Helping Early Years Settings Build Confidence and Strengthen Practice
Every early years setting has its own strengths, opportunities and challenges. Sometimes, having an experienced professional to work alongside you can make all the difference.
Through the Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser (EYSPA) Programme, Thrive Together offers fully funded, personalised support to eligible early years providers across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Our advisers work collaboratively with settings and childminders to reflect on existing practice, explore areas for development and identify practical approaches that support high-quality early education.
Whether you're looking to develop your provision, strengthen leadership or overcome a particular challenge, the programme provides an opportunity to access professional guidance that responds to your setting's individual needs.
How Can an Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser Help?
Our EYSPAs are experienced early years professionals who understand the day-to-day demands of delivering high-quality education and care.
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, your adviser will take time to understand your setting, celebrate what is working well and help you consider your next steps.
Support may include:
- Reflecting on current practice: Recognising existing strengths and exploring opportunities to develop provision further.
- Professional coaching and guidance: Building the knowledge and confidence of leaders and practitioners through supportive conversations.
- Developing effective practice: Exploring evidence-informed approaches that can be adapted to your children, staff and environment.
- Identifying priorities: Working together to establish achievable goals and practical actions.
- Supporting lasting improvement: Helping embed approaches that can continue to benefit children and practitioners beyond the programme.
Our focus is on working with you, providing constructive and encouraging support that builds upon the expertise already within your setting.
Who Is the Programme For?
The EYSPA Programme is designed for early years providers who may benefit from additional professional support, particularly those working with children experiencing disadvantage or facing barriers to learning.
Eligible settings may include those that:
- Have received an Ofsted judgement indicating that improvement is required.
- Support children eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).
- Have children accessing the funded early learning offer for eligible two-year-olds.
- Support significant numbers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
We welcome enquiries from nurseries, pre-schools, school-based early years provision and childminders across the Thrive Together area.
What Does the Support Involve?
Support is shaped around the individual needs and circumstances of each participating setting.
Your EYSPA may work with you to consider aspects of your provision, engage in reflective discussions, explore effective approaches and develop an achievable improvement plan.
The emphasis is always on collaboration and professional learning, rather than assessment.
The EYSPA Programme is not an inspection or a judgement of your setting. It is an opportunity to receive encouragement, expertise and practical support to help you feel more confident in your practice.
Dedicated Support for Childminders
New to childminding or looking to develop your practice?
We recognise that childminders work in unique environments and often balance a wide range of responsibilities independently.
Our EYSPA Programme provides an opportunity to step away from the everyday demands of your provision and focus on your professional development.
Whether you have recently registered, are preparing for your first Ofsted inspection or would simply welcome an opportunity to reflect on your practice, our advisers can help you identify areas where you would like to develop.
Through personalised guidance and professional discussion, we aim to help childminders feel supported, valued and confident in providing high-quality early years experiences.
Meet Our Early Years Stronger Practice Advisers
Our EYSPA team brings together experienced professionals with a broad range of knowledge and expertise across the early years sector.
Each adviser is committed to working collaboratively with providers and helping practitioners make positive, achievable changes that benefit children.
Interested in Accessing EYSPA Support?
If you feel your setting could benefit from additional guidance, we would love to hear from you.
Complete our short Expression of Interest form to tell us a little about your provision and the support you are looking for. A member of the Thrive Together team will then be in touch to discuss the next steps and your eligibility.
Early Years Stronger Practice Advisers (EYSPA) Programme: Group-based Support Application
Early Years Stronger Practice Advisers (EYSPA) Programme: Childminder Support Application