Early years weekly bulletin
A weekly roundup of information that may be of interest to you and help you in your role in your early years setting.
Weekly Bulletins
Early Years Quality Improvement Team's Weekly Bulletin
8 October 2026
Keep in touch
Email: earlyyearscentre@lancashire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01772 539058
Web site: Early years support and training - Lancashire County Council
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LancsEarlyYears/ and http://www.facebook.com/groups/lancsearlyyears/
Complete this form to advertise your job vacancies for free: Recruiting and managing staff - Lancashire County Council
Your sector representatives
Please contact your PVI representatives on the Early Years Consultative Group, Rafael Schiel rafael@giantleapchildcare.co.uk or Sharon Fenton sharon@risingstarslancaster.co.uk if you have any comments or questions that you would like them to take forward to the County Council on your behalf.
Are you a new manager at your nursery setting?
Congratulations on your new role! Please let us know by completing this quick form: New PVI Nursery Manager
This will ensure that the member of the team supporting your setting knows who you are and can support you.
Something to do this week...
Safer sleep checkup: Professionals-guide.pdf
Check the temperature
Between 16°C and 20°C
Ensure children do not become overheated
Review the environment
Clean, safe and calm
Risks minimised
Check your equipment
Inspect cots, mats, mattresses and bedding regularly
Review your policies
Check your procedures reflect current guidance
Does everyone understand the importance of safer sleep
Work in partnership with parents and carers
Include safer sleep guidance in your parental information
Discuss sleep routines with parents and carers
Frequently asked questions:
Room temperature; we have recently had a lot of hot weather. How do the regulations allow for this?
The recommended room temperature for babies is 16-20°C. During periods of extreme weather, providers should take all reasonable steps to keep rooms cool and well ventilated. Where temperatures outside this range are unavoidable, steps should be taken to minimise the risk of overheating.
Can a child have a favourite toy or comforter?
Comforters and soft toys should not remain in the sleep space of babies under 12 months once asleep. Dummies can continue to be used in line with parents' wishes and safer sleep guidance.
If a parent/carer feels strongly about where and how their child is put to sleep can we get parents to sign a 'waiver'?
The Children Act 2006 does not allow any settings to deviate from the Welfare Requirements of the EYFS. Settings must follow all the requirements, therefore a waiver does not exempt a setting. If a parent asks settings to use a buggy or use a toy for those under 12 months, we must not deviate from our legal requirements.
Reflect on your practice:
Is your sleep environment calm, safe and checked for hazards?
Is our equipment checked regularly?
How do you share safer sleep information with families?
Useful resources:
Lullaby trust Home | The Lullaby Trust
NHS Baby safer sleep advice - Best Start in Life - NHS
Lancashire Safeguarding children and young people partnership Lancashire Safeguarding Partnership - Safer Sleep
Did you know that if you have questions about safer sleep, the Lullaby Trust have a Baby safety helpline: Tel: 0808 802 6869
Dates for your diary:
Best start in life district conferences
These brand-new district conferences will be held annually. These are live virtual meetings that are for all early years settings working in each specific district. This includes childminders, PVI nurseries, maintained and section 27 nurseries and reception classes. These sessions will provide you with important information from the Children, Family and Wellbeing Service and the Education Improvement Service.
What is the purpose of the conferences?
To give every child in Lancashire a Best Start in Life
To share Lancashire’s Education Strategy
To share the profiles of your district
To share what you can expect from central teams to support you to support your children
To discuss what, as early years educators, we can do collectively and independently to make a difference
These brand-new district conferences will be held annually. These are live virtual meetings that are for all early years settings working in each specific district. This includes childminders, PVI nurseries, maintained and section 27 nurseries and reception classes. These sessions will provide you with important information from the Children, Family and Wellbeing Service and the Education Improvement Service.
For more details, please see your 'Digital Early years Quality Improvement Toolkit for leaders' for members and 'Digital Early Years Handbook for Leaders' for non-members sent to you by email at the beginning of September.
Burnley - 14th October 2026 - 9.30am - 11am
Chorley - 15th October 2026 - 9.30am - 11am
Fylde - 16th October 2026 - 9.30am - 11am
Hyndburn - 20th October 2026 - 9.30am - 11am
Lancaster - 21st October 2026 - 9.30am - 11am
Pendle - 22nd October 2026 - 9.30am - 11am
Preston - 23rd October 2026 - 9.30am - 11am
Ribble Valley - 14th October 2026 - 1.30pm - 3pm
Rossendale - 15th October 2026 - 1.30pm - 3pm
South Ribble - 20th October 2026 - 1.30pm - 3pm
West Lancs - 21st October 2026 - 1.30pm - 3pm
Wyre - 22nd October 2026 - 1.30pm - 3pm
Lancashire County Council Publications: Music Cards
Cost £6.00
This set of eight handy A5 booklets, on card, are designed to share some awareness of underlying musical concepts which will support staff understanding of musical development alongside some practical examples. The series looks at some of the elements of music and provides simple practical suggestions including songs, rhymes and games to support children's understanding.
You can use these cards as an individual or in small groups.
The cards include an introduction overview card then each card explores a different musical element.
Beat- the steady pulse of the music
Rhythm- the pattern of the notes
Melody- the selection of notes that make the tune
Tempo- the speed at which the music moves
Duration- the length of the note, long or short
Pitch- how high or low the note is
Dynamics- the loudness or softness of the music
To purchase these cards please follow this link: Publications - Lancashire County Council
Growing together – Lancashire and beyond, Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Laura and Sue are pleased to share the first delivery plan for Growing Together, Lancashire and Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub.
They will continue to listen to the early years workforce in refining and developing their offer in response to identified needs and priorities. Your feedback will help ensure support is relevant, accessible and complements existing provision.
Youth Jobs Grant: get £3k to recruit a young person
The grant provides businesses of all sizes across Great Britain with a £3,000 payment when they recruit a young person aged 18 – 24, who have been unemployed for six months or more.
Since Covid, entry level or first-step career roles for young people have been in steady decline. The Youth Jobs Grant aims to address this by encouraging and supporting employers to invest in young people, to build the talent pipeline your business will benefit from in the weeks, months and years to come.
Each young person you recruit via the grant will generate a payment of £3,000, paid in two instalments. The first payment being £1,800 after six weeks of employment, with the remaining £1.200 at week eighteen.
Vacancies filled via the grant will need to be for at least 25 hours per week. Your local Jobcentre will source and match suitable applicants for your role[s] and arrange a tailored recruitment process to match the needs and expectations of your business.
The Youth Jobs Grant (YJG) may be layered with additional payments for eligible apprenticeships (including the hiring payment for non-levy employers, additional payments for young apprentices, and additional payments for foundation apprenticeships).
An employer can enrol a vacancy on to the Youth Jobs Grant and receive the grant payment for job roles filled as apprenticeships.
The grant application process is very simple and takes around 20 minutes to complete.
To take part and benefit from the Youth Jobs Grant, please click on the following link… Youth Jobs Grant - GOV-UK Find a grant
Attached is also an information sheet relating to the grant. However, should you wish to discuss the Youth Jobs Grant in more detail, to explore whether this is something your business can benefit from, please email: prestonjobcentre.labourmarket@dwp.gov.uk and one of the team will be in touch.
Children and Family Wellbeing Service launch a feedback survey
On 12 October, the Children and Family Wellbeing Service will launch a survey to gather feedback about children and family wellbeing services across Lancashire. it is an important opportunity to hear from parents, carers, children and young people, whether they currently use services or not, as well as from partners.
They want to better understand people's experiences, awareness and perceptions of the services, as well as any barriers that may prevent families from accessing the support they need.
The feedback received will help to:
understand what is working well across the services
identify areas where improvements could be made
highlight any unmet needs within communities
understand awareness, accessibility and any barriers to accessing services
inform future service planning and development
This work will also support the continued development of the offer through the Best Start for Life programme, helping ensure services remain responsive to the needs of local children, young people and families.
You can complete the survey here: CFW Service Customer Satisfaction Survey Final -Oct 2026
LSBU Newsletter September 2026
Lancashire Safeguarding is a multi-agency partnership established to ensure safeguarding measures are met, vulnerable children and adults across Lancashire are protected from harm & abuse a… September 2026- Lancashire Safeguarding Partnership Newsletter
GloWeek 19th to 25th October 2026
From 19-25 October 2026, the Child Brain Injury Trust is running GloWeek, its annual road safety awareness campaign encouraging children, families and communities to Be Bright, Be Seen.
As the days become shorter and darker, the campaign highlights the importance of helping children stay visible by wearing bright or reflective clothing and using lights when out and about. It also raises awareness of childhood acquired brain injury and the impact accidents can have on children and families.
A range of free resources, including activity packs, posters and educational materials, are available to support schools, families and community groups in sharing these important safety messages.
To find out more and access the resources, visit the GloWeek campaign website
Inclusion Sway
SEND & Inclusion Bulletin
SEND & Inclusion Bulletin (schools and settings) 6 Oct 2026
Please share this link with the SEND / Inclusion Lead in your setting.
In this edition:
A message from Sapphire Murray, Head of Service – Inclusion
National SEND Award Winner – Penwortham Primary School's National Achievement
Section 19 Requests: Guidance on e-form Completion
Bids Invited for SEND Capital Projects
Lancashire SEND Local Offer: a resource for schools
DLD Awareness Day, 16 Oct 2026
Gloweek – a free road safety resource
Specialist Bases Allocations
Break Time Summer Holiday Survey
SEND Roadshows update
Professional Development Opportunities
Several other updates and reminders
For accessibility options
Click on the link to open the sway
Click on the three dots (top-right)
Select 'Accessibility view'
Baby Week Lancashire
14th to 20th November 2026
This year Lancashire will be taking part in Baby Week through a partnership between Public Health, Libraries, and Family Hubs. Baby Week is a national campaign that celebrates the importance of pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood, highlighting the services, activities, and information available to help children get the best start in life.
This year's theme, "Chat, Play, Read with Me. Together We Build the Best Start," celebrates the important role that talking, reading, and playing together can have in a child's early development.
Throughout the week, libraries and Family Hubs across Lancashire will be hosting a range of free activities for families with babies and young children aged 0 to 5 years. Activities will provide opportunities for families to chat, play, read and learn together, while finding out about the support available locally throughout the year.
As part of Baby Week we are also encouraging families to discover their local library and register their child as a library member. Library membership is free and gives children access to books, stories, activities and resources that can support early language, literacy and learning.
By promoting Baby Week, you can help:
Raise awareness of free activities and support available for families with young children.
Encourage parents and carers to spend time chatting, playing and reading with their children.
Increase access to local services and opportunities that support the best start in life.
Help more children become library members and develop a love of reading.
Share information, resources or advice relevant to babies, young children and their families.
Support Lancashire's Baby Week theme 'Chat, Play, Read with Me: Together We Build the Best Start'.
Highlight support that is available locally throughout the year, not just during Baby Week.
Childminders – ask an inspector
We are pleased to invite you to an Ofsted Information Session for childminders, delivered by Patricia Graham, Ofsted Early Years Senior Officer, North-West Region. This session will provide an opportunity to hear about current inspection arrangements, themes and trends within the early years sector.
The session will be held online via Microsoft Teams on
Wednesday, 14.10.26 at 18:30 - 20:00
To ensure the session is as relevant and beneficial as possible, we welcome your questions - please send questions in advance using the booking form.
Booking link - Ofsted information session for Childminders – Fill out form
Early Years Quality Improvement Team's Weekly Bulletin
1 October 2026
Keep in touch
Email: earlyyearscentre@lancashire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01772 539058
Web site: Early years support and training - Lancashire County Council
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LancsEarlyYears/ and http://www.facebook.com/groups/lancsearlyyears/
Complete this form to advertise your job vacancies for free: Recruiting and managing staff - Lancashire County Council
Your sector representatives
Please contact your PVI representatives on the Early Years Consultative Group, Rafael Schiel rafael@giantleapchildcare.co.uk or Sharon Fenton sharon@risingstarslancaster.co.uk if you have any comments or questions that you would like them to take forward to the County Council on your behalf.
Are you a new manager at your nursery setting?
Congratulations on your new role! Please let us know by completing this quick form: New PVI Nursery Manager
This will ensure that the member of the team supporting your setting knows who you are and can support you.
Something to do this week...
Reflect on screen use
The updated Early Years Statutory Framework now includes a specific requirement to Practitioners must have regard to the following guidance on children’s screen use in early years settings: Help for early years providers: Screen use.
Take some time to read this comprehensive guidance and consider how you can ensure children's screen use in your setting is "…carefully planned and clearly linked to intended learning aims."
Share with parents and carers the Best Start in Life Guidance: Baby and toddler screen time guidance - Best Start in Life
Reflect on your practice:
Is the screen use necessary? Are there other methods or resources you could use instead?
What is the clear educational rationale for using a screen?
How does it extend and enhance learning, rather than replace the educator’s role?
How can you ensure children are interacting in screen use and not passively using or watching it? How will you discuss the content with children?
Is the content designed for educational purposes and appropriate for early years children?
How can you introduce movement and physical activity?
Are there any potential safeguarding risks around the device or content you’re thinking of using?
Website focus - Lead Practitioners
Why not visit our website to find out about more about Lancashire Lead Practitioner scheme and how they can support your setting. Giving you the opportunity to have discussions and receive support from lead practitioners, who are working in a similar context. www.lancashire.gov.uk/early-years/early-yearssupport-and-training/leading-practice-in-lancashire/
Bids for SEND capital projects
Private, Voluntary and Independent Nurseries can submit expressions of interest for this capital funding.
We are pleased to invite expressions of interest for both the Local Authority SEND Capital Inclusion Fund, expansions to special schools and the development of SEND Inclusion Bases. These opportunities form part of Lancashire's ongoing commitment to increasing inclusion and supporting the sufficiency of specialist provision across the county.
The application window will open on 14 September 2026 and close on 30 October 2026. Applications will then be subject to a detailed review and scoring process by a multi-disciplinary panel comprising representatives from relevant services and directorates. Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome before the end of the autumn term and prior to the Christmas break.
Whilst we will seek to support as many high-quality applications as possible within the resources available, all submissions will be assessed against a clearly defined set of criteria. Only those applications that satisfactorily meet the required criteria and demonstrate a strong strategic fit will be recommended for approval.
Applications that are not successful will receive feedback within the outcome notification summary to help applicants understand the reasons for the decision. Given the robust assessment process and the involvement of a cross-directorate moderation panel, the feedback provided should offer sufficient explanation of the outcome. As a result, further challenges, appeals or requests for reconsideration following the issue of the outcome notification will not ordinarily be considered.
The aim of this process is to ensure that all applications are assessed fairly, transparently and consistently against the agreed criteria, enabling investment to be directed towards those proposals that will deliver the greatest benefit in meeting Lancashire's SEND sufficiency priorities.
Expression of Interest (EOI) - Expansion of Existing Special Schools – Fill in form
Expression of Interest (EOI) - Specialist Base in a Mainstream School or Setting – Fill in form
Lancashire SEND Local Offer
Lancashire SEND Local Offer: helping families get the right support from the start
The Lancashire SEND Local Offer brings together information about education, health, social care and community services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) aged 0 to 25. It provides a single place to find information, advice and support available across Lancashire.
The Local Offer includes:
information about local SEND services and support
guidance on Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans
a searchable SEND Directory of services, activities and support
information for families at every stage of their child's SEND journey
Supporting children and families sooner
The early years are a crucial time for identifying needs and putting support in place. By using the Local Offer, practitioners can confidently signpost families to relevant services, advice and resources, helping children access support earlier. Early intervention can reduce delays, prevent confusion, improve family experiences and contribute to better outcomes for children and young people.
Professional responsibility
Under the Children and Families Act 2014, professionals have a duty to help families access accurate and up-to-date SEND information. Familiarity with the Local Offer helps ensure families receive clear information about the support available to them and how to access it. We encourage all early years practitioners to explore the Local Offer and use it as a trusted source of information when supporting children and families.
Find out more
The Local offer includes the Local Offer website, the Lancashire Service Finder SEND Directory, the Local Offer Facebook page and FIND newsletter for families (sent to families who join the FIND database). If you have suggestions for improving the Local Offer, please email LancashireLocalOffer@lancashire.gov.uk
Lancashire Safeguarding Partnership September newsletter
In this months newsletter, you'll find:
Rapid Review & CSPR Training
DA & CYP Practitioner Forums
'Me Learning' User Guide
Updated Resources
Upcoming Campaigns including Safeguarding Adults Week
Voluntary Sector spotlight
CDOP Update
National Guidance and Updates
Useful Links
September 2026- Lancashire Safeguarding Partnership Newsletter
Domestic Abuse and CYP Domestic Abuse practitioner's forums
Please share with front line practitioners. This is not for manager level colleagues
Dear colleagues,
Join us for our Domestic Abuse and CYP Domestic Abuse Practitioners forums.
This forum provides a safe and supportive space for frontline practitioners who work with children and young people affected by domestic abuse. It offers an opportunity to discuss challenges, seek advice, and share good practice with colleagues from across Lancashire.
Each session will feature four breakout rooms, facilitated by professionals from a range of domestic abuse services. Facilitators will present an anonymised case study relevant to their area of expertise, followed by a discussion session where participants can raise questions, explore their own cases, share experiences, and reflect on the case study presented.
Please note that this is not a referral forum. Its purpose is to provide professional support, guidance, and peer discussion to help practitioners strengthen the support they offer to children, young people, and adults affected by domestic abuse.
CYP DA Practitioner Forum
Tuesday 29th September 2026 12.30pm: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1b0d8b78-340a4b71-bbce-45c5edc0a7ce@9f683e26-d8b9-4609-9ec4e1a36e4bb4d2?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog
Tuesday 15th December 2026 12.30pm: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b503b00e-b72e41c1-84d8-106ed38cec51@9f683e26-d8b9-4609-9ec4e1a36e4bb4d2?source=copyLinkLegacyShareLinkDialog
Tuesday 9th March 2027 12.30pm: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/48cba8a1-03254eee-b2a7-53a0043dad8d@9f683e26-d8b9-4609-9ec4e1a36e4bb4d2?source=copyLinkLegacyShareLinkDialog
DA Practitioner Forum
Tuesday 6th October 2026 12.30pm: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/86903543-58374098-b6e9-110978e4a2b0@9f683e26-d8b9-4609-9ec4e1a36e4bb4d2?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog
Tuesday 1st December 2026 12.30pm: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/82f3625b-9e9b4d1c-b0e6-6b40855057e7@9f683e26-d8b9-4609-9ec4e1a36e4bb4d2?source=copyLinkLegacyShareLinkDialog
Tuesday 9th February 2027 12.30pm: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e8268e47-05914eed-bddf-0d568165da74@9f683e26-d8b9-4609-9ec4e1a36e4bb4d2?source=copyLinkLegacyShareLinkDialog
If you have any questions or cases you would like to discuss at the next forum, you can submit them to lsbu@lancashire.gov.uk. These will be forwarded on to the Chairs of each forum.
Early Years Sustainability Conference
Early Years Sustainability Conference: Small Hands, Protecting the Planet!
Join us for the Early Years Sustainability Conference 2026: Small Hands, Protecting the Planet!, an inspiring day focused on empowering young children to become changemakers for a sustainable future. Featuring keynote speaker Dr Diane Boyd, a nationally recognised expert in Early Childhood Education for Sustainability, alongside an exclusive Eco-Town Tour of Lancashire Renewables and practical workshops led by Lancashire education specialists, this conference will provide innovative ideas, expert guidance and real-world strategies to help embed sustainability across your Early Years provision. Whether you are an Early Years leader, teacher, practitioner or childminder, discover how meaningful sustainability education can nurture curiosity, responsibility and a lifelong commitment to caring for our planet.
Find out more and secure your place.
Support with critical incidents
Colleagues within the early years sector are able to access the same support as Lancashire schools following critical incidents.
Critical Incidents
Phone: out of hours emergency duty team; Lancashire County Council Emergency Duty Team for out-of-hours social care and safeguarding emergencies: 0300 123 6722
The death of a child, member of staff or other significant member of the settings community can have a profound impact on children, staff and families. Such events are often emotionally demanding for leaders, who may be required to lead and support others whilst managing their own response to the situation.
The support and guidance will be tailored to the exact situation that the setting is facing; and will draw on a vast range of resources and other teams as appropriate.
Support for staff in setting:
Supervision: the setting would be advised to review the current Supervision arrangements in place for all staff; and consider if this needs increasing in frequency
Recovery from trauma is individual and varies in pace and style. Psychological advice is that only if someone is not recovering at a typical rate using their own support systems would a therapy such as counselling be considered. Anyone who is not recovering within a typical time you may then want to look at a stress risk assessment in work and an Occupational Health referral.
leaders will know which staff may be more vulnerable due to previous trauma
Settings should look at the offer of training and support from Lancashire Emotional Health in Schools and Colleges (LEHS) available on the website wp.lancs.ac.uk/lehsc/
You may also find the wellbeing toolkit for leaders helpful to refer to Wellbeing Toolkit - Lancashire County Council
Growing Together, Lancashire and Beyond, Stronger Practice Hub
I am pleased to share an exciting opportunity to join our Early Years Stronger Practice Hub (EYSPH) as an Early Years Learning Lead (EYLL).
PSED Lead (2 days per week or 76 days per year): Lead initiatives which support practitioners to foster children’s emotional wellbeing, social skills and resilience within Early Years settings.
Maths Lead (3 days per week or 114 days per year): Champion mathematical learning and development, supporting practitioners to embed numeracy and spatial reasoning in everyday practice.
Communication and Language Lead (4 days per week or 152 days per year): Promote language-rich environments, develop practitioner knowledge and support communication development for all children.
We are currently recruiting experienced early years professionals to support our work across Lancashire, Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, Cumberland, and Westmorland and Furness.
EYLLs will play an important role in supporting Growing Together, Lancashire and beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub to:
share evidence-informed early years practice;
support settings to develop and strengthen their practice within PSED, Early Maths and Early Communication and Language; • Provide bespoke support to settings;
Deliver subject specific stronger practice CPD.
We would be grateful if you could share the attached EYLL opportunity with your networks and within your local authorities in as many forms as possible., particularly with early years settings and schools and early years professionals who may have the experience, expertise and passion to contribute to this work.
We are keen to hear from practitioners and leaders who are committed to improving early years practice and supporting colleagues across the sector and we would love a range of experts from all of our localities.
Further information about the role, eligibility requirements and how to apply can be found within each Expression of Interest form and within the application advert.
Thank you very much for helping us to promote this opportunity and for supporting the development of strong early years practice across our region.
Kindest regards
Susan Conron Growing, Together, Lancashire and Beyond, Stronger Practice Hub Lead
Foundation Years – new SEND training for all early years practitioners
In January, the Department for Education announced a £200 million investment in SEND and inclusion training to upskill educators across early years, schools and post-16 settings.
Last week, the first phase of a new national training offer for early years was launched with a new online training package now freely available to all early years practitioners.
Funded by the Department for Education and developed and delivered by Dingley’s Promise, this training is designed for all early years educators working with children aged 0-4 years to strengthen inclusive practice and better identify and support children with SEND.
The training offers learning across three purposely designed courses, providing practical information, strategies and reflective tools to improve inclusive practice across all early years settings.
These courses centre on three key themes of:
Foundations of Inclusive Practice;
Embedding Inclusive Practice; and
Parent Partnership.
The training has been purposely designed to be accessed in a flexible way, to allow learners to work through and return to the training at times that are suitable for them. Courses are suitable for educators of all levels and in all types of provision including childminders and contain practical strategies, tools and resources that can be applied directly to everyday practice.
All courses are freely accessible at Early Years CPD Training - Dingley's Promise.
The second phase of the new Early Years CPD programme will launch in autumn 2027, offering further online learning as well as in-depth webinars and a new local support offer, to further develop the knowledge and skills needed to put inclusive practice into action.
Prevent Duty new guidance for DSLs
Removed previously published documents, replacing these with
'The Prevent Duty: practical guidance for designated safeguarding leads',
'Channel meetings: practical guidance for designated safeguarding leads'
'Safeguarding learners susceptible to radicalisation: next-step checklists'.
The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners susceptible to radicalisation - GOV.UK
Develop a climate action plan with free DfE support
The heatwaves of the summer were another reminder of climate change. We’re encouraging every nursery in England to have a climate action plan.
A holistic plan can help nurseries prepare for extreme weather and reduce costs, while supporting children’s wellbeing and the environment.
Free support is available through DfE commissioned programmes – the National Education Nature Park, Sustainability Support for Education, and Climate Ambassadors – all working with Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisors.
Find out more here.
Help shape EEF's future research priorities
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is seeking views from people working in, with, and alongside education settings to help inform their research priorities. The consultation is open to colleagues across early years, schools and 16-19 education.
The EEF wants to hear about the challenges, pressures and unanswered questions facing the early years sector, and what evidence, resources or support could help address them.
This consultation is an opportunity to share insights and experiences that can help strengthen the EEF's understanding of early years priorities. Responses will be considered alongside evidence reviews, policy analysis and other sources of learning as the EEF develops its future research programme.
To have your say, complete the survey here: EEF Research Agenda: Sector Consultation by the 9th October 2026.
DfE and Ofsted updates
Big Listen action monitoring reports - Added April and June monitoring reports; these report on our commitments made in the Big Listen consultation and response to Dame Christine Gilbert’s independent learning review.
Paying your annual fee: what you need to know - Blog post from Jayne Coward, Deputy Director for Early Years Regulatory Policy and Practice, on paying registration and annual fees.
Early years inspection: toolkit, operating guide and information - All updated; see the 'Summary of changes' for full details.
Early years and childcare: Ofsted's enforcement policy - Updated to clarify the actions taken when requirements are not being met – when we serve a welfare requirements notice (WRN) and take enforcement action, and when we set actions.
Report a serious childcare incident - Updated to reflect changes to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework on 1 September 2026. Providers must now inform Ofsted of allegations of harm (rather than serious harm) by anyone living, working or looking after children on the premises.
Updates to requirements - This month, the Department for Education updated the requirements for those registered on the General Childcare Register. They now prevent banned dog breeds (to which section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applies, including the XL Bully type) being kept or present in childcare settings. We have amended several pages of guidance in line with this:
Applying to waive disqualification: early years and childcare providers - Updated to clarify that where the applicant is a company, the disqualification applies to the company and not the individual directors.
Childminders: report new people in the setting - Clarified that childminder assistants must not begin working at a setting until they have been confirmed to be suitable by either Ofsted or their agency.
Update on Bright Horizons regulatory action - Since September last year, Ofsted has been carrying out an extensive programme of regulatory activity across nurseries in the Bright Horizons group; this is the latest update on that work.
Early years and childcare: Ofsted’s enforcement policy - Updated to clarify the actions taken when requirements are not being met – when we serve a welfare requirements notice (WRN) and take enforcement action, and when we set actions.
Early Years Quality Improvement Team's Weekly Bulletin
24 September 2026
Keep in touch
Email: earlyyearscentre@lancashire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01772 539058
Web site: Early years support and training - Lancashire County Council
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LancsEarlyYears/ and http://www.facebook.com/groups/lancsearlyyears/
Complete this form to advertise your job vacancies for free: Recruiting and managing staff - Lancashire County Council
Your sector representatives
Please contact your PVI representatives on the Early Years Consultative Group, Rafael Schiel rafael@giantleapchildcare.co.uk or Sharon Fenton sharon@risingstarslancaster.co.uk if you have any comments or questions that you would like them to take forward to the County Council on your behalf.
Are you a new manager at your nursery setting?
Congratulations on your new role! Please let us know by completing this quick form: New PVI Nursery Manager
This will ensure that the member of the team supporting your setting knows who you are and can support you.
Something to do this week...
Existing injuries: note, record and respond
Children sometimes arrive at your setting with bumps, bruises, cuts or other injuries. Many of these injuries are the result of everyday childhood activities but accurately recording and professional curiosity is very important in safeguarding children.
A clear record of any existing injury helps practitioners:
Check on children's wellbeing
Identify any patterns or concerns
Support good communication with parents and carers
May contribute to safeguarding assessments where needed
Protect practitioners from false accusations that the injury occurred at the setting
When and how should records be made:
Ask parents to offer information about existing injuries
Record what you see as soon as you notice it (if you only notice an injury after a child has been dropped off, then it should be recorded at that time)
Include the date, time and location of the injury
Record any explanation given by the parent or carer
Ask the parent or carer to sign the record
Store records securely and confidentially
Professional curiosity:
Professional curiosity relates to asking questions to understand further. Having a holistic approach to the child and family means sometimes looking beyond the obvious and considering whether more information is needed to fully understand the situation.
Does the injury match the explanation?
Have there been previous injuries or concerns?
Does anything else about the presentation of the child worry you?
Reflect on you rpractice:
Are you recording existing injuries consistently, promptly and factually?
Do parents understand the purpose of this procedure?
How do you promote professional curiosity?
Do you and any staff know who to go to if you do have concerns about a child?
Useful resources:
What to do if you're worried a child is being abused - advice for practitioners
Useful video to share with your staff on professional curiosity: NYSCP Think family
Having difficult conversations: Handling difficult conversations with adults | NSPCC
October monthly training reminder
An Introduction to Safeguarding: a pre-recorded virtual session that can be booked for the 1st or 15th of the month. The pre-recorded webinar and resources which will be available for two weeks from the date chosen.
Designated Safeguarding Lead training: (All) October session is full - click the link for more dates.
14 Interactions: (PVI Nurseries and Childminders) Face to face training Tuesday 13th from 9.30 to 12 Early Years Professional Development Centre, Accrington
Evaluating your Practice using the early Years Inspection Toolkit: (Childminders and OOSC) Face to face training Wednesday 14th from 6.30 to 8.30pm County Hall, Preston
Paediatric First Aid: (All) Face to face training Wednesday 14th from 9.30 to 4pm Morecambe Football Club (NOT Accrington as the email stated incorrectly)
Dates for your diary
Managers Time to talk: Click the link for dates/venues and booking form
Childminder cluster meeting: : Click the link for date/time and booking form
Early years qualification list update
The Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) is now available as an online webview format on GOV.UK via the following link: Early years qualifications list - Showing all the qualifications - Check an Early Years qualification
The EYQL webview replaces the previous spreadsheet-based version and provides a more accessible way for users to search, view and understand qualification information online.
Funded places available on the National Professional Qualification (NPQ in Early Years Leadership
Registration is now open for the November 2026 cohort of the national professional qualification in early years leadership (NPQEYL). The programme is designed for current and aspiring early years leaders who want to develop their leadership expertise and potential.
The NPQEYL is available to managers of private, voluntary and independent nurseries, childminders with leadership responsibilities, headteachers and leaders of school-based and maintained nurseries, alongside other early years foundation stage leaders.
Whether leading provision in a nursery, pre-school, childminding setting or school-based early years provision, participants benefit from evidence-based leadership training that supports them to:
deepen expertise in delivering high-quality early education and care
lead and develop staff effectively
work in partnership with parents and carers
implement improvements across their setting
For the first time in recent cohorts, funding for the NPQEYL is available for all eligible participants who secure a funded place with an NPQ provider.
Read more about NPQs here: Early years leadership national professional qualification - GOV.UK
New Easy Peasy App
To support the delivery of Best Start in Life Lancashire County Council have commissioned the Easy Peasy App for Lancashire families.
This is a free App for all parents and carers of children aged 0-5 years and practitioner. The App provides activities that support the learning and development of babies and children and offer support and signposting. The launch of the App is part of Lancashire's Best Start in Life Plan and promotes good quality home learning environments. Practitioners can use it to guide and support parents and carers and also to get information and ideas themselves.
Our aspiration is that we get all our parents and carers to download the App and use it on a regular basis, the evidence base for the App shows a successful impact on the number of children achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) at the end of reception, our target set by the Department for Education.
A short webinar to brief practitioners from across Lancashire has been arranged and will offer the chance to find out more about Easy Peasy; see a demonstration of the App and hear about the benefits for babies, children and their parents and carers.
The link to book on to the webinar held on Teams is below;
Easy Peasy Webinar – Children's Workforce
Virtual - Wednesday 14 October 2026 (09:30 to 11:30)
https://clickdelegate.lancashire.gov.uk/conferenceDetails.asp?cid=70305
Childminder training - Evaluating your practice using the Early Years inspection toolkit
We have some exciting training coming up in a few weeks which is designed for our childminder and out of school club colleagues.
Wednesday 14 October 2026 Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Venue: The Exchange, County Hall, Preston, PR1 0LD (Pitt Street entrance)
Evaluating your practice - using the early years inspection toolkit - has been developed to support you in strengthening your reflective practice and prepare for inspections under the new toolkit.
In this interactive, face-to-face session, practitioners will engage in two hours of reflective practice led by Kelly and Steph.
Using the newly developed resource, 'Evaluating Your Practice Using the Early Years Inspection Toolkit', participants will explore key evaluation areas aligned with the early year's inspection toolkit.
Click the following link for more information and to book your place: Evaluating Your practice
Inclusion Sway
Read the latest SEND and Inclusion Bulletin here: SEND & Inclusion Bulletin (schools and settings) 22 Sep 2026
Early Years Quality Improvement Team's Weekly Bulletin
17 September 2026
Keep in touch
Email: earlyyearscentre@lancashire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01772 539058
Web site: Early years support and training - Lancashire County Council
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LancsEarlyYears/ and http://www.facebook.com/groups/lancsearlyyears/
Complete this form to advertise your job vacancies for free: Recruiting and managing staff - Lancashire County Council
Your sector representatives
Please contact your PVI representatives on the Early Years Consultative Group, Rafael Schiel rafael@giantleapchildcare.co.uk or Sharon Fenton sharon@risingstarslancaster.co.uk if you have any comments or questions that you would like them to take forward to the County Council on your behalf.
Are you a new manager at your nursery setting?
Congratulations on your new role! Please let us know by completing this quick form: New PVI Nursery Manager
This will ensure that the member of the team supporting your setting knows who you are and can support you.
Something to do this week...
Take some time to explore the data on the community your setting operates in and where your children live
The 'Explore an Area' tool has been created for Ofsted inspectors and setting leaders to use to really understand the context of the local area. Take some time to access the tool and consider what the data means when supporting your children and families.
It includes depravation data, take up of EYPP, obesity levels and oral health information. You can search for Lancashire County Council area and then drill down more locally when you search by your postcode. The data is compared to the national picture to demonstrate the local priorities.
Ofsted Inspectors will use this data to inform discussions with leaders during the planning call.
You also have 'Lancashire Insight' which provides further information and can drill down to ward areas if needed. It also includes additional information on a broad range of topics including traffic accidents, domestic abuse and anti social behaviour.
Reflect on your practice:
How will you use this knowledge to support your children and families?
Education Improvement, SEND, CFW, social care and MASH contacts
An updated list of managers from the above services was attached to your email bulletin.
Member's autumn Spotlight Magazine
Keep an eye out for your copy of the magazine in your email!
It is stuffed full of interesting and inspiring articles for members. Interested in finding out more about extra support for members?
Please visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/early years/early-years-support-and training/membership-and-other support-services/ to find out more.
Every Baby Matters Webinar series
Every Baby Matters Webinar Series has been designed to build on key themes and provides an opportunity to explore topics in greater depth, learn from expert speakers and consider how as childcare practitioners we can continue improving outcomes for babies, children and families. Sessions are free and for an hour duration over lunchtime. They are suitable for professionals supporting young people and families across health, social care, education, early years, policing, community and voluntary sector organisations, and partner agencies.
For further information and to register, please visit: Lancashire Safeguarding Partnership Training
Important updates from Lancashire Virtual School
Important Updates from Lancashire Virtual School for Children Looked After, Children with a Social Worker and Children Previously Looked After
Welcome back to the autumn term. I hope you all managed to get a well deserved break over the summer and huge thank you for the support you offer to our learners.
Personal Education Plans (PEPs)
From September 2026, the Lancashire PEP will now be hosted on the Welfare Call Platform. The Professional Portal will no longer be used for PEPs. Welfare Call hosting the PEP will create a live document that all relevant staff can access, provide users quicker direct ICT support and will be much more user friendly.
Whilst changing PEP systems, we have also taken the opportunity to redesign the PEP with the support of education and Children Social Care partners, to ensure that all the sections and questions are there to support each CLA to make progress and for this to be monitored.
Please ensure you book on both training courses below to support you with accessing and completing the new PEP:
Welfare Call Lancashire PEP training (choice of 4 dates available in September)
Writing effective PEPs, turning insight into impact
Book here - Training and events by the Virtual School - Lancashire County Council
Lancashire 2026/27 PEP dates
PEP submission deadline: within 5 working days following the PEP meeting (all terms)
Autumn term: 1 Sept to 16 Nov
Spring term: 1 Jan to 12 Feb
Summer term: 1 Apr to 16 June
Educational Psychology Service Group Consultation for Schools/Settings Working with Lancashire Virtual School Learners
Dates for consultations throughout this academic year have been arranged. Please see Educational psychologist group consultation regarding virtual school learners early years KS1 - Lancashire County Council for more detail and how to book.
Early Years Designated Teacher/Practitioner Audit Tool
As part of our work to support settings, we are pleased to share an audit and self-evaluation tool to use in your setting (see attached document). The tool has been developed to support leaders and designated professionals in reviewing the effectiveness of their provision for Virtual School learners, identifying strengths and priorities for development, and evidencing the impact of their work on outcomes for children and young people. The tool has been designed to support self-evaluation and professional reflection and are aligned with relevant statutory guidance and current inspection frameworks.
The audit tools draw upon:
The September 2026 Ofsted Early Years Inspection Toolkit and EYFS inspection guidance;
The Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework;
There is no compulsory obligation to complete the audit in full. It is intended as a practical resource that settings may choose to use in whole or in part, depending on their context, priorities, and existing quality assurance arrangements. The tool may assist settings in monitoring and reporting on the quality of provision and outcomes for Virtual School learners. It provides a framework for reviewing areas such as safeguarding, inclusion, curriculum and teaching, achievement, behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines, children's welfare and wellbeing, leadership and governance.
We hope you find these resources useful and that they support your ongoing work to improve outcomes for Lancashire's most vulnerable learners. Thank you once again for your continued commitment, care and dedication to the children and young people you support every day.
Please visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/virtualschool for information, access to free training and resources.
Many thanks
Sharie Mayren
Education Consultant (Early Years)
Virtual School For Children Looked After
Fake or real? Know the deal - Campaign to tackle deepfakes
Lancashire Police has launched a new campaign this week to help young people and families recognise and respond to the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI) generated deepfakes, including harmful manipulated content that can have devastating consequences for victims. Deepfakes are images, videos or audio clips created using AI that can make it appear as though someone has said or done something they never actually did.
The Fake or Real? Know the Deal campaign aims to give young people, parents, carers and educators the confidence and knowledge needed to embrace technology safely while understanding the risks associated with deepfake content.
We would appreciate if you were able to share this campaign across your channels. We have created an online toolkit which includes;
Social media posts copy and video content
Intranet article / newsletter article
Printed challenge posters – request for hard copies
Thank you for your continued support.
Information sharing to safeguard children and young people
This new statutory guidance is now in force for all those who work with children and is intended to:
promote consistent implementation
support a cultural shift in how information sharing is understood and practised across sectors
The Information Sharing Duty guidance is for practitioners and organisations providing safeguarding and welfare services for children and young people including all settings.
It should be read alongside the statutory guidance Working together to safeguard children.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/information-sharing-to-safeguard children-and-young-people
DfE and Ofsted Updates
Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) – New online format
The Department for Education has launched an online version of the Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) on GOV.UK. The EYQL helps users determine whether a qualification is recognised as ‘full and relevant’ for the purposes of working within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) staff:child ratios in England.
Access here: https://check-an-early-years-qualification.service.gov.uk/early-years
The new format allows users to:
search qualification information online
view qualification details, additional requirements and notes more easily
access information without downloading a spreadsheet find full and relevant qualifications to study
Early years managers and practitioners can also use the Check an Early Years Qualification (CEYQ) service to support qualification checks.
Qualifications achieved outside the UK are not included on the EYQL. Holders of non-UK qualifications should continue to contact Ecctis for qualification recognition.