Early Years Essential 14 October 2026 |
|
|
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. |
|
|
Webinars
Do you want to find out more about Family Centres and what services they offer? Join us for a webinar on 10 November at 2pm led by Tina Price, Family Centres Manager.
Do you want to find out more about how to plan your curriculum? Join us for a webinar on 19 November from 10am-11am.
To book a place on either of the webinars please email: Jennifer.Bargrove@milton-keynes.gov.uk |
|
|
Let’s Brush – supervised toothbrushing programme
The Let’s Brush supervised toothbrushing programme is free of charge to all Milton Keynes Early Years settings and schools. All training, equipment and ongoing support is included in the programme.
Information is available in the flyer including how to sign up to this initiative.
Please note, this opportunity is not currently available for childminders. |
|
|
Early Years SEND Continuing Professional Development programme
In January, the DfE announced a £200 million investment in SEND and inclusion training to upskill educators across Early Years, schools and post-16 settings.
Over the next three years, a new national Early Years SEND Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme is being developed to support practitioners working with children aged 0 to 4 in delivering inclusive education for every child.
The first phase of the programme launched on 25 September 2026. Designed by Dingley’s Promise, it provides free online training focused on inclusive practice and developing the knowledge and skills needed to identify and support children with SEND.
The programme offers learning across three topics: foundations of inclusive practice embedding inclusive practice parent partnership
More information is available. |
|
|
Early Years SENCO Training The DfE in partnership with Best Practice Network, is funding training for an additional 9,500 Early Years SENCOs by March 2028. More information on how to submit your application is available. |
|
|
Delivering School Age Childcare (SAC) Provision - including updated allergy safety
The DfE in October 2026 updated their publication to help schools and academy trusts deliver School Age Childcare Provision. The update includes information to strengthen the information on allergy safety in before-and-after school childcare.
The updated Food and Nutrition section makes clear that schools’ arrangements for supporting pupils with allergies apply to SAC, including provision delivered by an external provider. Schools should ensure staff delivering food provision are included in allergy awareness training, are familiar with the school’s allergy safety policy, understand how to recognise and respond to allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, and have access to appropriate medical equipment. |
|
|
|
BookTrust webinar: Starting Strong: Enabling Conditions for Early Years Reading
BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. Their Early Years Programme, Bookstart, is designed to support families to discover the magic of shared reading from their earliest days and is available to all family hubs in England.
There is a webinar Starting Strong: Enabling Conditions for Early Years Reading on Thursday 22 October 2026 at 10-11am. The session will explore enabling factors that research highlights as helping families to make reading a joyful, everyday part of home life, and share practical ways to turn evidence into meaningful family support. More information is available and how to book. |
|
|
|
|
