An update from Sam Chapman, Early Years and Childcare Service Lead
It seems hard to believe that we are already into the summer term. The sunny weather and longer, lighter days are very welcome. It feels like a good time for another update on the work of our Early Years and Childcare service.
Our team has grown and changed.
Since I started in my role 2 years ago, we have been working hard to develop our service and secure strong leadership across the service.
Tamsin Robertson started her new role on 1st January as Lead Advisor for Quality and Outcomes having been an Early Years Consultant for almost 15 years. Her focus areas are supporting the quality of teaching and learning across the EYFS and ensuring that our settings are supported well in relation to delivering a high quality curriculum, she will have a specific focus on children who are disadvantaged and underserved to ensure that we improve the gap between their outcomes and those of their peers; a particular challenge in Devon. In addition, she is continuing to support settings and schools but now has fewer numbers due to her leadership responsibilities.
Also, in January we welcomed two new Early Years and Childcare Advisers to the team, Katy Vallance who is covering North Devon and Beth Trantham covering Ivybridge and Tavistock.
As you will be aware the Government has set up a programme to ensure all children can access wraparound childcare at school from 8am – 6pm during term time and we are delighted to welcome Tania Skinner back to the team to support this work.
Finally, I am going to move across to the SEND Statutory Team for the next 9 months to provide leadership capacity to continue to drive the improvements that have been started in relation to the Statutory responsibilities of the Local Authority. I will continue to have a strategic oversight of the early years services, but Nikki Phillips will be stepping up to support the day-to-day operational delivery of our work and support the leadership team to maintain momentum of all our current expansion activities.
You can find details of the team on our webpages: Early Years and Childcare Service – meet the team – Information for childcare providers (devon.gov.uk)
Provider Portal
The Early Years Census, Early Years Entitlement Funding claims and the Provider Self Update are all accessed through the Provider Portal. This caused some confusion as several providers thought they had completed everything they needed to complete but had missed key information. The census is now complete – thank you; however, we will be in touch with providers who have not yet finished their Provider Self Update as we are still missing a lot of data.
It makes a huge difference to our ability to support providers and target funding because we use the information that you give us to determine where more places are needed.
Expansion of Early Years and Wraparound Childcare Places
We have been busy expanding places for two-year-olds and babies and expect demand to continue to rise. I am delighted to report that the expansion funding created an additional 650 plus under 3 places by passporting out the delivery support funding via a grant.
There has been a steady increase in new providers starting up and many existing settings are keen to grow their services. This includes an increase in the numbers showing an interest in becoming a childminder. We expect childminders to be particularly valuable to families in rural areas where demand is not great enough to sustain a group provision. The expansion of wraparound childcare will start to ramp up now that Tania is in post.
Recruitment
Our recruitment strategy has really picked up a pace:
- 7 May saw the start of a year-long social media advertising campaign with exciting new graphics. When you see these posts please share them
- The Level 2 diploma for Early Years Practitioners course that our team is running with Learn Devon is proving popular. The next course starts on 15th May, and there are still places available
- In addition to this there will be a public event at Princesshay in Exeter on July 12th and 13th promoting working in early years and childcare
- Safeguarding training has been updated and the names changed. Safeguarding Awareness Group 2 is now ‘Core Safeguarding and Child Protection (for all practitioners)’ and the Early Years Safeguarding Refresher Group 3 is now ‘Safeguarding and Child Protection Enhanced (DSL / DDSL)’ – this includes Childminders
Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)
The DfE funded Holiday Activities and Food Programme is moving into its final year. After a successful Easter, we are now planning a summer of activities and healthy food for children aged 5-16 across Devon who receive Benefit Related Free School Meals.
And finally….
Within our busy lives it is important to make time outside of work for other activities that you enjoy. I completed my first half marathon and finished in under 3 hours which felt like a huge achievement… It may not be training for and completing a half marathon, but whatever it is take time to enjoy it. When you return to work you will bring with you new experiences and stories to share as well as feeling more personally fulfilled.