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Strong Early Years London

Partner: The Mayor of London, Ceeda

Project:

The Alliance is working with the Mayor of London and  offering business support to London's early years providers through an initiative called Strong Early Years London.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has invested £150,000 in the programme to help support London’s under pressure nurseries and childminders - recognising that London's early years sector is essential in preparing children for school, reducing the inequality gap and helping parents and carers return to work.

Strong Early Years London provides London’s nurseries and childminders with a sector-specific one-stop-shop on the London Business Hub. 

Early Years Development Services 

Partner: Southend Borough Council

Location: Southend

Project:

Working in partnership with Southend Borough Council the Early Years Alliance provides advice and support to early years and childcare providers to ensure high quality practice for all children within Southend. 

The type of advice and support that is offered ranges from enabling environments, safeguarding, safer recruitment, and risk assessment. аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± are also challenged and supported in preparation for аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± inspections. 

The development team plays a key role in the communication and workforce development functions of the service. 

The Early Years Resource Page on the Southend Learning Network site is available to all Southend providers including schools, which is monitored and updated regularly. It contains current Government legislation, аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½±â€¯documents and all Early Years paperwork including Provider Handbooks and Parent Funding Declaration Forms. 

Training is arranged for the childcare workforce in all aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage and to degree level. Training also includes a rolling programme of Safeguarding including Level 2, Refresher and Designated Person. 

The team also contribute to LSCB safeguarding meetings and link closely with the Local Authority Safeguarding Team and the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). 

The team can be contacted via email earlyyears@southend.gov.uk 

Oldham аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± Inspection Readiness Programme

Partner: Oldham Council

Location: Oldham

Project:

For the provision of an аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± Inspection Readiness Programme for 30 group providers who are due inspection. The bespoke programme covers:

• Making links with the EYFS requirements and аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± inspection evaluation schedule

•  Exploring the key documents that inspectors use to make their judgements

•  Evaluating how policies and practice impact on the inspection outcome

•  Defining the best ways of evidencing good practice in teaching and learning, assessment, leadership, Safeguarding etc

•  Navigating sample inspection reports and exploring the implications

•   Learning from case studies featured in ‘Getting it Right First Time’ publication

•  Looking at the importance of self-evaluation and quality improvement processes using supportive documentation.

•  Preparing an аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± Preparation Plan which includes an evidence checklist

•  Responding to an аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± Inspectors line of enquiry including exploring the recommendations/ actions set at last inspection

•  Identifying tips and ideas for what to do when an inspector calls.

•  How to achieve ‘Outstanding’

•  Ensuring childcare providers are aware of the Local Authority policy and procedures such as Oldham Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCB)

•   Ensure childcare providers are aware of SEND legislation, policies and procedures through the exploration of childcare providers inclusion policy, local offer and engagement with other services.

For new childcare providers awaiting their first inspection the focus is:

• Supporting the childcare provider to meet any actions identified by аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± at the point of registration

• Support the childcare provider to develop a robust development plan including priorities for first inspection

• Ensuring there are strong leadership and management systems in place in line with the Inspection framework and Early Years Handbook

•  How to improve the quality of teaching in line with the settings vision such as educational approaches or philosophy