What’s new
Keep up to date with the latest news and updates from the Early Years and Childcare Service. You can subscribe to receive a weekly email digest of new updates (sent every Friday morning). You can also receive the same updates by following us on Facebook.
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Two-year-old funding – families receiving additional support (FRAS)
The DfE have recently updated their terminology and have started to refer to ‘targeted’ 2-year-old funding as ‘Families Requiring Additional Support’ (FRAS) and in the coming months we will be updating our systems and guidance to reflect this change. It is important that you inform your staff and update your parent literature to ensure everyone is familiar with the term ‘FRAS’ funding.
Brand new resources on AI available for Safer Internet Day 2026
To help you deliver sessions for Safer Internet Day (which will take place on 10th February 2026), the UK Safer Internet Centre have created a range of free, engaging and interactive resources on this year’s official theme: ‘smart tech, safe choices – exploring the safe and responsible use of AI’.
Play England – annual general meeting takes place on 19 December
Play England will hold its 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday 19 December at 1pm – 2pm. This will be of interest to those working in out of school clubs, wraparound and HAF provision.
Early years music conference – 10 March 2026 in Exeter
Join us for Sound Starts, a practical and inspiring Early Years music CPD event designed to help educators, practitioners, and musicians build confidence in delivering inclusive music experiences for young children. Tuesday 10th March 2026 at Future Skills Centre, Exeter.
Cyber security advice for small to medium sized organisations
Protect your organisation from cyber criminals for free by using The NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) cyber security toolkit.
Early years and childcare job adverts – w/c 01/12/2025
View the latest jobs in early years and childcare.
Funding Friday
It’s Funding Friday and this week we have funding information from: ‘IT4Good – WCIT Charity’ and ‘Emergency Essentials Programme – BBC Children in Need’.
Early years music conference – 10 March 2026 in Exeter
Join us for Sound Starts, a practical and inspiring Early Years music CPD event designed to help educators, practitioners, and musicians build confidence in delivering inclusive music experiences for young children. Tuesday 10th March 2026 at Future Skills Centre, Exeter.
Prevent training for early years foundation stage staff
The Department for Education has designed a training package for staff within the early years foundation stage to understand their responsibilities and the importance of the Prevent duty.
Early years and childcare job adverts – w/c 24/11/2025
View the latest jobs in early years and childcare.