News

The early years school readiness music project is now available online. Although it is better for delegates to attend the face-to-face session, this online option is available as an alternative opportunity to take part.

Join us for a free webinar to introduce the new Climate Advice Pack for early years. View the article to find out more and how to book.

The Essex Early Years Facebook page launched in April this year. Stay in the know, give us a follow

New training for Autumn and Spring. Read for further details

Read more for information about peer group support

Details on the Essex Early Years Charter forum, with booking links to join for the Autumn 2023 term. Information on the Active Small Grants Programme is also available.

Essex early years settings can advertise job vacancies for free for a whole year (saving £300 per setting)

Nominations are now open for the Essex Teaching Awards 2023

Learn about best practice around transitions in the early years. Event dates 14 June 2023 / 15 June 2023.

Interactive session - Strategies to better support the development of self-regulation in children. Event dates: 6th June 2023 / 8th June 2023

EYC Charter Members Virtual Forum termly meeting - Date: 10 May 2023 from 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm

Follow the new Essex County Council Early Years Facebook page!

Free virtual workshop 26 April 2023 6-9pm. Please come and join us for a free virtual workshop for Early Years Charter Members. The bespoke session will cover tips and advice on engaging families throughout the Early Help Intervention, including a Team around the Family meeting and creating an Early Help Plan.

The Early Years Team have issued the new Transition to School Passport for children who are due to start in reception class in September 2023.

Rachel Lane, Business Manager at Springfield Bees Pre-school, shared with us their recent Welly Walk event in a local park, enjoyed by their children and their families.

If you are a parent in Essex, please share your views with us by completing our Early Years and Childcare Parent Survey.

The Bookstart Scheme is changing this year. Please read our update to find out how pre-schools, nurseries, and childminders will be involved this year.

Have your say! Please take the time to complete our training needs survey.

Stanway Preschool have shared with us an example of inspiring kindness in their community.

Essex childminder shares good practice from local dental practice visit.

Rivenstars were recently inspected and had a very positive experience and outcome. In this article Ruth, who is the owner and manager, shares her experience and tips.

EYFS practitioners are invited to attend our free online webinars taking place on 7 and 9 June 2022

Saturday 21 May 9:30am – 5pm at a cost of £35 per person. Please come and join us for this year’s face-to-face EYFS Conference. The conference will take place at Colchester Community Stadium. Tea, coffee, and lunch will be provided

The summer term may bring longer days and sunshine, but it also brings the annual childcare sufficiency data collection. We are asking that by 1st July , all childcare providers take the opportunity to go into the Early Years Portal to review and update the details held on the system.

Find out further information on the Ofsted inspection 'learning walk' and how this may benefit your setting.

Our new Early Years and Childcare strategy sets out our vision for children and families across the county, read more about our plans.

Nominations are now open for the Essex teaching Awards 2022 - anyone can nominate individuals or teams working in early years and childcare and educational workforce, in the Essex local authority area.

We are offering free Communication and language approaches training in early February and March 2022 for professionals working with 0-25s and families. To book your place please visit Education Essex Online booking system.

Education leaders, SENCOs, pastoral leads and attendance teams are invited to attend a free virtual session on Thursday 3 March 2022 9:30am - 12:30pm.

Jayne's Nursery and OMEP-UK Early Childhood Education for Sustainable Citizenship (ESC) Award scheme, developed to support the early years sector to become more knowledgeable about sustainable development.

The above training is taking place on 17 November 2021 09:30 - 11:30am . To book your place, visit Education Essex Online Booking System.

SENCOs (new and established) are invited to attend a free introduction session in Harlow on Monday 22 November 2021 10am – 3pm

The safeguarding training arrangements for EYFS settings have recently been reviewed. All staff within a setting must have Level two training, at least annually. The safeguarding lead must have Level three training. We are offering a discount bundle for Safeguarding level two training for Essex early years and childcare education establishments (including childminders with assistants).

Autumn training opportunities about Autism now available on Education Essex online booking system

Book your place for advice regarding the S106 application process.

The revised EYFS framework should be followed from September 2021.

Find out how to book for courses on offer at Education Essex.

An invite to a free briefing on the upcoming Early Years Foundation Stage reforms.

Book your place on a virtual training event on understanding emotional dynamics in the early years setting.

All the details you need - including how to book - for this year's EYFS conference.

Book your place on a virtual course aimed at professionals working with pupils aged 3 to 5 years old.

Safeguarding children level 1 by the Essex Safeguarding Children Board (ESCB) is now available again.

A range of resources by Community Dental Health to teach young children about dental health and healthy eating.

Find out about the fun learning activities for parents, families and carers to do with their young children at home.

Advice on what to do if a child becomes unwell or is injured during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Essex is working closely with the Department for Education and the Department for Health, monitoring the Covid19 situation on a daily basis.

Public Health England video encouraging children to wash their hands regularly.

Coronavirus Update 13 March 2020

Updated travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Public Health England about travelling to and from Italy.

Coronavirus Update from Clare Kershaw

Information from the Department for Education about the government's Coronavirus action plan launched on 4 March 2020.

Information about the Department for Education Coronavirus helpline.

26 February 2020: updated advice to all early years providers, schools and further education providers from the Department for Education (DfE).

Update and guidance from Clare Kershaw, Director of Education on the Coronavirus

Advice From the Department for Education (DfE) for all early years providers, schools and further education providers

A message from Carolyn Terry, Early Years and Childcare Sufficiency and Sustainability Manager about the new funding rates for the free early education entitlement (FEEE) from 1 April 2020.

Advice from Public Health England on how to keep yourself and your little ones cool in the summer heat.

Information about the Department for Education's three year campaign to encourage parents and carers to adopt positive activities and behaviours to boost children’s communication, language and literacy development and ways how on you can support the campaign. Kids love it when you read with them. It all goes in. Every single word.

See the latest update to the Southend, Essex, Thurrock (SET) Safeguarding and Child Protection procedures.

Sign-up to our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Newsletter to hear about upcoming courses and other news.

Early years and childcare providers, including childminders, must use Ofsted's EY3 form to notify them of certain changes to individuals, including names, addresses and any start or leave dates...

Advice and guidance from the NSPCC about the effects of parental mental health problems on babies and children.

Government guidance to help those who work in early years settings consider their practice and to take steps to safeguard both children and adults online.

A range of resources released by the Department for Transport's THINK! campaign designed to help practitioners and teachers highlight the dangers of the road to young children.

Find out about the support on offer for childminders from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

Guidance by ChildNet aimed at parents with children under five on how to support children in their internet use.

Example menus developed by Public Health England to show how early years settings can offer food and drink to young children to meet the early years foundation stage welfare requirements.

Nursery World highlights findings in a report by doctors who advise cutting up grapes and similar types of food into halves and ideally, into quarters to avoid young children choking.

The Childcare Choices website helps parents to find government support. There's also information for childcare providers.

Advice to early years and childcare providers to ensure that references are checked before employing anyone.

The Department of Health's infographic to promote physical activity in the under fives.

Find answers to the most common questions about the Disclosure and Barring Service by using their website.