Early Years Consultant

23/08/2026

Need support in your nursery setting?

Whether you're preparing for Ofsted over the next year, navigating leadership challenges, getting all the new requirements in place for September or looking to strengthen your provision, Steph & Racheal are here to help 🥰

With extensive experience from both an owner's perspective and an Ofsted background, we offer practical, tailored support to help your setting thrive.

💚 Friendly advice
💚 Professional guidance
💚 Support you can trust

📧 [email protected]
📘 Follow Early Years Consultant on Facebook to find out more.

22/08/2026

Important Ofsted Update for Early Years Settings

Ofsted has shared more information about when Early Years settings can expect to be inspected.

🔹 All settings on the Early Years Register will be inspected at least once by March 2030.

🔹 If you were inspected during the previous 6-year window, you’ll move onto the new 4-year inspection window following your next routine inspection. Ofsted may still visit sooner if there are concerns about a setting.

🔹 If your setting has not yet been inspected, the timing of your first inspection depends on when you registered:

• Registered on or after 1 April 2026: your first inspection will usually take place within 18 months.

• Registered before 1 April 2026: your first inspection will usually take place within 30 months.

Definitely worth knowing if you’re an Early Years provider wondering when that Ofsted call might come! 👀

16/08/2026

Is Your Setting Ready for the New EYFS Safeguarding Requirements?

With the new EYFS requirements coming into effect this September, safeguarding must be your priority.

Book a 1:1 consultancy session and receive personalised support to ensure your setting is fully prepared, compliant and confident ahead of the new academic year.

Together, we'll:
🛡️ Work through the new safeguarding requirements in detail, ensuring you understand exactly what has changed and what you need to do.

📋 Complete the EYFS September Toolkit together, so you leave with a clear action plan.

📚 Review your policies, procedures and everyday practice to ensure they reflect the latest requirements.

✅ Identify any gaps and prioritise the actions needed before September.

💬 Answer your questions and give you the confidence to lead your team through the changes.

Don't leave it until the last minute. Make safeguarding your priority and start the new term knowing your setting is ready.

📅 Limited consultancy appointments are available before September.

Message me today to book your consultancy at [email protected] and get your setting September ready.

13/08/2026

A day on the Wirral! 🌊☀️ Seaside, culture and some absolutely unprecedented heat! 🥵

Today began with an owner and leader feeling understandably perplexed about making a previous honest and open notification to Ofsted.

But let’s be clear — being open, transparent and accountable is exactly what responsible leaders should do. An incident happens, we notify, we learn from it and we use it to strengthen practice.

And yet… the reality is that notification can bring an overwhelming sense of dread and uncertainty about what happens next.

Even the strongest leaders can feel that pressure. They have their own worries, while simultaneously trying to protect, reassure and support their team. And when a setting has only been open for a short time, those fears can feel even bigger.

So today was about changing that narrative.

Preparation is key. Support is available, and where we have the opportunity to work collaboratively with others, we should embrace it.

Today was different.

This wasn’t about sitting around talking about what might happen. It was life in the nursery through an inspection-focused lens.

I sat back and watched.

And it was powerful.

Things didn’t always go perfectly — and that was exactly the point. We encountered challenges, talked them through and solved them together in a calm, non-confrontational and genuinely collaborative way.

Solution-focused practice in a safe space.

Preparing you to be prepared and ready.

Today was a powerful reality check, but it was also a celebration of so much that was working well. We took the blinkers off, looked honestly at what we saw and found a solution to every problem we identified.

There was lots of positive practice to celebrate and highlight — and lots of learning to take forward.

And then came my favourite off-the-cuff conversation of the day…

I mentioned that if I was driving along the M62 and suddenly everything went dark because of an eclipse, what would I do?

The answer?

“Turn your lights on and find your way.” 💡

Wow.

What a brilliant metaphor for leadership.

Sometimes things feel uncertain. Sometimes we can’t control what is coming next. But we can control how prepared we are, how we respond, how we support each other and how willing we are to look honestly at our practice.

Turn your lights on. Find your way. There is always a rainbow! 🌈🌟

Are you due an Ofsted inspection?

Are you confident you’re ready for all the new requirements coming this September?

Whether you need:
💡 A mock inspection to see your setting through an inspection-focused lens

📞 Support with Ofsted notification calls and what happens next

🤝 Practical support to prepare and empower your team

🌟 Or simply someone experienced by your side to help you feel prepared and confident…

We’re here to help. 🥰

Preparation doesn’t have to mean panic. It’s about knowing your practice, identifying where you can strengthen it and making sure your whole team feels ready.

Turn your lights on. Find your way. 💡🌈

Prepare | Support | Empower

30/07/2026

FREE DfE Safeguarding Training for Early Years Providers.

Did you know the Department for Education has developed a FREE online safeguarding training package for everyone working in the early years sector?

Created in collaboration with the NSPCC, this training is designed to help practitioners, childminders and leaders understand and meet the safeguarding training requirements within the EYFS.

Whether you're new to early years or simply want to refresh your knowledge, this is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your safeguarding practice at no cost.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and keeping your knowledge up to date helps ensure the best outcomes for every child.

👉 Find out more and access the training here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2

If you haven't completed it yet, why not add it to your professional development this term?
All my teams are doing it, are yours?

Safeguarding and child protection online and face-to-face training courses from experts at the UK’s leading child protection charity. Prices from £30.

30/07/2026

Have you seen this new safeguarding support from the Department for Education?

The DfE has published a new Safeguarding section on its Help for Early Years Providers website, bringing together practical advice and resources to support everyone working in early years.

It covers topics including:
✔️ Creating a strong safeguarding culture
✔️ Active supervision
✔️ Recognising and responding to concerns
✔️ The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
✔️ Safer recruitment
✔️ Information sharing and record keeping
✔️ Online safety and other current safeguarding issues

While it isn't new statutory guidance, it's a valuable resource to help providers put the EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements into practice.

Whether you're a nursery, preschool, childminder or out-of-school provider, it's well worth taking a look and sharing with your team.

🔗 Visit the DfE Help for Early Years Providers website and explore the new safeguarding pages.

They could be a useful addition to your next staff meeting or safeguarding refresher.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility—and keeping up to date with the latest guidance helps us all provide the safest possible environments for children.

https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/safeguarding?utm_source=chatgpt.com

A child’s early years lay the foundations for lifelong learning, growth, and wellbeing. Early years practitioners and educators play an essential role in these early years, supporting early child development, ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing, and creating a setting in which they can thri...

30/07/2026

More new updates for September

Pages 59–60 – NEW: Children's Screen Use

New statutory expectation
For the first time, the EYFS explicitly states that providers must have regard to the Department for Education's guidance on children's screen use in early years settings.

This does not mean screens are banned.

Instead, providers should follow the DfE guidance, which promotes:
* purposeful use
* age-appropriate use
* avoiding unnecessary screen time
* ensuring screens do not replace high-quality interactions or active play.

Inspectors are likely to ask
* Why are screens used?
* What educational purpose do they serve?
* How do you ensure they do not replace interaction with adults?
* How do you support children's communication and language instead?

Practical examples
Appropriate use could include:
* showing photographs of children's learning
* video calls with families
* short educational clips linked to children's interests
* using interactive technology to enhance learning.
Inappropriate use might include:
* using screens simply to occupy children
* lengthy passive viewing
* replacing adult interaction with videos.

It's not enough to simply say, "We don't have or use screens in our nursery."

The new EYFS requirements are about understanding purposeful, appropriate screen use and being able to explain your approach to families and inspectors.

Think about how you can educate your parents too:
Display posters in your reception area explaining the new EYFS requirements. Share simple, informative posts on your social media pages or parent apps. Keep your displays and posts fresh by updating them regularly so parents continue to notice and engage with them.

Good communication helps parents understand your practice and demonstrates that your setting is keeping up to date with the latest statutory guidance.

29/07/2026

Today was one of those days that reminded me why I do what I do.

The day began with a mixture of excitement, nervousness and, if I’m honest, a little trepidation about the forthcoming “O” word.

It is amazing how much emotion that single word can generate. For so many dedicated leaders and practitioners, it brings anxiety, self-doubt and sleepless nights, despite the incredible work they do every single day.

Today I met a manager whose passion for children was evident from the moment we started talking. Alongside her team, she has worked tirelessly to ensure every child leaves their pre-school ready for the next stage of their journey. As a setting that welcomes children from a linked nursery, their purpose is clear: to give every child the confidence, skills and experiences they need to thrive when they start school.

What a difference they make.

The children come from a community with a mix of affluence and barriers to learning, yet the expectations remain consistently high. Every day is an opportunity to develop not only children’s knowledge and understanding but also the values, independence and life skills that will stay with them long after they leave.

The morning walk was a perfect example. It wasn’t simply a walk around the local community; it was filled with meaningful learning. Children explored nature, practised road safety, developed an understanding of the world around them and experienced the richness of their local community. They were learning about respect, responsibility and belonging without ever realising they were being taught.

One of my favourite moments was lunchtime. Children confidently served themselves, chatted happily with one another and instinctively supported their younger peers. There was no need for adults to constantly direct or remind them. The routines were so deeply embedded that independence, kindness and good manners had simply become part of who they were. It was a pleasure to watch.

Days like today also reinforce something I have believed for a long time: leadership matters. It sits at the heart of everything.

Genuine leadership is not about paperwork or processes; it is about passion, integrity and an unwavering commitment to doing the very best for children. When those qualities are present, they ripple through every member of the team and are reflected in the experiences of every child.

Perhaps my biggest reflection from today, however, was something much simpler.

Sometimes people don’t need more jargon. They don’t need another acronym or another document. They simply need someone to unpick the language, translate it into something meaningful and help them recognise that so much of what they are already doing is exactly what high-quality practice looks like.

It was wonderful to watch someone’s confidence grow throughout the day. The nervousness gradually disappeared, replaced by pride as they began to recognise the strengths within their own practice. Seeing that moment of realisation—that shift from uncertainty to confidence—was incredibly rewarding and a privilege to be part of.

Today began beneath cloudy skies, but by the end of the day the sun was shining brightly. It felt rather symbolic.

Sometimes all people need is someone to help them see the sunshine that has been there all along.

And, as I always like to believe, the rainbow is there for everyone who chooses to look for it.

Is your setting truly Ofsted ready?

Preparing for an inspection isn't about ticking boxes—it's about feeling confident in the incredible practice happening every day.

Sometimes all it takes is a fresh pair of eyes to recognise your strengths, identify areas for development, and help you translate the EYFS and inspection framework into meaningful, practical action.

A consultancy visit can help you:
🌿 Build confidence ahead of inspection
🌿 Review your provision with an experienced Early Years consultant
🌿 Strengthen leadership and practice
🌿 Celebrate what you're already doing well
If you'd like support to feel inspection-ready, we’re here to help 🥰
📧 [email protected]
Supporting leaders. Empowering teams. Raising standards. 🌈

29/07/2026

This has come up a couple of times again recently and providers still haven’t seen it.

It got me make sure it doesn’t get you.

UKHSA Infection Control Guidance: What It Means for Early Years

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance introduces some important changes that many early years settings will need to review.

While much of the guidance reinforces existing good practice, two areas are likely to have the biggest impact on day-to-day routines.

🧼 1. Handwashing – Goodbye to shared flannels.
The guidance now makes it clear that hands should be washed using warm running water and liquid soap, then dried thoroughly.

Shared face cloths, or flannels should no longer be used as an alternative to proper handwashing, as they can spread germs between children if reused.

For nurseries, this may mean:
✔️ Allowing more time in daily routines for children to wash their hands at a sink.
✔️ Supporting babies and toddlers to wash their hands under running water.
✔️ Reviewing current hygiene policies and staff practice.

🚽 2. Potty hygiene has been strengthened
Potties can still be used, but the expectations around cleaning are much clearer.
The guidance states that potties should:
• Be emptied into a toilet.
• Be cleaned in a dedicated sink – not a handwashing basin or kitchen sink.
• Be washed with hot soapy water and dried thoroughly.
• Be stored upside down.
• Not be stacked inside one another, as this can transfer germs.

This could mean some settings need to review their facilities, storage arrangements and cleaning procedures.

What does this mean for providers?

These aren't just small procedural changes. Many settings have traditionally used warm flannels before meals or stacked clean potties for storage. The updated guidance encourages providers to move towards practices that reduce the risk of cross-contamination and improve infection prevention.

Now is a good time to:
✅ Review your infection control policy.
✅ Update staff training.
✅ Check your handwashing and toileting routines.
✅ Consider whether your environment and facilities support the new guidance.

As always, good infection prevention isn't about creating a sterile environment—it's about embedding safe, practical routines that protect children, staff and families while supporting children's learning and development.

Find it here👇

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities/preventing-and-controlling-infections?fbclid=IwdGRleATVrmBwZG9mBWZkaWQWULY6bf3SGSF79C5GYPVHr8SC-rTtYWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7bTtUkPdVJ6Y6jD5sUsnUROIL8IQuY44YYYGQMoAmjsXIzx2MdUHp5i7jsbg_aem_hwzybge9DBcrcledngJzWw

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28/07/2026

Today's Mastermind Session for Managers & Deputies was packed with fantastic conversations!

We talked about the real challenges leaders are facing every day...
✨ Staffing
✨ Ratios
✨ Policies
✨ Parent partnerships
✨ Team management
✨ And so much more!

Whatever is keeping you awake at night, chances are someone else in the group has experienced it too.

The beauty of our Mastermind is that you're surrounded by managers and deputies from settings across the country, all sharing ideas, solutions and best practice. Together, we learn from each other and leave with practical strategies we can take back to our own settings.

Leadership doesn't have to be lonely.

If you'd like to be part of a supportive community that listens, encourages and helps you find solutions, we'd love to welcome you.

There are only TWO spaces left in Group 1 before we're completely full.

📩 Message me today to secure your place before they're gone!
[email protected]