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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Early years funding updates
Early years funding updates.
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) – final chance to book for February half term
There is still time for families to book February half term HAF activities. Please visit the EEQU booking system to secure places. Spring / Easter HAF bookings go‑live on Monday 23 February 2026.
NEW provider network meetings launching this term! Come and meet the faces of your early years locality team
We are pleased to let you know that we will be running a series of face-to-face network meetings throughout March. These informal sessions will allow you to network with early years and childcare providers in your area and to receive updates from the Early years and Childcare Service.
Ofsted briefing for all early years and childcare providers
Explore the new early years inspection framework and toolkit. Learn what inspectors will look for, how the toolkit works, and how to showcase your setting’s quality with confidence. Online webinar running on 2 March 6.30pm – 7.30pm.
Recognising and responding to child neglect – fully funded conference 18 Feb – Westpoint, Exeter
A fully funded conference to explore how we can recognise, understand and respond to child neglect alongside our multi-agency partners. Running on Wednesday 18 February 2026 (9:30am – 4:00pm) at Westpoint, Exeter.
Restorative Devon: building relational and connective ways of working across the partnership – fully funded conferences lead by Mark Finnis
We’re inviting colleagues and teams from across our partnership to join one of our fully funded conferences to explore how we can work in a more connected, consistent and relationship-focused way. For anyone working or volunteering or working with children in Devon. Conferences running 30 March – Newton Abbot, 31 March – Exeter and 1 April – Barnstaple.
Portage workshop – a small steps approach to learning for children with SEND – 12 & 13 May – Exeter
Two day Portage workshop running on 12 and 13 May in Exeter. Suitable for: Early Years Inclusion Practitioners, Early Years Practitioners, SENCOs, Parents/Carers, Family Hub staff, Foundation Stage Practitioners.
Early years and childcare job adverts – w/c 09/02/2026
View the latest jobs in early years and childcare.
Funding Friday
It’s Funding Friday and this week we have funding streams from: ‘Garfield Weston Foundation’ and ‘Schroder Charity Trust’.
Inclusion consultations for early years and childcare settings
We continue to encourage settings to book an inclusion consultation on a Wednesday afternoon should they need any support with SEND and inclusion.