INTRODUCTION FROM OUR HEAD OF HUB
What an incredible month it has been at the Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, making a difference in the Early Years. Our team are committed to supporting EYFS practitioners from across the sector including childminders, PVI’s and schools, keeping you informed through our mailing list and networking events. As a team we are passionate about providing high quality evidence led professional development, building on teams' reflective practice and providing bespoke support and advice.
Our ‘New to EYFS’ training was a success, hosted by Head of Hub Cathy Graham, giving practitioners a deeper understanding of the EYFS statutory framework. Jo Peters, our Assistant Head of Hub was delighted to facilitate discussions alongside our Head of Hub inspiring new practitioners to EYFS. Wonderful to receive positive feedback and we are already planning our next sessions for our ECT’s.
Thank you to all those who attended both training days and we look forward to planning our next sessions.
Cathy Graham - Head of Early Years Hub & Headteacher at Wellfield Nursery & Infants School
Jo Peters - Assistant Head of Hub
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Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0161 941 5681
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Excited to welcome our new Speech and Language Therapist!
We are delighted to welcome Laura, our Speech and Language Therapist, commissioned from SpeechWise working with our Early Years team. Laura has been working as a speech and language therapist for 8 years in both the mainstream and special educational needs settings. She will be providing help and support to our schools, PVIs and childminders by visiting settings and also by offering Q and A sessions and delivering webinars. Look out for Laura's blog coming soon!
The EEF Evidence Store also has useful and accessible evidence-based information about approaches Early Years practitioners can use in their settings to support communication and language development.
Our first Network meetings of this term were with the NW Childminder Area Leads and Mentors. It was a wonderful opportunity for the Hub to have access to such knowledgeable and experienced childminders. They were buzzing with ideas and feedback on how the Hub can support their sector. They also came up with lots of great ideas for developing more childminder networks, CPD and workshops. We cannot wait to start to put some of these into practice. The Hub has offered to support the organisation of some of the childminder networks to help them get off the ground, including some in Cheshire, Salford and Trafford. If you would like more networking opportunities in your area please get in touch with us.
We will be delivering a range of CPD over the year often with evening or Saturday sessions to make this accessible. We also plan to host some childminder specific events across the region. Thank you to our Childminder Area Leads and Mentors for their enthusiasm and for helping us to shape our Hub plan so that we can provide the best training and support for our childminder community.
Find out more about the Childminder Mentor Programme and how you can get support.
Time is running out to apply for funded support from the DfE under the Childminder Mentors Programme. Applications close on Thursday 30 November.
Click the link here to apply or to find out more information.
Blog: Enabling Environments in the Early Years by Jill Dring
Jill Dring is the Headteacher at Charnwood Nursery School and Children’s Centre in Stockport. Having worked within the early years sector for 20 years and as a specialist in SEND she is passionate about inclusive early years practice. Charnwood has long been a recognised centre of excellence for inclusive early years education and family work.
This blog reflects on questions around engagement, developing skills and the role of the adult.
“The learning environment is far more than just a physical space, it represents the care, nature, acceptance and safety that each child is entitled to in order to thrive.”
For background information on Enabling Environments you can see the EYFS section on ‘Overarching Principles’ and the Development Matters section on ‘Pedagogy’.
Enabling Environments!
It was great to see a range of enabling environments across our host settings at our recent Trafford based Network events. We know that practitio
ners love to explore each other’s indoor and outdoor areas and it was great to share ideas on continuous provision. It was particularly wonderful to experience Lime Tree Primary Academy sharing their nurturing 2 year old setting and speaking about their approaches to developing their provision.
A huge thank you to our Early Years leads for hosting our Network meetings, Lime Tree Primary School, Wellfield Infant School, Kings Road Primary School, St Michaels C of E Primary, Old Trafford Primary Academy, Flixton Primary School, Oldfield Brow Primary School and Broadheath Primary School.
We look forward to our new schools hosting in Spring term and liaising with our Early Years practitioners from local authorities across Greater Manchester.
Networking Opportunities for practitioners…
One of the key roles of the Hub is to support local authorities in developing network opportunities across the Early Years sector.
Earlier this term the Early Years Hub held our Network meetings across Trafford schools for practitioners in PVIs and Nursery and Reception classes in schools.
It was a great opportunity to learn more about the EEF Early Years Evidence Store and our fully funded CPD opportunities.
We discussed the EEF programmes that the Hub provides funding for too. To search for evidence-based training and programmes you could take part in locally, click here, and to see a list of the evidence based programmes on offer across Stronger Practice Hubs, click here.
We had some fantastic engagement and it was great to see our practitioners from across the sector sharing their reflective practice. We were delighted to bring the voice of the Early Years sector together, supporting our very youngest children to learn and develop.
Fully-funded CPD!
National Professional Qualification | Early Years Leadership
The Teaching School Hub is accepting registrations, to start February ‘24
The application involves a two-step process:
1. Apply today on GOV.UK in order to receive a fully funded place
2. Apply with a training provider, you can find your local Teaching School here https://tshc.org.uk/find-your-local-teaching-school-hub/
For colleagues located in Trafford, Salford, Manchester & Stockport your local Teaching School’s Hub NPQEYL application form is here and further information can be found at the NPQEYL - Bright Futures Teaching School Hubs (bright-futures.co.uk)
If you’ve got any questions about the programme or would like to talk through your options, drop an email to our Teaching School Hubs on [email protected]
Advice and Support
The Hub is here to signpost you to any appropriate support or put together a bespoke package in consultation with your Local Authority to meet your needs.
Email us at:
Call us on 0161 941 5681
