West Sussex Early Years Education and Childcare Training

02/10/2026

🌐Online safety🌐

👉Check out the NSPCC's online safety: expert insight videos.

These videos are a valuable resource for professionals who work with children. This series of expert insight films helps those working and volunteering with children and young people to explore what online safety means, recognise the risks children face and understand how to support children’s safety online.

For more information click the link below:
🔗https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/expert-insights/online-safety

Online safety videos 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_r_2Fqw0_0UnNakzQmxkCND8bPj8A4iw

These five films explore what online safety means, how to recognise the risks children face and how to support children’s safety online.

02/10/2026

Rethinking the Recruitment and Retention of Staff

We all know that childcare workforce supply, recruitment and retention is a real challenge in the current market. We know that no one single action will make a difference however, this workshop will support providers to rethink how they recruit, employ and retain staff.

Change yourself, your business and your team!

🔷For just £10 this course aims to understand why it is important to revisit, revise, consider, and apply actions to support recruitment and retention of staff. 🔷

📢 To avoid disappointment, book now and secure your space!

✅Tuesday 03 November 2026, 09:30 - 12:30, Online, £10🔷
🔗https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/292870

🔷 Part of our amazing *Expansion Support Offer* only £10 per person to attend. To support settings in realising their expansion plans, we are offering training and support to upskill both retained staff and recent recruits at a subsidised cost. These set courses are part of the ‘Expansion Support’ courses and are running at a subsidised cost of £10 per place. 🔷

To book, the West Sussex Services for Education portal can be found at https://education.westsussex.gov.uk Click 'Services for Early Years and Childcare' on the home page and then click ‘Login to Early Years and Childcare'.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

01/10/2026

Safeguarding and Child Protection in Early Years Refresher

👉Refresh your knowledge and skills in relation to safeguarding and child protection.

The aim of this course is to support you in revisiting the signs and indicators of abuse and neglect and, having identified these signals, how to respond. It will assist you to explore social care thresholds in relation to the various levels of intervention. You will also be encouraged to consider what action can be taken within the setting, and the support and guidance available.

✅Thursday 15 October 2026, 13:30 - 16:30, Mid Sussex, £21
🔗https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/292781

To book, the West Sussex Services for Education portal can be found at https://education.westsussex.gov.uk Click 'Services for Early Years and Childcare' on the home page and then click ‘Login to Early Years and Childcare'.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

01/10/2026

PINCH, PUNCH...EXTRA AUTUMN COURSE DATES JUST DROPPED ⚠️⏰
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As promised, due to the overwhelming demand on our already hefty schedules for Paediatric First Aid and Safeguarding, we have been able to add a further 2 x Paediatric First Aid and 2 x Safeguarding dates.
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🩺PAEDIATRIC FIRST AID NEW DATES:
1) Date - Wednesday 25/11/2026
Time - 09:30 to 4:30
Location: King's Church, Burgess Hill
Price: £92 per person
Booking link: https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/312084
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2) Date - Tuesday 01/12/2026
Time - 09:30 to 4:30
Location: County Hall, Chichester
Price: £92 per person
Booking link: https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/311982
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🛡️SAFEGUARDING NEW DATES:
1) Course: Safeguarding and Child Protection in Early Years REFRESHER
Date: Wednesday 25/11/2026
Location: Online
Time: 09:30 to 12:30
Price: £21 per person
Booking link: https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/312078
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2) Course: Safeguarding and Child Protection for the DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD in Early Years Settings
Date: Tuesday 01/12/2026
Location: Online
Time: 18:30 to 21:30 (EVENING)
Price: £21 per person
Booking link: https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/312079
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Spaces are limited and when they are gone they are gone. If you are moving from another course to this date, it is your responsibility to contact us to do so on [email protected]
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Note: If you are looking to move from a First Aid date and your codes have already been sent, please check with us prior as this may impact your ability to transfer your booking.
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Thank you.
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01/10/2026

Leadership and Management: Understanding positive, proactive and effective leadership

👉Are you a new leader? Are you looking to develop your leadership skills? This course could be perfect for you.

This useful and exploratory webinar considers the attributes, skills and competences that enable leaders to be positive, proactive and effective. Informative and thought-provoking content explores what makes a good leader; raising awareness of your leadership and what your setting needs from your leadership.

The aims of this course are to increase your professional confidence and awareness of leadership skills, attributes and competencies. We will identify strengths and ways forward for your development.

📢 Avoid disappointment and book now to secure your space!

✅Wednesday 14 October 2026, 09:30 - 12:30, Online, £31
🔗https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/293183

To book, the West Sussex Services for Education portal can be found at https://education.westsussex.gov.uk Click 'Services for Early Years and Childcare' on the home page and then click ‘Login to Early Years and Childcare'.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

30/09/2026

Always wanted to begin a journey in Makaton? Now is the perfect time to start! 🫰

This is a certified Makaton Foundation Level 1 course for those working in early years education settings, and teachers and teaching assistants working in reception and year one.

👉The aim of this course is to provide you with a detailed introduction to Makaton Foundation Level 1. It combines a practical approach with theory and technical information, as well as an experiential introduction to communication disability.

📢Avoid disappointment and book your space now!

✅Thursday 05 November 2026, 09:30 - 16:30, Chichester, £92
🔗https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/291545

To book, the West Sussex Services for Education portal can be found at https://education.westsussex.gov.uk Click 'Services for Early Years and Childcare' on the home page and then click ‘Login to Early Years and Childcare'.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

30/09/2026

The Halloween treats are starting early...🎃

DUE TO DEMAND, EXTRA PAEDIATRIC FIRST AID AND SAFEGUARDING COURSES FOR LATE AUTUMN ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CONFIRMED AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.

Watch this space...

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30/09/2026

📢Last chance to book!

Portage Workshop

👉A Small Steps Approach to Learning for Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

✅This is a certificated training course delivered by National Portage Association Accredited Trainers.

This three day workshop is an introduction to the Portage Approach to working with children with additional needs and their families. The workshop is suitable for anyone interested in finding out more about the Portage model, including early years practitioners, therapists and parents. Central to the course are the ‘Portage Principles’ and the ‘Three Circle Model of Portage’. The Workshop has a core curriculum consisting of seven modules.

📢 Avoid disappointment and book now to secure your space!

Cost: £100
✅Day 1: Wednesday 07 October 2026, 09:00 - 15:30, Horsham
✅Day 2: Thursday 08 October 2026, 09:00 - 15:30, Horsham
✅Day 3: Wednesday 11 November 2026, 09:15 - 11:00, Online

🔗https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/295093

To book, the West Sussex Services for Education portal can be found at https://education.westsussex.gov.uk Click 'Services for Early Years and Childcare' on the home page and then click ‘Login to Early Years and Childcare'.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

29/09/2026

✨New career opportunity -Jobs in Early Years and Childcare✨

St Paul's Preschool is looking for a permanent Level 2/3 Early Years Practitioner in Haywards Heath, Mid Sussex

✅Contract type: Permanent.

✅Working hours and pattern: Term time only, 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, this is negotiable but must be available to work Fridays.

✅Salary band: £20,000 to £21,500, dependent on qualifications.

✅About us: They are a small, term time only preschool situated in the centre of Haywards Heath. They have a friendly and established team who embrace new ideas and quality interactions to help all their children have fun and develop at their own pace.

✅Job details: You will be a key person to a group of children, working as part of a small team, initiating play ideas, being proactive with planning and having meaningful relationships with your key children’s parents/ carers.

✅What you need to succeed: They are looking for a level 2 or level 3 qualified practitioner who is able to write reports, keep clear and accurate records for a group of key children. You will have excellent verbal and communication skills, as well as organisational skills, administrative and basic IT skills. You will have a calm, caring and empathetic nature, be able to work as part of a team, as well as using your own initiative.

👉How to find out more and apply: Please email [email protected] for an application form.

👉Closing date: 14 October 2026.

For more jobs in early years and childcare please see the most recent Jobs in Early Years and Childcare Bulletin
🔗https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKWSCC/bulletins/42c2342

📢Do you have a job within your setting that you would like to advertise on our page?
👉Email us at [email protected]

29/09/2026

🍁Don't miss the autumn School Aged Childcare Networks 🍁

These networks provide an opportunity for wraparound leaders to hear about the latest local and national news and discuss current and pertinent issues with other local providers. The networks cover all elements, including business and welfare as well as implementing high quality provision.

If you apply what you learn in this course, you will be able to:
✅Recognise national and local developments and identify how these will impact on practice.
✅Recognise and explore themes which can support the quality of your provision and improve outcomes for all children.
✅Share good practice and learn how other providers are sustaining their businesses in challenging times.

👉Chichester
✅Monday 19 October 2026, 10:30 - 12:30, County Hall Chichester, £0
🔗https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/302269

👉Burgess Hill
✅Thursday 22 October 2026, 10:30 - 12:30, Kings Church, £0
🔗https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/307785

👉Horsham
✅Friday 23 October 2026, 10:30 - 12:30 County Hall North, £0
🔗https://education.westsussex.gov.uk/Event/307798

To book, the West Sussex Services for Education portal can be found at https://education.westsussex.gov.uk Click 'Services for Early Years and Childcare' on the home page and then click ‘Login to Early Years and Childcare'.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]