Early Years Essential 30 January 2026 |
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This Early Years Essential (EYE) newsletter brings together local and national updates to support settings in Milton Keynes.
We hope you continue to find the EYE useful. If you have any feedback – please let us know |
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Family Centre Current Offer for Families and Children
We just wanted to get in touch with you to remind you of our current offer and how we can work with you and offer support to you and the children and families you are working with. We now have 10 Family Centres across Milton Keynes and are open 52 weeks of the year, with a 0-19 offer.
Development • On site we have Sensory rooms or areas that children and families can access, please speak to the teams to find out more • All centres have a dedicated Speech and Language Champion who are supported by a Speech and Language Champion lead, with links to the Speech and Language therapists and can support with referrals to the Lips and Let’s talk courses we run on site • We offer both the 4 and 10 week nurture course to support with parenting, with the 10 week nurture course delivered with our Adult Education partners • A wide range of activity sessions, to support development running throughout the week, with details on each centre calendar • Child obesity clinics • 0-19 team run weekly development checks, baby clinics and we also have breastfeeding clinics and sessions supporting with peri-natal mental health and vitamins • For support with school readiness we have a monthly Enuresis Clinic ( Hedgerows) • There are Monthly Weekend groups for working parents • There is a library onsite at Hedgerows on Netherfield and all centres have Bookstart packs • We also have a range of Adult Education courses for adults and physical activity sessions
Cost of Living • All centres have an extensive food offer, including food bank, emergency food and Community larder • Families are also able to access emergency washing machine ( especially those living in temporary accommodation), baby items offer and other emergency items • Early Help and Family Support • CAB • Hygiene materials • Period Poverty items
Early Help • All practitioners are able to offer Early Help and Family support to families and parents can drop in at any time for support and we accept referrals • Well-being groups available • Signposting • Counselling at some centres • Lunch and breakfast clubs and Café areas • Holiday sessions
To find out more, please get in touch with your nearest centre or attend one of our open afternoons. Invitations will be coming to you soon from your linked family centre. |
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A message from Public Health about supporting families Protecting you and your family information
An infographic is available to help you know when you need to get an immunisation throughout different stages of your life.
Family Centre Immunisation and Advice Sessions
Family Centres are offering advice and immunisation sessions at the following centres:
Daisychain Family Centre, MK3 6PS, on 5 February 2026, between 10 am-3.30 pm Rainbow Family Centre, MK13 7BQ, on 20 March 2026, between 10 am-2.30 pm Hedgerows Family Centre, MK6 4NP, on 13 February 2026, between 10 am -2.30 pm
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An update from The Healthy Movers programme
Youth Sport Trust are providing two different ways to equip you with expert advice, activities and tools to help children aged 2–5 move more.
The Healthy Movers programme, funded by Milton Keynes City Council, supports early years settings to build children’s physical literacy, confidence, communication skills and wellbeing through active play and is free to access.
1. Book a Power Hour CPD session for staff at your setting – a condensed 1-hour session covering the what, why and how of Healthy Movers. Ideal for staff meetings or inset days. Offer extended until March 2026.
And/or…
2. Register your interest to gain access to a suite of digital resources. Offer ends December 2026.
With each of these offers, you’ll receive a Healthy Movers Toolkit packed full of ideas. Contact us by emailing: healthymovers@youthsporttrust.org or phone 01509 462694. |
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Early Years free training opportunityPromoting Black African Achievement in the Early Years
This training provides practical, culturally responsive strategies to strengthen the progress and achievement of Black African children.
Participants will explore key barriers, effective interventions, and culturally sensitive communication approaches that build strong partnerships with families. The training aligns with Early Years Foundation Stage and offers clear, actionable steps to help Black African children thrive, achieve and attain.
Thursday 5 March 2026 3.45 -5.15pm at EMA Resource Centre Roman Bletchley. To book email ema@milton-keynes.gov.uk
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DfE - Circumstances for the withdrawal of Early Education Funding
The Department for Education (DfE) has updated the circumstances in which local authorities are able to refuse or withdraw funding to early years providers, following changes to the Ofsted inspection framework.
The inspection grade outcomes at which local authorities can refuse or withdraw funding are now where one or more of the following apply: • All entitlements: where the ‘Safeguarding’ standards are ‘Not met’ • Thirty hours childcare for eligible working families: where ‘Leadership and governance’ has been graded as ‘Urgent improvement’ • The universal entitlement for three- and four-year-olds: where ‘Leadership and governance’ has been graded as ‘Urgent improvement’ • The entitlement for two-year-olds for families receiving additional support: where ‘Leadership and Governance’ has been graded as ‘Needs attention’ or ‘Urgent improvement’
The regulations took effect on 1st January 2026.
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Early Years free training through Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs
A Baby Room Network session on Tuesday 10 February 2026 from 2:00pm-3:00pm offers practitioners a supportive space to connect, reflect on practice, and focus on high-quality interactions in baby rooms.
More information and how to book is available.
Live webinar: From Co-Regulation to Self-Regulation: Laying the Foundations in the First Five Years
On Tuesday 3 March 2026 from 9:30–10:45am, a session will be delivered by Dr Mona Sakr, exploring how early emotional and social support builds strong foundations for later self-regulation, drawing on neuroscience and attachment theory. More information and how to book is available.
Both sessions are designed to support practitioners working with our youngest children and align closely with priorities around early development, emotional wellbeing, and quality of provision. |
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