Early Childhood Studies with Plymouth University

Plymouth City Council are looking for people who want to make a difference to children’s lives

🌟 Could you make a difference to local children’s lives? Following our announcement last week that we’ve purchased another home for looked after children in the city, we’re growing our in house… | Plymouth City Council 🌟 Could you make a difference to local children’s lives? Following our announcement last week that we’ve purchased another home for looked after children in the city, we’re growing our in house residential care and are now recruiting Children’s Home Practitioners. You’ll work in small, ...

📣 Do you work in a school, college or early years settings in England? Would you like to join a community of evidence users?

We’ve launched our annual survey to help us make sure that what we do is rooted in the reality of your setting.

We’d love to hear from you and learn more about your experiences and pressures working in the sector. Your input will help to shape the advice and resources that we develop. After the survey, you can also choose to stay in contact and join the EEF Exchange, our community of evidence users working in education.

What are the benefits of joining?

✅ Free entry into a prize draw to win Amazon vouchers and a selection of printed EEF guidance reports

✅ Invitations to paid focus groups

✅ Advance access to our publications

✅ Membership to a growing community of evidence users working in education

Find out more and take the ten minute survey: https://ow.ly/Mq1150Tg9Ep

Birth To 5 Matters – Guidance by the sector, for the sector Birth to 5 Matters:non-statutory guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage Latest news Birth to 5 Matters is now being reviewed and updated – and we need your help to find out how you use it, what works and what could be better. Read more about the review plans and how we are responding to wha...

A new study examines family support for Autism. Let by our very own Dr Stancer

New Trial Examines Family Support for Autism | University of Plymouth posted on the topic | LinkedIn Autism is experienced by entire family units, yet many existing healthcare systems do not take wider effects on the whole family into account. So we are delighted to be leading a new trial that will examine whether specially developed support can significantly improve the mental health, wellbeing an...

The issue includes articles from staff University of Plymouth who have been a key part of a research project advocating for an early years workforce policy that supports the sector with the professional recognition they deserve.

Members can now read the latest issue of the Early Education Journal, focusing on early years workforce policy across the UK and beyond:
https://ow.ly/lUCV50Ysr1Y

Read our latest guest blog from Dominic Gunn on the SEND reform consultation and the Schools White Paper: https://ow.ly/4y2k50YroTU
Members can attend our free discussion event about the SEND reforms on 23 March
https://ow.ly/yyYc50YroTW

There's still time to register for our FREE EVENT taking place on Wednesday evening.

Talking about early literacy with Cathy Nutbrown (and other things we feel passionate about!) 7-8pm, online.

Linking in with the and ahead of this week's , this event provides an opportunity to meet and share in conversation with Early Education's President, Cathy Nutbrown, about her work with parents on early literacy.

Book here: https://app.sheepcrm.com/early-education/events/early-education-booking-697776bf9c9d01d1047bb519

You'll be able to watch the event live on YouTube. If you'd like to participate in the event discussions and ask questions, become an Early Education member from £11.75 per quarter.

Read more about the benefits of membership: https://early-education.org.uk/membership/

Specialist nursery provider Dingley's Promise shares its top five resources to support inclusive practice and improve outcomes for children with SEND. By Nicole Weinstein

Don't miss this!

Sign up here or via QR code: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981309887208?aff=oddtdtcreator

Early Years Practitioner - Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
https://www.devonjobs.gov.uk/job/Early%20Years%20Practitioner%20-%20Torbay%20and%20South%20Devon%20NHS%20Foundation%20Trust-21/

Are you passionate about nurturing young minds and creating a fun, safe and inclusive environment for children? Rainbow Day Nursery is looking for dedicated Early Years Practitioners to join our warm, supportive team, caring for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

Due to service growth and staffing changes, we have a range of full-time and part-time opportunities available. You will work collaboratively within a large, motivated team to deliver high-quality care and learning experiences. Depending on service needs, you may be based in a specific age group or work flexibly across the nursery.

Find out more:
https://www.devonjobs.gov.uk/job/Early%20Years%20Practitioner%20-%20Torbay%20and%20South%20Devon%20NHS%20Foundation%20Trust-21/

Location: Torquay (Devon)
Salary: NHS AfC: Band 3: £24,937 - £26,598 per annum, pro rata

Plymouth has been named as a Case Study in the White Paper - Every Child Achieving and Thriving. Our work on collaboration between schools and with other partners has been recognised as good practice.
Case study: Working across an area in Plymouth
Children’s outcomes in Plymouth have been transformed over the past few years. In 2019, Plymouth secondary outcomes were the lowest in the South West, with average A8 at 43.7 compared to 46.8 across the South West region and 46.7 nationally.
The Plymouth Challenge united city partners under an independent chair and secondary headteachers, bringing together MAT CEOs, council representatives, Plymouth education networks, and support from the Department and civic leaders. Regular meetings and a shared, place‑based strategy enabled the Plymouth Challenge to create clear structures for collective improvement and more coherent regional working. Local leaders also noted that introducing a small number of strong trusts streamlined the system compared with the previous 17 secondary schools across 13 trusts.
Following the Challenge, the city has seen steady gains in outcomes relative to the national average, with Attainment 8 now close to the local and national averages, at 45.7 compared to 46.2 across the South West and 46.0 nationally, and outcomes for disadvantaged children improving from over 5 points behind the national average in the 2018 to 2019 academic year, to within 0.6 points in the 2024 to 2025 academic year.