Early Years Latest News

The Early Years’ Service at Buckinghamshire Council (BC) are seeking expressions of interest for a provider/s to deliver Childcare and Funded Early Years Education, from birth to four years, all year round, from 8am to 6pm for children and families in the Castlefield/Booker area of High Wycombe and Micklefield area of High Wycombe.

Castlefield/Booker Building Details:

Self-contained space in a shared building

1 room available currently possibly 2 under negotiation - open plan layout

Kitchen Facilities

Large enclosed outdoor space

Ample storage

Good Travel Links to A40

Easy access to the Town Centre

Close to local schools

Micklefield Building Details:

2 story detached building – sole use

Open plan space on the ground floor

Rooms upstairs for office/other uses

Large secure garden

Good storage

Good Travel Links to A40

Close to local schools

Interested parties should send an email expressing their interest in providing this service with a short paragraph setting out their vision to:   earlyyears@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Once received an application pack will be sent out to prospective candidates following the closing date below.

All applications will be reviewed and short listed for stage two where the prospective candidates will be invited to interview with Buckinghamshire Council.

The successful provider will be given the opportunity to lease the premises, for an agreed rent, to enable them to deliver the service as set out in the site-specific specification (released with application pack).

For further information please email earlyyears@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Closing date for expressions of interest: 15^th September 2024

Closing date for applications will be 29^th September 2024

Interview date: TBC 2024

Please print and display the following poster in your setting for families to use.

Steps to starting school

The DfE’s Early Years recruitment campaign launched on Friday 2nd February 2024.

The campaign aims to highlight the difference EY professionals make to children and how rewarding working in the sector can be.

The campaign will direct applicants to use the Department for Work and Pensions’ Find a Job platform to search for EY roles in their area. The DfE are asking for your support to ensure as many EY vacancies as possible are listed on Find a Job ahead of the campaign launch. To upload your vacancies go to Find a Job and click on the employer tab at the top of the page.

Please watch these video tutorials to help you create an employer account, and post any current or upcoming roles in your setting. You should use the term ‘early years’ in the title of your job adverts and select ‘Education jobs’ for the job category.

The Find a Job service is free to use and will ensure your vacancies are seen by a large pool of candidates. Please note this will be in addition to the free advertising service. Early Years Jobs we offer on our website.

To read more, please click here.

The Childminder Start-up Grant Scheme is now open for applications using this link. This will be available to all new childminders who have completed their registration on or after 15th March 2023. Individuals who have previously been registered as childminders and wish to re-register into the sector may also apply for the scheme. There must be at least a 12-month gap between the date of their previous registration being cancelled and their new registration being finalised.

As previously announced, we will offer £600 to new childminders registering with Ofsted, and £1200 to new childminders registering with a childminder agency. £1200 grants will be paid in two instalments, with a 6-month limit on claiming the second instalment. Childminders must apply for the grant within two months of registering as a childminder, or within two months of the Scheme launching.

FAQs

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant guidance

Application process

There are 2 statutory EYFS frameworks: 

• EYFS statutory framework for childminders 
• EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers 

Providers are responsible for ensuring they follow the current version of the framework for their provider type.

To read more please click the link Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The DfE are asking education settings to share key messages from the NHS about MMR / measles and how to get vaccinated.

The Back to school MMR Guidance from the NHS includes information to share, as well as example social media posts which can be found here: NHS Vaccine Poster and NHS MMR Poster.

Measles is highly infectious and if left unvaccinated nine out of ten children in a classroom/setting can catch the disease if just one child is infectious. Please share these resources with colleagues, parents, and where suitable, community organisations to increase awareness and encourage parents to get their children vaccinated.