Author: natalieelston

The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson as announced the launch of a £200 million national training programme to upskill staff across early years settings, schools, and colleges

The Department for Education would like to hear about your experiences and needs for delivering entitlements to understand how to improve the experience in the future.

Devon County Council’s Public Health team are launching a survey with a chance to win £250 to spend on food preparation or play equipment for your setting. Please complete the survey by 20 February.

Since Ofsted published the renewed inspection framework on 9 September 2025, they have put on lots of online and face-to-face engagement with early years settings to answer your questions. You can read the most frequently asked questions from these sessions so you can see all the answers in one place.

View the latest jobs in early years and childcare.

It’s Funding Friday and this week we have funding information from: ‘Household Support Fund’ and ‘Truelight Trust’.

Our new model of weekly, locality-based virtual ‘drop‑in’ consultations have now started. 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. Please book your place now!

A fully funded half day event for Devon school age childcare settings who provide wraparound childcare, Holiday Activities and Food and access to Early Access Breakfast Club. We will delve into understanding the importance of play skills in a child’s development and continue to celebrate school aged children’s play in Devon.

Devon County Council’s Public Health team are launching a survey with a chance to win £250 to spend on food preparation or play equipment for your setting. Please complete the survey by 20 February.

Free half day conference hosted by The Early Years South West Stronger Practice Hub taking place on 27 March (1pm – 3.30pm) at Exeter / Crediton (venue tbc).