Early Years and Childcare Support

If you're interested in Makaton this one is for you!

🌟 Join us for 'Our Voices, Our Way', a Makaton Users’ Webinar🌟

🗓️ Wednesday 15 July 2026
⏰ 6:00pm–7:00pm
📍 Online
FREE – everyone is welcome

Kirsty, Cassie, Liddy, Taylor and Abi will be sharing their personal experiences of using Makaton in everyday life as they talk openly about communication, accessibility, and what it’s like living with a disability.
Through honest conversation, they explore how Makaton supports independence, self-expression and connection, and why disabled voices matter, especially during Disability Pride Month.
This webinar celebrates different ways of communicating and puts lived experience at its heart.

✨ The webinar will be recorded and available to watch after in the Makaton Library✨

Book your place here https://bit.ly/3QC9api

We are pleased to share a fully funded professional development opportunity for early years practitioners and childminders in Lincolnshire, supported by Lincolnshire County Council and delivered by the East Midlands Early Years Stronger Practice Hub.
Supporting the Foundations for Early Writing

📅 Friday 26 June
🕤 9:30am–3:30pm
📍 Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln

This reflective and practice-focused professional development day will explore how high-quality interactions, emotionally attuned relationships and motivating learning experiences support children to become confident communicators and writers from the very beginning.

Across the day, participants will reflect on:
• The role of strong relationships and connection in supporting communication and literacy
• High-quality interactions that extend children's thinking, language and imagination
• Creating environments that invite mark-making, storytelling and expression
• Motivation, curiosity and child-led learning
• Resources and experiences that support physical development and early writing foundations
• How everyday play experiences build the skills needed for later writing

This event is open to early years settings and childminders across Lincolnshire and is fully funded.

To find out more and book your place, please visit:

Lincolnshire Professional Development Day | Pen Green Children's Centre Join our Lincolnshire Early Years Professional Development Day exploring the foundations of early writing through high quality interactions, strong relationships, enabling environments and motivating learning experiences in the EYFS.

Welfare Wednesday

🔐 Safer Recruitment in Early Years – The Importance of References
Safer recruitment is a vital part of safeguarding within Early Years settings and a key expectation under the EYFS framework. Robust recruitment processes help ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children and committed to keeping them safe.
A critical element of this process is the obtaining and verification of references.
Providers should ensure all guidance in the EYFS 2025 is followed when obtaining references.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68c024cb8c6d992f23edd79c/Early_years_foundation_stage_statutory_framework_-_for_group_and_school-based_providers.pdf.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6874e14383d39f474eb7d373/Early_years_foundation_stage_statutory_framework_for_childminders_.pdf

From an Ofsted perspective:
Inspectors will consider how effectively leaders ensure rigorous safer recruitment procedures are in place, including:
• Evidence that appropriate pre-employment checks, including references, are completed
• Leaders taking action to follow up concerns or unclear information
• A clear commitment to creating a safe workforce
• Recruitment processes that reflect a strong safeguarding culture from the outset
Safer recruitment is the first step in protecting children. Thorough reference checks are not just a formality—they are an essential safeguarding tool to help ensure only suitable individuals work within your setting.
🔍 Regular review of recruitment procedures and staff training helps maintain high standards and compliance.

T RAINING TUESDAY
Let’s Talk Transitions – Summer 2026
On 24rd June 2026

Have you secured your place? Bookings going fast
Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-talk-transitions-summer-2026-tickets-1982686669200
Please see Training Brochure or e-mail [email protected] for password to book

“Please like, share our page and cascade to your staff as new followers are always welcome”

Let’s Talk Transitions – Summer 2026 Eventbrite - Early Years & Childcare Support presents Let’s Talk Transitions – Summer 2026 - Wednesday, 24 June 2026 - Find event and ticket information.

TRAINING TUESDAY
𝟭𝟮-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 - 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲
**30th June and 7th July 2026 - Gainsborough - 3 places left
** 2nd and 9th July 2026 – Horncastle – 1 place left
Please see Training Brochure or e-mail [email protected] for links and password to book
“𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦”

Almost 1 in 4 children experience bullying: new film encourages younger children to speak up

Almost 1 in 4 children experience bullying: new film encourages younger children to speak up As part of its campaign, the Anti-Bullying Alliance has launched a new animated short film designed to help younger children understand bullying and feel confident speaking up.

TRAINING TUESDAY
Understanding Schemas - online events by Early Years Company
On 23rd June 2026 - limited places available

Have you secured your place? Still time to book

Link:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/understanding-schemas-online-events-tickets-1983443620261
Please see Training Brochure or e-mail [email protected] for password to book

“Please like, share our page and cascade to your staff as new followers are always welcome”

Understanding Schemas - online events Eventbrite - Early Years & Childcare Support presents Understanding Schemas - online events - Tuesday, 23 June 2026 - Find event and ticket information.

Ofsted has updated the Inspection Toolkit and Operating Guidance for Early Years Inspections, this is for use from September 2026.

Please see further information in the link below

Early years inspection: toolkit, operating guide and information Guidance for inspectors and providers on inspecting registered early years settings in England under the renewed education inspection framework.

Online Safety questionnaire if you could take two minutes to complete

EYFS Online Safety Resources Survey Please take a few minutes to take our survey.

Job Advert – Nursery Practitioner

Park School Day Nursery is a family run business which was established in 1966 and currently employs fifteen members of staff. We are a day nursery and Pre-school who take children from 6 weeks to 4 years old, providing excellent care and education. We strive to have exceptional relationships with our parents and carers, working closely with them to help our children grow.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, caring and attentive individual. The ideal candidate will have early years experience and knowledge of the Key Worker system. A knowledge of Tapestry, an on-line Learning Journal, is useful, but not essential, as full training will be given. This position is permanent and hours will be between 8am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, full time.
Essential:
• A qualified nursery practitioner at level 3 or above holding a NNEB, BTEC, NVQ3, EYE, or an equivalent childcare/teaching qualification;
• A desire to support children’s development, no matter how small the progress is;
• Good, effective communication with colleagues and parents/carers;
• A working knowledge of early years and child development.

Main duties:
• To ensure the provision is of high quality to meet the needs of the individual children;
• To observe, assess and review the progress of key children;
• To work closely with parents and carers and form a good relationship;
• To ensure that children’s needs are met, regardless of culture, race, religion or stage of development;
• To meet each child’s care needs, including nappy changes, sleep routines and eating habits;
• To communicate effectively with colleagues and work well as part of a team;
• To carry out First Aid and record all accidents and incidents;
• To be aware of the nursery’s safeguarding policy and take necessary action if and when required;
• To support children with additional needs where necessary and liaise with other professionals and SENCo.

For an application pack or more information please contact

Janet Richards
[email protected]
01522 681019

The closing date is Friday 19th July 2026