Warwickshire County Council Early Years

09/10/2026

Things you do not need to take into the weekend:

• That email you’ve rewritten six times
• The meeting you keep replaying
• The thing you forgot to say on Tuesday
• Other people’s unwelcome opinions

Leave some of it at work. Your brain has done enough overtime.

Happy Friday!

09/10/2026

Dogs on the premises: an important EYFS reminder.

Early years providers should be aware of an important safeguarding requirement introduced on 1st September 2026.

Under the updated EYFS frameworks, registered childcare must not be provided from premises where a banned dog breed is kept or is present. This requirement applies within both the childminder and group and school-based EYFS frameworks.
Providers should ensure that their arrangements for animals on the premises reflect the current requirements and that children are appropriately supervised around all dogs, regardless of breed.

Official guidance and further reading:
https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/support-for-practitioners/changes-to-the-eyfs-framework?utm

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a5f8e4fb00f3323bf1a23a1/EYFS_group_and_school_based_from_September_2026.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a5f8e320dd52549f5f96c8c/EYFS_childminders_from_September_2026.pdf

The legislation defines a banned dog breed for these purposes as a type of dog to which section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 applies.

08/10/2026

Free Early Years webinar!

BookTrust is hosting an inspiring session on 22nd October 2026 at 10am, exploring how we can help families make reading a joyful, everyday part of home life. Perfect for anyone working in the Early Years.

Why not register and take some fresh ideas back to your setting?

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/find-resources/webinar-starting-strong-enabling-conditions-for-early-years-reading/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=story-sharer-week-2026&utm_content=facebook-post-061026&fbclid=IwY2xjawU0LjRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6kjx9QN12DsD3vGzB7Rw_OmzPbZSurVleUQ2nKSfSOBuGCDq6wt063l5rDbA_aem_nqK8TcsX2QwFadEXUUiS5g

Join BookTrust, on Thursday 22nd October at 10am, for an inspiring free session exploring how families can be supported to make reading a joyful, everyday…

08/10/2026

Pause before you press play...

Screens are part of everyday life, but what does thoughtful screen use look like for our youngest children?

The EYFS requirements in place from 1 September 2026 bring greater attention to screen use within early years provision.

Rather than simply thinking about how long children spend looking at a screen, consider why the technology is being used and what it is adding to children's experiences.

Could that experience be richer through:

🌳 exploring outdoors?
🗣️ talking with an adult or another child?
🧩 investigating and problem solving?
🎨 creating and making?
🏃 moving and being physically active?
📚 sharing stories together?

Digital technology can support early learning, but it should never become a substitute for the responsive relationships, conversation, movement, play and first-hand experiences that sit at the heart of early childhood.

Take a moment to reflect on how screens are currently used in your provision and whether they are genuinely enhancing children's experiences.

07/10/2026

https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-safety-alert-baby-sleeping-bags-psa9?fbclid=IwY2xjawUzOjpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7WUHFy3ahS9IenlkbYaXTSxIFTDFbPfrlfqHOzslyvf-S9J1pyIkkwzhOfiw_aem_fFG7pWVKCmv_Hzaw3VkyQQ

This is a Product Safety Alert from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) for Baby Sleeping Bags.

07/10/2026

Halloween fun, without the fright! 👻

As children get ready for costumes, pumpkins and trick or treating, it’s a great time to think about keeping celebrations safe. The Child Accident Prevention Trust has put together some simple Halloween safety tips for families, including costume safety, candles, roads, treats and button batteries.

Have fun, stay safe and enjoy a spooktacular Halloween! 🎃✨

How to keep children safe this Halloween Halloween can be an exciting time of year for children, dressing up and going out after dark. But, whilst Halloween is supposed to be spooky there are some horrors that families will want to avoid. So, here are our top tips for a safe Halloween that you can r...

07/10/2026

Warwickshire Family Information Service Newsletter
https://mailchi.mp/warwickshire/family-information-service-newsletter-1219204-96fqcdqqps-8834576?e=9fee6585cc

07/10/2026

From nature walk to nature art...

A handful of autumn treasures can provide so many opportunities for learning.

Take a basket outside and invite children to discover fallen leaves, twigs, grasses and seed heads. Back at your setting, use those discoveries to create a beautiful Autumn Nature Mobile.

As children collect, examine and arrange their treasures, encourage lots of conversation:

🍁 What have you found?
🍃 How does it feel?
🌿 What do you notice?
🎨 Which pieces would you like to choose?
💨 What happens when your mobile moves in the breeze?

Follow children's curiosity and let every creation be different.

Sometimes the simplest resources offer the richest opportunities to explore, communicate, create and wonder. 💚

Thankyou Daisy's Ducklings - Hygge in the Early Years accredited provision for sharing your inspiring photographs.

06/10/2026

Small world play no longer has to remain so small...

What might happen if we gave children's imaginary worlds more room to grow?

A miniature play scene can become a much bigger experience when children are able to move resources, combine them with other materials and develop their ideas over time.

Listen carefully and you may hear children creating stories, trying new vocabulary, negotiating roles and finding solutions when their ideas don't quite go to plan.

Small world play isn't just about the resources we provide.

It's about the stories children create, the conversations they have, the problems they encounter and the experiences they explore through their play.

🌿 Provide the possibilities.
👀 Observe what happens.
💬 Listen to children's ideas.
✨ Let the play evolve.

Small worlds. Big imaginations. Endless possibilities.



Thankyou@Cosy for sharing this fantastic set up

06/10/2026

Black History Month: Honouring Our Communities

The early years are a wonderful time to help children develop an appreciation of the diverse world around them. Through stories, conversations, experiences and positive role models, we can celebrate Black history, culture and achievement, while recognising the important contributions Black people make to our communities every day.

CBeebies has a range of resources - recipes, history, stores and songs to support you
https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/curations/black-history-month

If you'd would like to know more about the national events and resources
https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/

Celebrate Black History Month throughout October with your little ones. Discover more about the CBeebies House presenters black history heroes, explore history with JoJo & Gran Gran and read articles from around the BBC.