or hearing’)
Organisations in the early years sector have all made their opinions on the changes clear and some are actively campaigning to reverse the changes
It is disappointing that the Government did not listen to the majority view of providers, parents and experts who responded to the consultation. However, we know that parents can be reassured that early years settings remain committed to giving their children the best early learning opportunities in a caring and nurturing environment.
Chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) on the new EYFS changes
The changes to the EYFS implemented from September 2023 onward are separate to the EYFS consultation the Department for Education (DfE) conducted earlier this year, which concluded in July. The DfE held this consultation to propose “changes to the EYFS framework to make it more practical for different types of EYFS providers”.
Some of the planned amendments thus far include changing the EYFS to:
Remove the requirement for Level 3 early years educators to hold a Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) maths qualifications and instead apply this to managers only
Amend the percentage of Level 2 qualified staff required for staff-to-child ratios
Have a childminder-specific EYFS tailored to childminder settings
We'll be monitoring the impact of these reforms in our future newsletters, so follow us on Issuu to stay informed about the latest changes and how they could impact you.
Take a look at our bank of educational resources to incorporate upcoming events from September to December at your setting!
SEPTEMBER 2023
Yom Kippur
24th to 25th September
OCTOBER 2023
Black History Month
The whole month
Educate children in your setting about the Jewish celebration of Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days in Judaism. You can find some free printable resources you can use in your settings here!
Celebrate the contributions of notable black figures with these fun activities - including an ice cream scoop race, a telephone game and a traffic light activity!
Diversify the reading material in your setting using some of the recommended books from this article (including a book written by an 8-year-old girl!)
World Teacher’s Day
5th October
World Teacher’s Day is a fantastic opportunity the important role teachers play in shaping children. In your setting, children could make thank you cards for staff members to show their appreciation
Halloween 31st October Halloween is a great opportunity to incorporate sensory play and fun into your settings You could take inspiration from these articles and create a potionmaking activity, a themed sensory bin, or a skeleton picture painting activity for the children in your setting!
Remembrance Day
11th November
Remembrance Day is an important date to commemorate; use these free printable resources to incorporate it into the activities within your setting.
Diwali
12th November
Develop young children’s awareness of other cultures and religions by celebrating the Sikh and Hindu festival of Diwali You can take inspiration from these activities or use these free printables for your lessons!
World Kindness Day
13th November
Some of these activities are applicable for older children, but you can still take inspiration from these activities - making a kindness rock, kindness jars or kindness chains are suitable for an early years setting!
Anti-Bullying Week
13th to 17th November
As early years practitioners, it’s important to know how to deal with bullying within your setting. The AntiBullying Alliance have a list of tips for approaching bullying in early years children
You can also celebrate ‘Friendship Friday’ by taking inspiration from these friendship-themed activities.
Christmas
The whole month
Celebrations for Christmas begin throughout December and there are plenty of ways you can do so in your setting You can take inspiration from these activities to develop children’s communication and language development or look at these activities to add the outdoors to your Christmas celebrations.
If you need more multi-sensory activities, then this article offers some great ideas!
Hanukkah
7th to 15th December
There are plenty of meaningful and fun ways to teach young children about Hanukkah - take a look at these activities or take advantage of these free printables!
New Year’s Eve
31st December
Celebrating the new year is a great way to set intentions for the year ahead and give children in your setting different learning opportunities to learn. Take a look at this article for some inspired ideas including a time capsule and countdown clock activities!
With increased accessibility to technology, children‘s use of online games and platforms has risen significantly over the last decade. However, this increased accessibility also comes with long-term risks and parents are being encouraged to have discussions about video game safety with their young children.
In a survey conducted by UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie), parents were found wanting more information about:
Almost 9 in 10 parents have at least one type of parental control set on their child’s device. Practitioners are also calling for more safety regulations to be put in place in the upcoming Online Safety Bill, which is set to pass through Parliament before the end of 2023.
A new initiative by Ukie, the PowerUpPact, provides a wealth of information and resources to support parents in having these conversations with their children about their online activity and gaming. The ‘pact’ helps parents set parameters with their children on areas like screen time limits and the type of games children can play. Instead of it being adult vs child, the child is involved with the process and the limits that are set.
In June 2023, the Department for Education announced they would be making updates to the Ofsted education inspection framework ‘following a wide-ranging debate about the impact of school inspections’. Many believe this is in direct response to the criticism Ofsted faced for the lack of support given to staff during inspections.
One of the headline changes is to Ofsted’s complaints process Providers can contact a Senior Her Majesty’s Inspector the day after an inspection if they have any issues or concerns about their outcome. They can also escalate concerns to the Independent Complaints Adjudication Service for Ofsted (ICASO) earlier in the process if leaders are unhappy with how it’s being handled
This change is to help resolve complaints more quickly through improved dialogue and transparency. Ofsted should be publishing a report on their consultation outcome and the changes they’ll make soon.
Other changes made to the Early Years Inspection handbook included:
The provisional outcome of your inspection can now be shared privately with colleagues, before the report is publicly shared. This is to help senior leaders gain other perspectives on the outcome. Who can be present during meetings that take place on inspection
How Ofsted judges safeguarding, including a definition of an open and positive safeguarding culture
You can find the updated Early years inspection handbook here!
In their press release, Ofsted have stated that the changes were because they “want all school leaders to have confidence in the inspection system, and for it to be useful as possible, for teachers, parents and children alike”. However, many feel these changes were in response to the passing of Ruth Perry. The headteacher took her life in January after her primary school was downgraded from ‘outstanding’ to ‘inadequate’.
There have also been calls to change the format of Ofsted‘s ratings from a one word to a statement format, but Amanda Spielman, Ofsted‘s chief inspector, said that “ we could write a sentence but, if the significance is the same and the consequences are the same, then it wouldn’t really solve that underlying discomfort”. What do you think about Ofsted’s one-word gradings; would you change them?
Many of the calls to change the oneword ratings have come from practitioners in the industry. One of those practitioners is Leonie Butler, nursery manager at Montessori Minds, one of our employer partners. Back in August, she spoke to Sonia Watson on BBC Essex about Ofsted within the early years, the impact inspections have on practitioners within the setting and how inspections could support settings better.
If you’d like to have a listen to the recording, click here!
As of September 2023, all of the changes mentioned in this article will be implemented in Ofsted’s education inspection framework going forward.
If you are feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal, you can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. Our Welfare and Wellbeing team can also support you at 0203 8281 974 and help@apprenticeshipconnect.co.uk.
Early years training resources to utilise for your professional development!
Use Parenta’s free webinars to support your professional development Available for free on YouTube, their webinar series covers topics including:
The Power of Mentoring to Build a ‘learning nursery ’ and staff relationships
Early Years Inspections and Ofsted Strategy 2022 to 2027
Recognising Neurodivergence as ‘neurotype’ not ‘behaviour’ - promoting inclusivity in early years
If you need an introduction to leadership in the early years, utilise the ‘Early years team work and leadership’ level 1 course! It includes a free certificate and includes the following learning outcomes:
understand the concept of leadership in the early years
demonstrate an awareness of factors that influence leadership and teamwork understand how teamwork can support leadership skills reflect on personal leadership and teamwork skills.
GOING
'Going Too Far' is an online Prevent training resource, that specifically focuses on forms of online extremism. The resources are specifically mapped to 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidance and can be used to support prevent and extremism training within your own setting.
Prevent training is a key requirement of all early years settings and to support this, the government offer free Prevent training courses via the UK government website. They offer specific courses based on your prior awareness and a refresher course for individuals wanting to brush up on their knowledge.
EXTRACURRICULAR TRAINING:
All current apprentices can book these training sessions and more through the 'Wider Extracurricular' course on Canvas:
INTRODUCTION TO MAKATON
When and how Makaton can be used and its benefits
MODERN SAFEGUARDING
Evolving safeguarding risks and how to respond to them
DEBATE CLUB
A bi-monthly debate club to discuss topical events
INTRODUCTION TO PREVENT
How to prevent vulnerable people from radicalisation
WORKING WITH THE EYFS
Key elements of the EYFS, such as reflective practice
COACHING AND MENTORING
Access to a personal coach and tailored careers advice
EXTRACURRICULAR COURSES!
Understanding when and how Makaton can be used and its benefits.
Understanding evolving safeguarding risks and how to respond to them.
Understanding key exam preparation and academic writing skills.
Understanding the key elements of the EYFS, such as reflective practice.
TO PREVENT
Understanding how to prevent vulnerable people from being radicalised
TIME MANAGEMENT
Access the full range of extracurricular benefits and resources in your 'Wider Extracurricular' course in Canvas!
