SUMMER TERM 2015

EARLY YEARS NEWSLETTER

Welcome to our Summer Term newsletter. We hope the term has started well. This newsletter will keep you up to date with developments in Gateshead and nationally.

TRANSITION

Summer term is the focus for transitions to new classes and now is the time to ensure your transition processes are planned. If class teachers are known they should be beginning to make visits to the children’s current class to play with the children and develop positive relationships. Once children are secure with new staff it is time to introduce them to their new environment.

CLUSTER GROUPS

Summer / Wed 20th May: Den Building- BALTIC / 3rd June: St Joseph’s Highfield

The focus of both cluster meetings is to create a space in which any LA information can be disseminated, to create an opportunity for practitioners share information, discuss issues, ask questions and generally to network. Both cluster meetings serve to disseminate the same information as far as LA agendas are concerned but each also offer an additional aspect.

Baltic cluster meetings are organised by Julie Mancini and feature a guest artist. They will provide inspiration for developing children’s creativity with links to EYFS.

All cluster meetings run from 4:00-5:30. Baltic cluster meetings are organised by Julie Mancini and feature a guest artist. They will provide inspiration for developing children’s creativity.

The agenda for the Summer term cluster meeting at St Joseph’s, Highfield is:

  • Reception baseline assessment
  • Transitions into Y1 and Reception ( Y1 teachers are encouraged to attend)
  • Using the Early Years pupil premium

EYFSP MODERATION

Schools that are being moderated have already been informed and dates have been set. Please ensure that if you have to change your date that you inform us as soon as possible.

Please also return your information about assessment processes and your interim assessment judgements at least one week before the moderation visit.

SUBMITTING YOUR EYFSP JUDGEMENTS

The final date for submission of EYFSP judgements is .

When making your final judgements please remember that :

  • You use the 2015 handbook and new exemplification for ELGs 3,9, 10, 11
  • You should use only the ELG statement and not your tracking to make judgements
  • When considering whether a child has exceeded the ELG guidance has changed this year. The handbook says ‘You will need to be confident that the child has moved beyond the expected level . When finalising your judgement you should:
  • Refer to the area of learning exceeding descriptors which form part of this handbook
  • Discuss with any Year 1 teachers whether a child is ‘exceeding’ in any ELG.’

There is no reference to the need to consider National curriculum descriptors.

  • Ensure that you conduct a range of quality assurance processes to check that submitted data is accurate and a fair reflection of children’s attainment at the time of data submission.

We are holding a series of informal drop ins if you would like to discuss any of your judgements before final submission. They are on 16th, 17th, 18th June 3:30-5:00 at the Dryden Centre. Feel free to come and go as you please.

RECEPTION BASELINE ASSESSMENT

Nearly all Gateshead schools have decided to trial the Early Excellence baseline assessment this year. As over the required 10% of schools nationally have signed up it will now be validated by DfE.

We are now in the process of trying to secure a regional training event in the North to support schools with the EExBA.

The focus of next year’s Early Years conference (possible date for diary 6thNovember ) will be ‘assessment using the process of wellbeing and involvement’ which will consolidate the processes involved in using the EExBA

Assessing Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care: Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) Scale for 2–5-year-olds provision

The Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) Scale is designed to consider practice that supports children aged between 2 and 5 years of age in developing skills in sustained shared thinking and emotional well-being as well as developing strong relationships, effective communication and aspects of self-regulation. It is designed to be used for research, self-evaluation and improvement, audit and regulation. This approach is the foundation of the screening aspect of the EExBA. The Plan Do Review approach embraces Sustained Shared Thinking within the ‘role of that adult’ during work time, as well as addressing the child’s emotional wellbeing through the intrinsic motivation element which underpins the Plan Do Review approach.

Using the SSTEW Scale alongside other environment scales (including ECERS-E, ECERS-R or ITERS-R) gives users a more complete picture of what high-quality early childhood education and care can look like. It is aspirational in that it considers high quality pedagogy and practice and would be a very useful self evaluation tool for all Early Years provision.

EARLY YEARS PUPIL PREMIUM

Those school which have nursery classes will now be asking parents to givepermission to check their eligibility for Early Years pupil Premium. Carole Smith (Group accountant , schools) sent a letter to schools last term providing details about how this should be done.

In order to provide you with ideas about how this funding can best be used The Education Endowment Foundation has published a toolkit for providers to gain the maximum benefits from the Early Years Pupil Premium. The toolkit aims to capture the maximum possible benefit from the Premiumby focusing efforts where it will make the most difference.The toolkit can be accessed at

Additionally you can find some good practice case studies produced on the Foundation Years website at

We hope you will share your ideas and thoughts about spending EYPP so they can be shared and we can gather some examples of Gateshead good practice.

BRITISH VALUES IN EARLY YEARS

If you are interested in Fundamental British values or feel you should have information at hand for an impending inspection Foundation Years have produced a useful guide.

PARENTS’ GUIDE

What to expect,When? is a new guide which has been published to support parents find out more about how their child is learning and developing during their first five years, in relation to the EYFS and focuseds on the seven areas of learning and development. You may find it useful to support you in discussions about children’s achievements with parents.

ELECTRONIC TRACKER

Schools in the ICT SLA should be able to have the names of the children in nursery and or reception added to the tracker now. Additional data analysis functionality is now available as is training to use the system. If you are not in the SLA and wish to purchase the Early Years tracker contact Chris Turnbull.

TRAINING

Please note the venue as the training does not always take place at the Dryden Centre. Booking for all courses should be made in the usual way via Susan Burn

April

Date and Time / Course / Contact and further information
30th 1:00-4:00 / Plan Do Review / Essential for developing children’s thinking skills and developing the daily routine.

May

Date and Time / Course / Contact and further information
12 & 13 9:00-4:00 / Paediatric First Aid / Contact Susan Burn for further information

June

Date and Time / Course / Contact and further information
101:00-4:00 / Introduction to the EYFS / Essential for anyone new to EYFS- teachers and teaching assistants
17 & 18 9:00-4:00 / Paediatric First Aid / Contact Susan Burn for further information

CONTACT DETAILS

Sue Waugh/Inspector Early Years
Telephone: 4338603
Email: / Val Taylor/Early Years Consultant
Telephone: 4338712
Email:
Julie Foers/ Early Years Consultant
Telephone 4338662
Email: / Julie Mancini/ Early Years Consultant
Telephone: 4338741
Email :
Melanie Vincent/ Area Senco
Telephone: 4338661
Email: