Early Years and Childcare

Bulletin– March 2018

Partners in Excellence Launch - 12th May 2018
The launch of ‘Southampton Partners in Excellence’ will take place at a FREE event on Saturday 12th May 2018 at St. Mary’s Stadium. We are delighted to welcome Elizabeth Jarman as our guest speaker. For further details about this exciting event and booking information, please click: here or search: SID Southampton | Partners in Excellence.
Inclusion Conference – summerterm 2018
The summer Inclusion Conference for SENDCos will be held on:
3rd May at Start Point Sholing, 9.30 – 11.30 am or 12.30 – 2.30 pm
10th May at the Ashby Centre, 12.30 – 2.30 pm
Please confirm your attendance to , tel: 023 80 363309.
Early Years and Childcare Surgeries/Briefing Meetings
Thedates for the Early Years and Childcare Surgeries are:
Wednesday 25th April, Startpoint Sholing, 1pm–3pm / 4pm–6pm / 6.30pm–8.30pm
Tuesday 12th June, Ashby Centre, 2pm–4.30pm / 5.30pm–8pm
Wednesday 26th September, Ashby Centre, 1pm–3pm / 4pm–6.00pm / 6.30pm–8.30pm
15th November, Startpoint Sholing, 10am–1pm / 2pm–5pm / 6pm–8pm
Representatives from the Early Years & Childcare Team will be available. Please email to advise your attendance and an outline of your query in advance where possible.
The next Early Years & Childcare Information Briefingwill be held in October. Date and venue to be advised nearer the time. Thank you to those who attended the February Briefing. Handouts/PowerPoints can be found in the newsfeed on SID, clickhere.
The GDPR presentationwill be available on the SID Newsfeedby 9th March. If you require further support regarding GDPR, there will be an opportunity to drop in to talk to Belinda Cone, Development Worker on 14th March, between 1 pm – 5.30 pm at Start Point Sholing.
Please contact with your query or to confirm attendance.
SEND Surgeries
The SEND Surgeries are drop in sessions for SENDCos to talk through strategies, ideas and concerns regarding individual children with an EYAT/Area SENDCo. Unfortunately the SEND Surgeries due to be held at the end of last week were cancelled due to the snow. Future SEND Surgery dates for your diary:
Wednesday 21st March, 12.30 – 3.30 pm at Paint Pots House, 1 Spring Crescent, Portswood Thursday 22nd March, 12.30 – 2.30 pm at the Ashby Centre, Stratton Road, Shirley
Tuesday 17th April, 9 – 12 noon at Start Point Sholing, Wood Close, Sholing
Thursday 17th May, 1 – 3 pm at the Ashby Centre, Stratton Road, Shirley
Wednesday 20th June, 9.30 – 12.30 pm, Paint Pots House, 1 Spring Crescent, Portswood
Please advise your attendance/outline of your query in advance, where possible.
NEW Training Opportunities
Toolkit for Individual SEND Support Package – Twilight 6
(For those who have subscribed to the above package) the date for the final twilight is:Tuesday 20th March, 4 - 5.30 pm at Start Point Sholing.
The focus for this session is ‘Supporting Children with Downs Syndrome’.
There are additional places available for practitioners to book to attend thistwilight.
To reserve your place (@£15 per person), please email
For further details on the training opportunities offered by the Early Years Advisory Teachers, please click here.
There is still some availability at the following twilight training sessions.
To reserve your place/s, please contact Sally.
Early Years SENDCo– Introduction to the Role- 8th March, 4 – 5.30 pm, £15 per person
Working with Young Children with Autism-12th26th March, 4–5.30pm,£30 per person
Supporting Vulnerable Groups Using Data - 16th April, 4 – 5.30 pm, £15 per person
Safeguarding in Practice – Swap Shop - 26thApril, 4 – 5.30 pm, £15 per person
SEND, EAL or Both? - 2nd May, 4 – 5.30 pm, £15 per person
Thinking about Mental Health in Early Years– 13th June, 4 – 5.30 pm, £15 per person
EHCP Application Process - 15th June, 9 – 12 noon, £40 per person
Workforce Development – Training Brochure 2017/18
For information/courses organised through Workforce Development, click here.
Email: .
ECaT Club Meetings (spring 2018)- CANCELLED
Please note, the ECaT Club Meetings have been postponed until further notice
Tuesday 13th March 2018, 9.30 – 11.30 am or 12.30 – 2.30 pm at Start Point Sholing
Wednesday 14th March 2018,9.30 – 11.30 am at Pickles Coppice
ECaT Monthly Posters
The ECaT focus for 2018 is: More than Words. Posters are added each month and are available on SID for you to download and display/share with parents. Please clickhere.
ECaT Training
The following ECaT catch up dates are for those who are new to ECaT or for those requiring a refresher. ECaT training is FREE of charge. Further details of the content of ECaT Training can be found on the Southampton Information Directory, click here.
ECaT Phase 1 (catch up) – Postponed. New date to be advised
ECaT Signing and Communication (catch up) – 24th April 2018, 12.30 – 3.30 pm
ECaT Lead Practitioner Training – 16th May 2018, 10 am – 12 noon
ECaT Phase 2 (catch up) – 14th June 2018, 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
ECaT Training – CHILDMINDERS
Details of the FREE ECaT Workshopsfor Childminders can be viewed on SID: here
PLEASE NOTE, THE DATE FOR WORKSHOP 3 HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 8th NOVEMBER
Workshop 2: 20th June, 7–9 pm: Creating a communication and language rich environment
Workshop 3: 8th November, 7- 9 pm: Communicating successfully at 2 years old!
If you are a newly registered childminder, or require a refresher, ECaT Phase 1 training will be held on Wednesday 28th March, 7 – 9.30 pm.
All of the above sessions will be held at Start Point Sholing. Please contact Sally for more details or to book your place: , tel: 023 80 363309
BLAST (Boosting Language Auditory Skills and Talking)
BLAST training is free of charge. BLAST Resource Packs cost £195.77 and can be ordered through Southampton City Council. If your school/setting would like more information or to register your interest, please contact Sally.
Committee Network
The first meeting of the Committee Network will be held on 26th March at: Southampton Voluntary Service, St. Mary’s Street, SO14 1NW, either 10 - 11.30 pm or 7 - 8.30pm.
For more details and booking instructions, click here
Safeguarding Training
For current safeguarding training, Weekly Workshops and free e-learning,click here.
Southampton Information Directory
Please check regularly for updates on the Newsfeed: here. If you would like to share information on the Providers' Noticeboard, please email:
Sport Relief Challenge – 17th – 23rd March
Sport England has teamed up with Sport Relief to encourage employers to support their staff in becoming more active. For more details, click here
Sure Start Special
A unique, early intervention project for children who have been exposed to parental domestic violence and abuse. For details/referral form, click: here
Yellow Door
Offering a range of services to support those who have experienced abuse, offering a variety of specialist therapeutic and preventative services. Please consider this organisation for children and parents you are working with:
LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer)
Phone: 023 8091 5535
E-mail: / Dates for your Diary
March 2018
8th March
Early Years SENDCo – Intro
The Ashby Centre, 4 – 5.30 pm
12th & 26th March
Working with young children with autism
Start Point Sholing, 4 – 5.30 pm
13th March - CANCELLED
ECaT Club, Start Point Sholing,
9.30-11.30 am or 12.30-2.30 pm
14th March - CANCELLED
ECaT Club
Pickles Coppice, 9.30-11.30 am
14th March
Drop In surgery Re: GDPR
Start Point Sholing, 1 – 5.30 pm
17th – 23rd March
SPORT RELIEF CHALLENGE
20th March
TWILIGHT – Toolkit (Training)
Start Point Sholing, 4 – 5.30 pm
21st March
SEND Surgery (drop in)
Paint Pots House,12.30-3.30pm
22nd March
SEND Surgery (drop in)
Ashby Centre, 12.30-2.30pm
22nd March
SEND Surgery (drop in)
Ashby Centre,12.30-2.30pm
26th March
Committee Network
Southampton Voluntary Service
10-11.30 am OR 7-8.30 pm
28th March
ECaT Phase 1 (Childminders)
Start Point Sholing, 7 – 9.30 pm
April 2018
16th April
Supporting Vulnerable Groups using Data
Start Point Sholing, 4 – 5.30 pm
17th April
SEND Surgery (drop in)
Start Point Sholing,10-12 noon
24th April
ECaT Signing (Catch Up)
Start Point Sholing, 12.30 – 3.30
25th April
EY&C SURGERY (drop in)
Startpoint Sholing
1–3pm / 4–6pm / 6.30–8.30pm
26th April
Safeguarding in Practice/Swap Shop
The Ashby Centre, 4 – 5.30 pm
May 2018
2nd May
SEND, EAL or Both?
Ashby Centre, 4 – 5.30 pm
3rd May
Inclusion Conference
Start Point Sholing
9.30-11.30amOR12.30-3.30pm
10th May
Inclusion Conference
Ashby Centre, 12.30 – 3.30 pm
Saturday 12th May
Southampton Partners in Excellence
St. Mary’s Stadium,9.30-3.30pm
16th May
ECaT Lead Practitioner
Start Point Sholing, 10-12 noon
17th May
SEND Surgery (drop in)
Ashby Centre,1 – 3 pm
June 2018
12th June
EY&C SURGERY (drop in)
Ashby Centre, 2-4.30 pm/5.30-8pm
13th June
Thinking about Mental Health in Early Years
Start Point Sholing, 4 – 5.30 pm
15th June
EHCP Application Process
Start Point Sholing, 9.30 – 12.30
20th June
SEND Surgery (drop in)
Paint Pots House,9.30-12.30pm
20th June
ECaT Workshop 2 (Childminders)
Start Point Sholing, 7 - 9 pm
To book your place/s at any of the advertised sessions, please contact: , Tel: 023 80 363309
FAMILY INFORMATION SERVICE
The FIS free-phone number will be withdrawn at the end of March.
FIS can be contacted on:
023 80833014 or
Additional Information
Safer Recruitment
It has been brought to our attention that someone has been applying for Early Years positions within Southampton using fake references. Please ensure that you follow Safer Recruitment procedures and remain vigilant.
Safer Recruitment training is available, if required, through Workforce Development. For further details, click: here
Southampton Opportunity Group
The Southampton Opportunity Group offer structured play sessions and short term breaks for pre-school children who have additional needs. Further details can be found on their website: This Group is currently under used, so please share this information with parents/carers who would benefit from using this service.
HEYA
The Healthy Early Years Awards in Physical Activity is designed to assist you to reflect on approaches to physical activity both in the setting and within families. In a recent article in Nursery World, it was reported that ‘Ofsted is planning a new focus on physical development in early years settings, with deputy director of early education Gill Jones claiming that nurseries and pre-schools are not adequately physically challenging.’ To read the full article, click here
Undertaking the award will assist with demonstrating to Ofsted how you are monitoring this and making a difference for children and families. If you are considering undertaking any part of the Healthy Early Years Award, for more details, click here:HEYA Award
Transition Events – summer term 2018
Nursery and Pre School Practitioners, SENDCos, Childminders and Year R Teachers will be invited to meetings to discuss transition of children into Year R. These events will be held in May 2018 – further details will be sent out separately.