EYCC Noticeboard

Early Years and Childcare Update - 25 September 2025

Welcome to this week's Early Years and Childcare update!

This week's update includes information on:

Please feel free to share this update with anyone you think would benefit from accessing this content. 

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact familyinformation@birmingham.gov.uk

Nominate a Provider Portal User

As you may already be aware, the Early Years and Childcare Team has launched a new Information Portal for providers called the Nexus Provider Portal. 

Many providers have already nominated a Nexus Provider Portal user. If you haven’t already done so, please do this today using our online form. You can have accounts for up to four people within your organisation. 

The introduction of this portal will enable us to:

  • strengthen the information that we collect from you to support our sufficiency data
  • improve the information that we can provide to parents and third parties when they are looking for childcare options
  • contact you more efficiently.  

Please note: Completing this form does not immediately create your account. After we verify the nominated user form, we will send you a link to create your Provider Portal account.

If you have any queries about the Nexus Provider Portal, please contact FamilyInformation@birmingham.gov.uk.

Wraparound Funding Opportunities

Millions in school funding still available.

Wraparound Childcare Grant Funding Opportunity  

As part of the government’s ambition, by September 2026 all parents and carers of primary school-aged children who need it should be able to access Wraparound childcare between 8:00am and 6:00pm during term time.  

Whether your school is planning to launch a new club or expand an existing one, we encourage providers to take advantage of the available funding. This is a valuable opportunity to establish new provision or increase the capacity of current clubs to better meet the needs of local families.  

What can you apply for?  

  • Creation of places: Create both new before school provision and after-school provision - where there is currently no provision.  
  • Extend hours: Extend the hours to meet full wraparound definition (8am to 6pm) - where you already provide wraparound, but it does not meet the 8am to 6pm expectation.  
  • Expand provision: Introduce before school provision or after school provision - where you have no existing provision in place to meet the full wraparound definition or increase the number of places currently on offer.  

Benefits of wraparound care provision  

  • Boost Attendance and Engagement - Children thrive with consistent routines and enriching activities that make school a place they love to be.  
  • Support Working Families - Flexible care options help parents balance work and family life, reducing stress and increasing satisfaction.  
  • Enhance Learning and Wellbeing - From homework clubs to creative arts, sports, and mindfulness — WAC offers holistic development in a safe, inclusive environment.  
  • Strengthen Community Ties - Your school becomes more than a place of learning — it becomes a trusted space for growth, connection, and opportunity.  
  • Makes your school more appealing to families - As more parents return to work, schools that offer flexible childcare options become increasingly attractive.     

Why apply?  

By applying for the Wraparound childcare grant you could receive:  

  • Thousands of pounds in funding to cover initial start-up costs for staffing, purchase of equipment, marketing and day to day premise costs.  
  • Tailored support from your own Development worker to support you through the application process.  
  • Parent survey templates to help ascertain parental demand  
  • Step by step guidance to support with hosting a PVI to run your Wraparound childcare provision  

How do you get involved?  

We’re inviting you to be part of this exciting journey. If you recognise that this is an opportunity not to be missed, complete the quick expression of interest form to determine whether your application is likely to be successful and walk you through the process.  

Still have questions? Contact us at WAC@birmingham.gov.uk   

Let’s work together to make school a place where every child has the chance to shine — before, during, and after the school day.  

Early Education Entitlement

WellComm Data Collection and Training 

Autumn Term WellComm Data Collection on EEE Portal 

From this term all PVI settings will add the WellComm screening results for each child on the EEE portal alongside headcount submission.  

To assist you in planning your WellComm screenings for the Autumn Term the EEE portal will open for headcount on Thursday 2nd October and close on Thursday 9th October. If you require any support with this, please contact eyduty@birmingham.gov.uk  

WellComm is the approved screening tool in Birmingham, and it supports a consistent universal approach to assessing and supporting children’s speech, language and communication needs. If you are not yet using WellComm to screen your children’s speech and language, please attend one of our online training sessions to receive your free WellComm toolkit. Settings that have received a WellComm screening tool can continue to send staff that are new or require a refresher of how to use WellComm onto the training. We have training sessions available until the end of the year. Please click your preferred date to book your place.

Early Education Entitlements – Disability Access Fund (Autumn 25 Term)

This information is aimed at all EEE providers.

Disability access fund – Is a one off annual payment of £938 for each eligible child per in your setting. 

  • DAF can be claimed once per year, which can help with children’s education and support. 
  • You must ensure that any child who you claim DAF for is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance
  • There is a section on the parental declaration form which must be completed for eligible children.

You can make a claim on your headcount claim on portal; you should only make one claim per year (April-March).  This will be paid in full in your final 20% payment.

You can apply for all age groups and entitlements.  Children do not need to access their full entitlement in order for you to claim disability access funding.

Children in receipt of EYPP or ISEY funding does not qualify them for Disability Access Fund.  Only children in receipt of DLA will be eligible for DAF.  Please ensure you retain evidence of DLA (for a minimum of 6 years).  Failure to provide this during audit will result in clawback.

Please speak to your parents to find out if children are eligible.

Please speak to your parents to find out if children are eligible.

Early Education Entitlements – EEE Notification Form (Autumn 25 Term)

This information is aimed at all EEE providers.

As per the EEE terms and conditions of funding you are required to notify us when a child stops attending and / or leaves your setting. The only time you don’t need to notify us is when they leave at their usual transition point to take up their reception class place.

The terms and conditions of funding state:

2.90 The maximum absence of a child from a provision when claiming EEE funding is four consecutive weeks. Providers must follow their Safeguarding procedures when a funded child does not arrive for a booked session. In addition providers must follow the agreed process for reporting absent and missing children age 0-5 to the Local Authority as detailed in Section 2.94 and Appendix 2.

2.94 Providers must notify the Early Years Team promptly when a child permanently leaves, or is absent for four or more weeks.

Please ensure that if a child leaves or stops attending that you follow your safeguarding procedures and that you complete the Early Education notification form – which can be found on Birmingham City Council’s Document Website – Early Education Entitlement » EEE Notification Form

Important Changes from Ofsted: Book now to hear about upcoming changes to the Education Inspection Framework

Are you one of the following providers:

  • Early Years group setting (nursery, pre-school and others)
  • Childminder
  • Out of school provider
  • Maintained Nursery School
  • State-funded primary school
  • Non-association independent school

If you answered yes and you have not yet to attended an Ofsted renewed Education Inspection Framework webinar, we strongly encourage you book yourself a place to attend an upcoming session. 

At these webinars, Ofsted help to you to familiarise with the upcoming November 2025 education inspection framework changes and you will have the opportunity to ask Ofsted questions or to clarify information relating to the discussed changes, including the new Early Years Inspection Toolkit. 

You can book your space here: Education inspection framework: engagement programme - GOV.UK

But, don’t’ worry, if you have missed the slot suitable for your area of provision, you can access a recording on Ofsted’s YouTube channel.

Additionally, we encourage you to familiarise with Ofsted’s Early Years Inspection Toolkit, Operating Guide & Information, accessible here: Early years inspection: toolkit, operating guide and information - GOV.UK

Strengthen Inclusion with Free Online Learning for Birmingham's Early Years Workforce & Families

If you're a family member or a professional working with young children in Birmingham, you can access and complete FREE online training courses from Dingley’s Promise.  These courses are designed to help ensure that every child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) gets the best possible start in life.  Thanks to funding from Comic Relief, the following courses are available to you at no cost, but only for a limited time:

  • An introduction to Early Years Inclusive Practice
  • Early Years SEND Transitions 
  • Managing Behaviours that Challenge  
  • Having Difficult Conversations with Families
  • Voice of the Child  
  • Leadership and Management for Inclusion
  • Intersections within Early Years Practice

Each course features interactive workbooks, videos and activities that you can complete at your own pace, whenever it suits you.  By completing these courses, we can work together to consistently improve outcomes for children across Birmingham.

See here for more information and to access the courses: Comic Relief Early Years Inclusion Programme - Dingley's Promise Unlock Your Potential & Develop Practice: Explore Free & Flexible Learning Opportunities for our Early Years & Childcare Community

Grow your skills, strengthen inclusive practice within your team, network with others and make a lasting impact on the lives of young children in Birmingham by accessing FREE learning opportunities, designed to support your own and your team members continuing professional development (CPD). 

Here are some links to where professionals from within Birmingham’s Early Years and Childcare community can access a range of resources, tools, insights and workshops:

To remain up to date with information and opportunities available within our Early Years and Childcare community, we strongly encourage you to:

  1. Regularly check the Early Years and Childcare Noticeboard, which updates weekly
  2. To join the Birmingham Early Years Network mailing list Birmingham Early Years Networks | Contact

Need support? Talk to us:

If you need advice, guidance or support on any Early Years or Childcare topics, the Birmingham Early Years and Childcare Service is here to help.

You can speak directly with an experienced Early Years Consultant who can offer support and expert insight.  Contact us via our Early Years Duty Line on 0121 675 4996 or email us eyduty@birmingham.gov.uk Monday – Friday between 9am & 5pm except Bank Holidays.

Unlock Your Potential & Develop Practice: Explore Free & Flexible Learning Opportunities for our Early Years & Childcare Community

Grow your skills, strengthen inclusive practice within your team, network with others and make a lasting impact on the lives of young children in Birmingham by accessing FREE learning opportunities, designed to support your own and your team members continuing professional development (CPD). 

Here are some links to where professionals from within Birmingham’s Early Years and Childcare community can access a range of resources, tools, insights and workshops:

To remain up to date with information and opportunities available within our Early Years and Childcare community, we strongly encourage you to:

  1. Regularly check the Early Years and Childcare Noticeboard, which updates weekly
  2. To join the Birmingham Early Years Network mailing list Birmingham Early Years Networks | Contact

Need support? Talk to us:

If you need advice, guidance or support on any Early Years or Childcare topics, the Birmingham Early Years and Childcare Service is here to help.

You can speak directly with an experienced Early Years Consultant who can offer support and expert insight.  Contact us via our Early Years Duty Line on 0121 675 4996 or email us eyduty@birmingham.gov.uk Monday – Friday between 9am & 5pm except Bank Holidays.

Schools-based Nursery Programme – Phase 2 

For the attention of Schools, Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS), and Early Years Providers.

You may have already seen the 5th September 2025 announcement from DfE regards the roll out of Phase 2 of the Schools Based Nursery Capital Programme. 

Key Headlines are: 

  • Up to £150,000 Capital Funding is available to support the expansion or creation of onsite nursery provision. 
  • This phase supports projects ready to offer new childcare places in 2026/27. 
  • Funding is available to support childcare managed by School governing bodies on primary school sites, Maintained Nursery Schools, PVI providers and Childminders delivering nursery provision on a school site.
  • The online application process opens on the 22nd September 2025 and closes on the 11th December 2025. 
  • Schools have to apply to DfE direct. 
  • Local authorities will have a key role to play in assessing the suitability of proposed projects in line with their sufficiency duty. 
  • Schools will need to submit an LA Approval Form signed by the LA to support their application.  

 Please follow the following links for more information: 

If you want to discuss your proposal, share information and seek LA approval please contact: Kevin Caulfield, Childcare Sufficiency and Early Education Entitlement Strategy Manager. 

Email: Kevin.caulfield@birmingham.gov.uk

Designated Safeguarding Lead Sessions – Autumn 2025

Sessions will cover:

  • Safeguarding Updates, including exploring changes to Ofsted inspections for Safeguarding in November
  • Virtual Schools Update
  • Operation Encompass
  • Safeguarding Assessment Audit 2025 – 2026

You are only required to attend one session.  Please register via clicking on the preferred date and time below:

DSL & Safeguarding Support Network

This session is aimed at setting managers and DSLs (Designated Safeguarding Leads) who work with children aged over 5. The focus for the session is – The Role of Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

Early Talk Boost Training Sessions - 8 New Dates Added for Autumn Term 2025

Intended audience EEE only/Schools only/Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS)/Early Years Providers only

Early Talk Boost is a targeted intervention aimed at 3–4-year-old children who need help with talking and understanding words, helping to boost their language skills to narrow the gap between them and their peers. The programme aims to accelerate children’s progress in language and communication by an average of 6 months, after a nine-week intervention. 

Children selected to take part in the intervention will attend three sessions per week during circle/story time, each lasting 15-20 minutes delivered by an early year’s practitioner. The sessions include activities that cover the foundation skills in speech, language, and communication that children need for learning and understanding new words, as well as having conversations. The training is delivered face to face and each setting will receive 2 boxes of Early talk Boost resources.

8 New Dates Added for Autumn Term 2025:

  • Tuesday 7th October 2025, Perry Barr Family Hub (Rookery Children's Centre), 60 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Birmingham, B21 9QA
  • Friday 17th October 2025, Selly Oak Family Hub (Chinnbrook Children’s Centre), 213 Trittiford Rd, Birmingham, B13 0ET
  • Monday 20th October 2025, Edgbaston Family Hub (Doddington Children’s Centre), 28 Doddington Grove, Birmingham, B32 4EL
  • Tuesday 4th November 2025, Perry Barr Family Hub (Rookery Children's Centre), 60 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Birmingham, B21 9QA
  • Monday 10th November 2025, Erdington Family Hub (Lakeside Children’s Centre), 22 Lakes Rd, Birmingham, B23 7UH
  • Monday 17th November 2025, Erdington Family Hub (Lakeside Children’s Centre), 22 Lakes Rd, Birmingham, B23 7UH
  • Tuesday 2nd December 2025, Perry Barr Family Hub (Rookery Children's Centre), 60 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Birmingham, B21 9QA
  • Monday 8th December 2025, Edgbaston Family Hub (Doddington Children’s Centre), 28 Doddington Grove, Birmingham, B32 4EL
  • 09.30 – 15.00 – Face to Face training at venues listed above

20 places per venue

Settings to fill out a Microsoft form and choose their preferred date via this link:  Expression of Interest for Early Talk Boost Training  

This training is suitable for Birmingham EEE Funding Registered Day Nurseries, Nursery Schools and School Nursery Classes.

This entry was posted by on 15/09/2025.

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