Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub Black Country

01/09/2026

Could your setting be eligible?

If you're unsure whether the EYSPA Programme is right for you, here's a quick guide.

Your setting or childminding provision may be eligible if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

✅ You have received:

• 'Needs Attention'
• 'Urgent Improvement'
• Requires Improvement
• Inadequate

OR

You have children who are:

✔ Eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
✔ Eligible for the Early Learning for 2-Year-Olds Offer
✔ Children with SEND who qualify for support

Applications meeting the Ofsted eligibility criteria will be prioritised.

Apply today:

🏫 Group-Based Settings
https://forms.gle/FA2qPkF6g12aeT3L8

👶 Childminders
https://forms.gle/iuhEzCqBxxzNFb9R8

25/08/2026

Meet Sarah Worrall, Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser

With more than 26 years of experience in the early years sector, Sarah Worrall brings extensive knowledge of quality improvement, inclusion, workforce development and supporting children with additional needs.

Throughout her career, she has worked with children, practitioners and leaders across private, voluntary and independent settings, maintained nursery schools, primary schools and childminding provision. For the past six years, she has worked in an advisory and consultancy role within a local authority, supporting early years providers to strengthen the quality of their provision, meet statutory requirements and improve outcomes for children.

Sarah Worrall has considerable experience of supporting settings through Ofsted registration and inspection, developing effective self-evaluation and action planning, and building the confidence of leaders and practitioners. She also worked on the Covid recovery programme, helping settings adapt their provision and prioritise children’s speech, language and social development.

As an Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser, Sarah Worrall will work alongside settings in a supportive, respectful and non-judgemental way. Her strengths-based coaching approach helps practitioners recognise what they are already doing well, openly discuss challenges and take ownership of achievable and sustainable improvements.

Her particular areas of interest and expertise include:
● Supporting children with SEND
● Early identification and the graduated response
● Speech, language and communication
● Inclusive early years environments
● Supporting children experiencing disadvantage
● Leadership and quality improvement
● Ofsted preparation and statutory compliance
● Coaching, mentoring and workforce development
● Safeguarding and effective partnership working

Sarah Worrall holds a BA Honours degree in Early Childhood Studies, Early Years Professional Status and the National Award for SEN Coordination. She is also a licensed trainer for Good Autism Practice and autism awareness and has delivered training in Early Years Talk Boost, ICAN, Talking with Your Toddler and Making It REAL.

Settings working with Sarah Worrall can expect an experienced, approachable and reflective adviser who will tailor her support to their individual context. She will help leaders and practitioners strengthen inclusive practice, build workforce confidence and identify practical improvements that make a lasting difference for children and families.

17/08/2026

Meet Elaine O’Brien, Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser

With 28 years of experience as an Ofsted-registered childminder, Elaine O’Brien brings extensive practical knowledge of delivering high-quality early education and care within a home-based setting. During her career, she has achieved four consecutive Outstanding Ofsted inspection grades and has supported children from six months old through to school age.

Alongside her childminding role, Elaine O’Brien has taken on a wide range of leadership and representative responsibilities. These have included serving as a childminder representative at local-authority forums, contributing to safeguarding and SEND discussions, representing early years providers at Schools Forum and supporting other practitioners through local networks and stay-and-play sessions.

Elaine O’Brien has considerable experience of mentoring prospective, newly registered and established childminders. She has also worked as an Area Lead for the Department for Education’s Childminder Mentor Programme, coordinating a team of mentors and providing tailored support to childminders across different local-authority areas.

As an Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser, Elaine O’Brien will provide supportive, approachable and practical guidance that recognises the unique opportunities and challenges of childminding. She believes that effective mentoring should build confidence and enable practitioners to identify their own solutions, take ownership of change and move forward at a pace that is right for them.

Her particular areas of interest and expertise include:

● Childminding practice and home-based provision
● Speech, language and communication
● Supporting children with SEND and physical disabilities
● Self-regulation and children’s emotional development
● Safeguarding and statutory requirements
● Coaching and mentoring childminders
● Partnership working with parents and professionals
● School readiness and learning through play
● Developing local childminding networks
Elaine O’Brien holds Early Years Professional Status and a BA degree in Early Years Education Studies. She has also completed qualifications in mentoring, speech, language and communication, inclusive practice and safeguarding, alongside a wide range of recent professional development.

Settings working with Elaine O’Brien can expect an experienced, encouraging and relatable adviser who understands childminding first-hand. She will share practical ideas and real-life examples while helping practitioners reflect on their own provision and identify achievable improvements that benefit children and families.

14/08/2026

Could your setting be eligible?

If you're unsure whether the EYSPA Programme is right for you, here's a quick guide.

Your setting or childminding provision may be eligible if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

✅ You have received:

• 'Needs Attention'

• 'Urgent Improvement'

• Requires Improvement

• Inadequate

OR

You have children who are:

✔ Eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

✔ Eligible for the Early Learning for 2-Year-Olds Offer

✔ Children with SEND who qualify for support

Applications meeting the Ofsted eligibility criteria will be prioritised.

Apply today:

🏫 Group-Based Settings
https://forms.gle/FA2qPkF6g12aeT3L8

👶 Childminders
https://forms.gle/iuhEzCqBxxzNFb9R8

12/08/2026

Meet Lisa Clare, Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser

With 12 years of experience in early years education, Lisa Clare brings strong expertise in SEND, inclusive practice, safeguarding, leadership and quality improvement.

She currently works as an Assistant Headteacher and SENCo across a federation of nursery schools, where she leads SEND provision, supports curriculum development and helps ensure that children receive the right support as early as possible. Her role includes coaching staff, reviewing provision, coordinating the graduated approach and working closely with families and specialist professionals.

Lisa is also a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead in Wolverhampton, giving her valuable experience in safeguarding practice and multi-agency working. Through this role, she has gained direct experience of working with Wolverhampton’s new safeguarding Pathfinder approach, following the city’s involvement in the pilot. This has strengthened her understanding of early help, information sharing and collaborative approaches to supporting children and families.

Lisa Clare has extensive experience of supporting children with a wide range of needs, including speech, language and communication difficulties, physical disabilities and social and emotional needs. She is particularly skilled in helping practitioners embed practical inclusive strategies such as Makaton, visual supports, communication boards, sensory circuits and regulation spaces into everyday routines and provision.

As an Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser, Lisa Clare will work alongside settings in a calm, supportive and non-judgemental way. Her coaching approach is collaborative and strengths-based, helping leaders and practitioners reflect honestly on practice, recognise what is working well and agree realistic next steps for improvement.

Her particular areas of interest and expertise include:
SEND inclusion and early identification
The graduated approach
Safeguarding and early help
Speech, language and communication
Enabling environments
High-quality adult interactions
Self-regulation and emotional development
Effective transitions
Leadership and quality improvement
Coaching, mentoring and staff development
Supporting children experiencing disadvantage

Lisa Clare also leads an EYFS network in Wolverhampton, bringing together practitioners and leaders to share effective practice and improve consistency across settings. This has included work to strengthen SEND assessment and improve transitions between nursery, private and voluntary provision, and Reception.

She holds a BA Honours degree in Foundation and Key Stage 1 Education with Early Childhood Education, Qualified Teacher Status and the National Award for SEN Coordination.

Settings working with Lisa Clare can expect an experienced, approachable and reflective adviser who will listen carefully, understand their individual context and support them to make practical, sustainable improvements for children and families.

06/08/2026

Meet Natasha Garrad, Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser

With more than 12 years of experience in early years education and 19 years of teaching, Natasha Garrad brings strong expertise in curriculum design, leadership, communication and language, and improving outcomes for children across the EYFS.

For the past eight years, she has worked as an Early Years Lead with strategic and operational responsibility for provision from two-year-olds through to Reception. Her role includes designing and sequencing the EYFS curriculum, developing progression documents and resources, leading professional development and supporting practitioners to implement high-quality teaching consistently across the phase.

Natasha Garrad has also worked as an Early Years Expert for the Department for Education’s Covid Catch-Up Programme, supporting private, voluntary and independent settings and schools across Sandwell, Dudley, Birmingham and Walsall. Through this work, she helped leaders and practitioners identify learning gaps, strengthen curriculum delivery and improve provision for children experiencing disadvantage, children with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language.

As an Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser, Natasha Garrad will work alongside settings in a warm, supportive and evidence-informed way. Her coaching approach focuses on building trusted professional relationships, breaking improvement priorities into manageable steps and helping practitioners translate research and theory into effective everyday practice.

Her particular areas of interest and expertise include:

● EYFS curriculum design and progression
● Oracy, communication and language
● High-quality adult-child interactions
● Leadership and quality improvement
● Coaching and professional development
● Supporting children experiencing disadvantage
● Inclusive practice for children with SEND and EAL
● Assessment, data analysis and targeted intervention
● Early literacy and mathematics
● Developing enabling and inclusive environments

Natasha Garrad has designed a bespoke curriculum spanning provision for two-year-olds through to Reception, ensuring that children build knowledge and skills progressively over time. She is particularly passionate about the role of high-quality talk, rich vocabulary and purposeful interactions in supporting children’s learning across every area of the curriculum.

She holds a BA Honours degree in Literacy and Language, a PGCE, Qualified Teacher Status and the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership.

Settings working with Natasha Garrad can expect an approachable, reflective and knowledgeable adviser who will listen carefully, recognise existing strengths and support leaders and practitioners to make focused, sustainable improvements for children and families.

03/08/2026

Develop Your Leadership in Early Years – Funded Opportunity

The Department for Education is funding the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) – a fantastic opportunity to grow your skills and
expertise. This qualification is designed for early years professionals who want to strengthen their leadership practice and make a positive impact on children, families, and teams.

Suitable for:
• Managers of private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings
• Childminders with leadership responsibilities
• Headteachers and leaders of school-based and maintained nurseries
• Other Early Years Foundation Stage leaders (such as Head of EYFS, reception teachers, or leaders of Key Stage 1)

Programmes start in Autumn 2026

Find out more, check your eligibility, and register your place here:

A course to help current or aspiring managers of nurseries develop expertise in leading early years education and staff and organisational management.

30/07/2026

Early Years settings and childminders across the Black Country - you’re invited!

Join our online Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser (EYSPA) Support Information Session to meet our new advisers and learn more about the free, bespoke support available through the Thrive Together Early Years Stronger Practice Hub.

📅 Thursday 10 September
💻 Online via Zoom

Group-based settings: 4.00pm–5.00pm
Childminders: 6.15pm–7.15pm

Discover how EYSPA support can help you strengthen leadership, develop practice and improve outcomes for babies and young children.

📲 Scan the QR code on the poster to book your place.

29/07/2026

Calling all Childminders!

Running a childminding business means balancing many responsibilities - but you don't have to do it alone.

The Early Years Stronger Practice Adviser (EYSPA) Programme offers fully funded personalised support to help you continue developing your practice.

Support could include:

✔ Planning and curriculum

✔ Supporting children's communication

✔ SEND

✔ Reflective practice

✔ Inspection readiness

✔ Professional confidence

Eligible childminders will receive support within a small cluster of four childminders, with up to four days of support delivered in person or online over one term.

You may be eligible if you:

✔ Have children receiving EYPP

✔ Deliver funded two-year-old places

✔ Support children with SEND

✔ Have received a qualifying Ofsted judgement

Apply today:

👶 https://forms.gle/iuhEzCqBxxzNFb9R8

27/07/2026

New, Free Training Offer for Reception Teachers

The Department for Education is introducing a new, funded specialist training course for reception teachers. The Excellence in reception teaching national professional development course will deepen participants’ reception-specific pedagogical knowledge and strengthen their practice through practical, evidence-based approaches, supporting more children to achieve a good level of development. ​

Courses start in Autumn 2026

Find out more and register your interest here:

Guidance on the national professional development (NPD) course and how to register to check if you are eligible for funding.