Barnsley Early Years Quality Team

28/09/2026

🌟 Why the Leuven Scale Matters in Early Years 🌟

Children learn best when they feel happy, safe, and fully engaged. That's why many early years practitioners use the Leuven Scale of Well-being and Involvement to help understand children's experiences and support their development. The tool focuses on two key indicators: well-being and involvement, helping practitioners identify when children are thriving and when they may need additional support.

💡 Ask yourself:

Are children deeply engaged in their play?
Do they feel confident, secure, and valued?
How can we adapt our environment and interactions to increase well-being and involvement?

Follow the link to find out more 👇
https://www.earlyyears.tv/ferre-laevers/?

28/09/2026

Areas of learning
Find out more about each area of learning, including activities you can do and guidance on meeting the needs of all children in your setting.
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https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/areas-of-learning?

Find out more about each area of learning, including activities you can do and guidance on meeting the needs of all children in your setting.

25/09/2026

Early Years Qualifications Requirements and Standards: The qualifications that staff must hold to be included in the specified staff:child ratios at levels 2, 3 and 6 of the early years foundation stage (EYFS).
This document was updated from 1 September 2026, to clarify the Level 2 English requirements.
👇
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards?

The qualifications that staff must hold to be included in the specified staff:child ratios at levels 2, 3 and 6 of the early years foundation stage (EYFS).

25/09/2026

CPD webinar: Once upon a rhyme, 5 November.
As part of the National Year of Reading offer for early years, this webinar supports early years practitioners and childminders to guide their children through an area that can sometimes feel less familiar- poetry.
Free to attend
👇

As part of the National Year of Reading official offer for early years, this webinar will focus on the vital role of poetry in nurturing children’s love of language, rhythm and storytelling.

25/09/2026

Helping children dress themselves

From choosing clothes to mastering buttons and zips, getting dressed is a great opportunity for children to develop independence, coordination and confidence.

Find simple ideas and tips from BBC Tiny Happy People to support children as they learn this everyday skill.

Read more:https://zurl.co/tCkx9

25/09/2026

25/09/2026

Community Playthings Article
Children don't hide from the weather by Clare Devlin ⛈🌤☃

https://www.communityplaythings.co.uk/learning-library/articles/children-dont-hide-from-the-weather?

The article challenges common myths about outdoor learning, showing that meaningful play and development can happen in all weathers and in a wide range of spaces, from gardens to tarmac. Clare Devlin argues that thoughtful resources, suitable clothing and a positive adult attitude can turn the outdo...

25/09/2026

📢A message to our Barnsley settings and childminders

A protected email was sent out today. This is to be used for sending us your completed 2 year progress checks dated September and October 2026.

If you have completed 2 year progress checks in August 2026 that have not been sent to us, please do send these to us at your earliest convenience

A further protected email will be sent out by the end of October to use in November 2026.

Any queries please email [email protected]

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

Parents as partners: supporting parental mental health and wellbeing best practice guide
This online guide shared by National Children's Bureau, offers practical examples and resources for early years settings practitioners.
👇
https://www.ncb.org.uk/resources/all-resources/filter/practitioners/parents-partners-supporting-parental-mental-health-and?

This online guide offers practical examples and resources for early years settings practitioners.