Helen's tiney home nursery

SPACE AVAILABLE.

I have a space available for Tuesdays and Fridays from May.

Funding accepted.

Over one year olds and mobile children only because of the other children I currently have.

Location: Taunton.

SAFE SLEEP - Important information from the DfE. 😴

The Minister for Early Education and Minister for Equalities has written to inform early years providers of amendments that the department intends to make to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory frameworks this year. (2026) This is what she has said.

Our primary objective is to clarify the safeguarding requirements for sleeping arrangements, as part of our comprehensive review of the proposals raised through the Campaign for Gigi.

Genevieve Meehan’s death in 2022 was a devastating tragedy that should never have happened. Our thoughts remain with Genevieve’s parents, family members and others that have been affected by this. Children’s safety is at the very heart of this government’s plan for change and, as Minister for Early Years, the safety of our children is my utmost priority.

It is already expected that early years providers must put children down safely to sleep. All early years providers are required to meet the safer sleep requirements set out in the EYFS statutory framework, which currently links to the NHS safer sleep guidance. Providers should have already taken action to ensure that they are acting in accordance with the NHS guidance. and I urge all providers to ensure that they are doing so.

To make this absolutely clear, I am updating the wording in the EYFS framework so that requirements around safer sleep are set out directly within the framework itself. These changes will come into effect from September 2026, subject to the parliamentary and legislative process but providers must already be compliant with them now. This updated wording has been developed with input from the Lullaby Trust, medical experts and Ofsted and is as follows:

😴Babies and children must be placed down to sleep safely. For children under 2 years old, providers must ensure that:

📌Children are placed down on their back in their own separate sleep space on a firm flat surface such as a cot, bed or mattress on the floor. Babies aged 1 year and under must only be placed to sleep in a cot.

📌Sleep spaces should only contain a firm, flat, waterproof mattress and lightweight bedding which is firmly tucked in around the child below their shoulders to prevent head covering. Alternatively, a well fitted baby sleep bag may be used. Check the manufacturer recommendations before using a baby sleep bag.

📌Where blankets are used, the child is placed feet-to-foot at the bottom of the cot, with blankets tucked in.

📌Cots must not contain extra items such as toys, pillows, extra blankets, bumpers, wedges or straps.

📌Children should not get too hot or cold. The recommended room temperature for babies is 16 – 20˚C.

📌Children’s heads are not covered.

📌Children under six months of age must always have an adult with them in the same room for every sleep. All children must be frequently checked when sleeping.

📌Children are always within sight and hearing of staff when sleeping.

📌Providers must ensure that all staff read NHS advice on Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – NHS. More information on safer sleep guidance is available from The Lullaby Trust.

My department continually monitors and reviews safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible. When changes are made to the EYFS statutory frameworks, the Department ensures there is a comprehensive programme of communications and engagement with the sector to support understanding of the changes.

With best wishes,

Olivia Bailey MP
Minister for Early Education and Minister for Equalities

Image: freepik.com

Glycerol is often used to create the slush effect. But in high quantities, especially to small children, glycerol can cause shock, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and loss of consciousness.

That’s why slushies containing glycerol are not recommended for children under seven. And, older children should be limited to just one slush a day.

They’re the ultimate winter warmers, but hot soups and drinks can cause devastating burns to children. In fact, your hot drink stays hot enough to scald your young child’s delicate skin for 15 minutes after it’s been made.

So, whether you’re getting your daily caffeine fix or warming up with a soup, remember to:
• Keep hot drinks out of reach
• Move kettles to the back of the worktop
• Use the back rings of the hob first and turn pan handles in
• Avoid passing hot drinks or food over children

⚠️ Christmas Presents to avoid and why ⚠️ Hear from Emergency Department staff at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital about what they won't be buying for their friends and family this Christmas. Take a look at the Child Accident Prevention Trust's guide to toy safety before you go shopping this year: https://capt.org.uk/toy-safety/ #EmergencyDepartment #NHS #AandE #Doctor #DocSpot #ChristmasPresents

Spooky 🎃

Self-feeding pillows can be deadly. That’s because the baby can’t push the bottle away, so can choke or suffer aspiration pneumonia.

Your baby needs you with them while they are feeding, so you can react if they start gagging or choking.

Avoid using anything that encourages you to leave your baby alone to feed with a propped-up bottle.

In 2022, an urgent safety alert was issued for baby self-feeding pillows. Yet, self-feeding pillows are still available to buy in some places. And, Office for Product Safety and Standards warned today that new variants of these dangerous products are available online.

To learn more about these and other dangerous baby products visit: https://capt.org.uk/10-baby-products-that-could-pose-serious-safety-risk/

Children need physical play to develop their strength, coordination, and motor skills. https://theconversation.com/four-year-olds-dont-need-to-sit-still-to-be-school-ready-261812?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook =1760681454

Today we explored shells: their shape, texture, reflection, counting, and listening to the “sea”.

Somerset Childminders I have a full day space available for Tuesday and Friday from Sept. Funding accepted. I’m in Taunton close to town, Vivary and Musgrove. Over 25 years experience of working with children. Send me a message or visit https://www.tiney.co/childminder/helen-shewry/

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"This is a tragedy." One child has died after a coach carrying school pupils crashed on a rural road in Exmoor, Somerset. Avon and Somerset Police say between 60 and 70 people were on the coach at the time, which was heading to a school in Minehead. It came off a remote rural road and slid at least 20ft down a bank, the fire service says. Some of those onboard have been seriously injured, including two children. This clip is from the press conference held by the emergency services.