The Maths Champions ProgrammeThe Maths Champions programme is a national early years initiative developed by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) to strengthen the quality of mathematics...Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving - February 2026The Department for Education has published the schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving.Hourly Rates From April 2026At the end of December the DfE confirmed the overall hourly rates that Lewisham will receive for the delivery of the full range of EY entitlements.The Masked Singer x Do Something Big: Little Makers is Here Do Something Big has partnered with ITV's The Masked Singer to create Little Makers - a three-part series where a mystery celebrity surprises...February in Early YearsFebruary offers a natural moment in the early years to pause and reflect on relationships, belonging and community. Across Lewisham, children bring with them rich family...Lewisham Early Years Spring Term 2026 Training Our Lewisham Early Years training for Spring term 2026 is now available to book. Please note - more sessions will be added and we will email...National Children’s Bureau (NCB) - Natural Thinkers TrainingThe National Children’s Bureau (NCB) is delighted to offer two “open to all” sessions of the evidence-based natural thinkers training...SEND training offer - released 16th January 2026See all details here... Lewisham Safeguarding Children Practice Survey 2026Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships have a Statutory Duty to assess whether agencies in their area are fulfilling their statutory obligation...Thumbelina - A Fun Family Musical Theatre ShowThumbelina - Tiny but Mighty is coming to Sydenham Centre every Saturday and Sunday during March. Join the world's smallest superhero in this...Reminder: Provider Portal Now Open for Spring 2026 ClaimsThe Provider Portal is now open for you to enter details of funded children for Spring 2026. Please note: the portal will close on Friday, 23 January 2026...Family Information Service Update January 2026Do you have vacancies - Parents are now looking for childcare provisions to access from Spring term 2026. Access to early education...National Apprenticeship Week 2026 - DfE Case Study RequestAs part of the Do Something Big early years recruitment campaign the Department for Education (DfE) are currently looking for early years apprentices who...Wonderful Winter - Exploring, Creating, and Staying Cosy this SeasonJanuary is often seen as the month of new beginnings, offering a gentle opportunity for reflection and quiet contemplation...Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) Issue Safety Alert on Baby Sleep PillowsThe Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Safety Alert to warn about the risks associated...Checking Working Parent Entitlement Codes and Eligibility for Spring Term 2026If you receive a working parent entitlement code from a parent/carer you must check the code...Join Our Lewisham Early Years PVI and Childminder WhatsApp CommunityWe are excited to announce that the Lewisham Early Years Service has set up a WhatsApp Community to share relevant...Introducing the Lewisham Family Hubs to Early Years ProvisionsLewisham Family Hubs provide a central point of support for children, young people and families. They bring together a range of services...Health and Wellbeing During the Festive SeasonAs we enter the festive season, our priority is creating a supportive and nurturing environment for both children and staff. The holidays can often feel...Ideas For Your Winter ClassroomAs the weather turns colder, it is easy to forget the importance of our outdoor classrooms. However, winter is an ideal time to think about how you can use the season to enhance...Being a Parent Course Starting in January 2026This is a free 9 week group programme offered to parents/carers of children aged from 2 to 11 years old starting in January 2026...Sharing REAL with Parents - Spring Term DatesSharing REAL with Parents are group-based sessions delivered through workshops for families to understand and share ideas in how to support their child's...Family Community Work Coach Skills BootcampThe Skills Bootcamp is an 8-week programme with a Level 1 Childcare qualification at the end AND a guaranteed paid job with a nursery to complete...Department for Education Free Early Years Child Development TrainingDepartment for Education (DfE) Early Years Child Development Training is a free online programme that has been...Early Years Online Conference: Leading the Way: Navigating Leadership and Inclusion in Early Years through the New Ofsted FrameworkBi-borough Early Education and Childcare Service...Heath Professionals for Safer ScreensHeath Professionals for Safer Screens - Our Children, their Screens and the evidence! Health professionals are concerned about the serious negative...Wellbeing You can try these wellbeing activities that include breathing and mind activities with the children within your setting. I can breathe - breathing activities, Balloon breathing...Attention to Autism™ TrainingAttention Autism Programme Foundation Level Course 2-day Training. This 2 day course equips attendees with the skill to set up and run the 4 Stage Attention to Autism™ Programme...The Best Start in Life Campaign We are pleased to share with you the launch of the new Best Start in Life campaign along with the new tool kit which can be used to support the campaign. The campaign aims to increase...Wellbeing - Activities for Children Here are a few wellbeing activity ideas that you can do with the children within your setting. Calming glitter jar - Take a jar or plastic bottle and fill ¾ with water....Early Years Business Information - Ready to Boost your Childcare Business?Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, our guide to ‘Marketing your Early Years Business’ is packed with...Best Start in Life Website and Brand LaunchThe Best Start in Life website (beststartinlife.gov.uk) has officially replaced the Childcare Choices website as a main source of information for early education...Changes to Lewisham Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) and Families First Contact Point (FFCP)MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) used to be the name for Lewisham’s central point of contact for concerns...The Updated Healthy Early Years London (HEYL) Programme is Now Live!Attention all HEYL Participants - We’re delighted to let you know that the Mayor of London’s updated...Changes to Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Safeguarding Requirements: September 2025During the summer we informed you of the new changes to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) safeguarding requirements...Updated Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Early Years Team and Complex Needs & Feeding Team Referral FormPlease see a message below from Michelle, Advance Speech & Language Therapist...Prime Minister's Letter to Parents on Best Start in LifeTo mark this beginning of the new childcare expansion milestone, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has written to parents reaffirming his Plan for Change promise to..Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Safeguarding Reforms On 17th October 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) published its official responses to the consultation on proposals to strengthen...Ofsted Inspections - Changes to Inspections from September 2025Ofsted inspections are changing from September for all early year’s providers. In September 2025, Ofsted will publish its revised inspection framework...Lewisham Family Hubs - Parenting ProgrammesWe want to share the following documents below from Lewisham Family Hubs about the parenting programmes on offer for parents and carers living...Updated Early Years Foundation Stage Frameworks - Now PublishedOn the 14th July 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) published the revised EYFS statutory frameworks alongside the current frameworks...New Disability Guidance and Training for Early Years Providers On Tuesday 8th July 2025, the Council for Disabled Children published guidance and training designed to support all those working in the early years in understanding...Updated Easy Explainer: Early Years Funding RatesThe Department for Education has updated the Easy Explainer: Early Years Funding Rates which is designed to support providers to understand the early years funding system...Early Entitlement - Age criteriaUnder 2s Working Parent Entitlement - Up to 30 funded hours per week are available to children from the term after their 9th month birthday (or ‘the term after they turn 9 months’)Survey – CCTV and digital device usage in early years settings In December 2025, the Secretary of State for education announced that she would appoint an expert panel to review how CCTV and digital devices are used in early years settingsSpotlight on Early Reading: Guidance from the National Literacy TrustThe National Literacy Trust has recently shared updated practitioner guidance on supporting reading in the early years,Free NHS webinar on childhood vaccinations - 26 March, 12:30 - 1.30 PMPlease can you share this with your parents and carersUpdated Parental Declaration – Please Use the New FormThe Parental Declaration form has now been updated and must be used for all new parents/carers going forward.The late claim window is now openIf you have missed any children from your original headcount submission, or if you have had any late starters this term,Ideas for using your SEN Inclusion FundingThe Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF) is designed to help settings include children with additional needs within high‑quality, inclusive early education.It's Springtime!! Making the most of the SeasonSpring brings lighter days, milder weather, and endless opportunities for outdoor learning. You could include:Makaton Early Years Virtual Taster SessionMakaton Taster sessions are designed to provide general information about Makaton and how it can help develop language and communication skills.Measles - Letters to Early Years Settings and ParentsAs you are aware, there is an ongoing Measles outbreak in North London.