Year: 2026

The Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) is a 12-month programme that enables trainees to work towards Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) alongside their existing role, applying their learning directly within their setting. The next cohort starts 14 October.

View the latest jobs in early years and childcare, including school age childcare roles.

Don’t forget to make use of our weekly, locality-based virtual Inclusion drop-in consultations. These sessions offer a solution-focused opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns relating to an individual child’s development, or to explore aspects of SEND practice and provision within your setting. We are pleased to introduce monthly evening inclusion drop-in consultations specifically for childminders in each locality.

Devon Safeguarding Children Partnership are holding a series of multi-agency Best Practice Events during October 2026, focused on missing children and child exploitation.

Looking to start, expand or strengthen your wraparound childcare provision? A range of funding is available to help schools, childcare providers and organisations create new places, extend operating hours, improve sustainability and increase inclusion for children with SEND.

Do you know what safeguarding training you need to do for your role? Read this update on safeguarding training for early years educators.

Calling all early years and childcare providers in Devon – childminders, nurseries and pre-schools! We are pleased to let you know that the autumn term provider network meetings are ready for you to book! School age childcare network meetings are also running in October for meetings for anyone working with school-aged children outside school hours and during the holidays. Book now!

Not long to wait! It’s not too late to book your place! This year’s conference explores how we build and sustain meaningful connection across all the places it happens: in the adult–child relationship, through peer play, in partnership with families, and in the everyday routines and experiences that shape children’s sense of safety and identity.

Let’s Talk Safer Families is a platform designed to support parents, carers, professionals, and communities in having open conversations about issues that can affect children’s safety. The platform provides free accessible information, advice, and resources on a range of topics to help families build resilience, recognise risks, and know where to access support when needed.

Early years providers are invited to take advantage of a fully funded equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) awareness training webinar. The training is designed to support early years practitioners in embedding inclusive practice, meeting their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, and creating environments where every child and family feels valued, respected, and included.