EYCC Noticeboard

Early Years and Childcare Update - 14 May 2026

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
  • 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.

Register to Attend – Best Start in Life Launch Event

Registrations are now open to attend the launch of Birmingham’s Best Start in Life Strategy.

The event will bring together early years providers, professionals, and partners to share Birmingham’s vision for improving outcomes from pregnancy through to age five.

As part of the event, attendees will be able to hear presentations and explore an Early Years Marketplace, featuring support, insight, and resources from across the system – including a range of local and national early years partners.

  • Date: Monday 8 June 2026
  • Time: 10:30am – 1:30pm
  • Location: Banqueting Suite, Council House, Birmingham, B1 1BB

Register to attend: Best Start in Life Strategy Launch Event Registration – Fill in form

Please note that attendance should be strictly limited to one representatives per setting. The event is not intended for your whole setting to attend.

Booking is on a first‑come, first‑served basis, and the form will automatically close once we reach our capacity of 150 guests.

Providers are welcome to share the registration link with parents and carers of early years children who may be interested in attending.

If you are unable to participate in this session, please note that additional webinar sessions covering the content will be scheduled in the future. Monitor this space for upcoming updates and additional information.

The Early Years Ordinarily Available Guidance (OAG) now available online! 

We are delighted to share that the Early Years Ordinarily Available Guidance (OAG) is now online. 

The OAG is full of ‘things you can try’. These are simple, practical ideas to help you support children in your setting, especially when a child might need a bit more help. Birmingham’s Early Years OAG sets out the support that early years settings are expected to provide every day, including for children with SEND. It provides a shared framework for inclusive practice across the city, helping early years settings, services and families work from the same expectations.

localofferbirmingham.co.uk/online-ordinarily-available-guidance   

It also helps parents and carers understand what support should be in place. 

It can be used to: 

  • Help everyone include every child 
  • Help you see what is working and what to try next 
  • Help you work well with families 

How does it benefit early years settings?

  • Know what to try
  • Spot needs early
  • Respond quickly
  • Work together with families and services
  • Help children join in, learn and make progress

How can settings use it?

  • Reflect on what is working well
  • Think about next steps
  • Help everyone use shared approaches
  • Support staff learning and confidence
  • Help children through transitions and changes

Settings that have started using the OAG to develop their inclusive practice say:

“It changed our setting completely to make sure it works for all children.”

“The OAG is an easy, practical tool that helps us reflect on what we’re already doing and what we can try next.”

We’d like your feedback 

This guidance will keep growing and improving over time. 

We’d love to hear what is working well and what could be better. 

Please explore the site with your team, try it out in your setting, and share it with others you work with. 

Please send any feedback to: senconoticeboard@birmingham.gov.uk  

Share your practice 

We are also building a library of helpful ideas and examples. If you have something that works well in your setting, we would love to hear from you. 

This could be a routine, a resource, or something you do to support children. We can share these to help other settings across the city. 

If you’d like to get involved, please email: senconoticeboard@birmingham.gov.uk  

School Based Nursery Phase 3 Capital Funding Programme  

A fantastic opportunity for schools to increase the capacity of their existing nursery provision or create a new nursery provision subject to meeting eligibility criteria. 

The Department for Education has recently rolled out Phase 3 of the School Based Nursery Capital Programme. 

The purpose of the programme is for schools to either increase the number of early education places for (0 to 4 year olds) in their existing early years provision or create places at a new provision based on the school site to meet an unmet gap in the local area where the school is located. 

The funding will only support capital costs associated with the refurbishment or repurposing of existing space on the school site. 

The funding opportunity is aimed at all state funded schools e.g. Maintained Nursery Schools, Primary Schools and all through schools with Primary provision. 

If you are a school interested in this funding opportunity please email Kevin.Caulfield@birmingham.gov.uk and Rebekah.Horton@birmingham.gov.uk directly so we can set up a meeting to discuss your proposal and share information regarding the application process and eligibility.

Explore Upcoming Autism Support Events Across the West Midlands

A range of free events are available through Autism West Midlands, offering information, training, and supportive activities for autistic people, parents and carers, and professionals.

Events include:

  • Parent and carer support groups
  • Social groups for autistic children, young people and adults
  • Training and information sessions (for families and professionals)
  • Wellbeing activities such as coffee mornings and walks
  • Online and face-to-face sessions held across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands

All events are delivered by Autism West Midlands’ experienced team and are designed to be welcoming, practical and supportive for people at different stages of their autism journey. 

About the organiser

Autism West Midlands is the leading autism charity in the West Midlands, supporting autistic people of all ages and abilities, as well as their families and the professionals who work with them. Their work includes direct support, advice, training, employment support and community-based activities, with the aim of helping autistic people lead fulfilling and rewarding lives. 

View upcoming Autism West Midlands events on Eventbrite: Autism West Midlands

Providers & Practitioners - You’re invited to attend the Summer Early Years Consultant Cluster Surgery in a District Near You 

Bookings are now open for the in-person and online Summer Early Years Consultant Cluster Surgeries. 

Our Cluster Surgeries take place once every term and are led by your district Early Years Consultants (EYC). These sessions offer a supportive space where providers and practitioners can explore current topics linked to delivering high‑quality practice across early years and childcare. They’re also a great opportunity to connect with other professionals and providers, share experiences, and build the strong relationships that help us work together to improve outcomes for Birmingham’s children. 

Whether you are a childminder, an early years practitioner, a group setting manager, director, or an early years lead in a primary school, you are warmly invited to join us. 

Central and East Cluster Surgery: Supporting children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) in Early Years 

Central and East Cluster includes, Ladywood, Hodge Hill & Solihull North and Yardley Districts 

This term, the Central and East Cluster session will focus on supporting children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) in Early Years. Our Early Years Consultants will: 

  • Explore practical ways to support children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) 
  • Discuss inclusive practice, valuing home languages and the importance of creating language‑rich environments 
  • You will have the opportunity to share scenarios and challenges, and build confidence in supporting children with EAL and their families 

To book your place at one or more of Central and East Cluster’s Summer EYC Surgeries, please use the links below: 

Please note: In‑person spaces are limited due to venue capacity, so early booking is advised.   

South Cluster Surgery: Best Start in Life (BSiL) Family Hubs 

South Cluster includes Hall Green, Selly Oak, Northfield & Edgbaston Districts 

The session in the South Cluster will focus on Best Start in Life (BSiL) Family Hubs. Our Early Years Consultants will: 

  • Support early years providers to understand and engage with the Best Start in Life (BSiL) agenda 
  • Explore Birmingham’s local approach to BSiL and what this means in practice for nurseries and families 
  • You will hear directly from Best Start Family Hubs across the southern cluster, understand their role and the support they offer to families and settings 
  • You will also learn how providers can access, work alongside and benefit from Family Hub services 

To book your place at one or more of South Cluster’s Summer EYC Surgeries, please use the links below: 

Please note: In‑person spaces are limited due to venue capacity, so early booking is advised.   

What else is coming up for continuing professional development (CPD)? 

There are lots of free professional development opportunities available across Birmingham for early years practitioners, leaders, managers and those delivering Early Years Education and Childcare. You can view upcoming events here: 

https://www.birminghamearlyyearsnetworks.org/events  

Inclusion: Raising Awareness Across All Childcare Settings in Birmingham (Free In Person Workshop) 

Diverse Beginnings: Enhancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Childcare Settings is our free in-person workshop for all Birmingham providers of Early Years and Childcare. 

This workshop is suitable for all practitioners, managers, provision owners and directors, but spaces are limited.   

We are inviting early years and childcare providers across Birmingham to join us for a powerful in-person workshop designed to support and strengthen inclusive practice in your setting. We’ve listened to the sector and moved this workshop offer away from online formats to create a more impactful, collaborative learning space. 

Why Attend? 

This session is more than just a workshop – it’s a space for real connection, reflection and action.  Developed in response to sector feedback, Diverse Beginnings offers a rare opportunity to come together in person to explore how Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) can be meaningfully embedded across all aspects of early years and childcare provision. 

Together we’ll: 

  • Raise awareness of EDI within the context of early years practice 
  • Explore how EDI principles can be integrated into recruitment, routines, leadership and beyond 
  • Share experiences and reflect with peers in a supportive, face-to-face environment 
  • Feel empowered to champion inclusive and equitable approaches in your own setting 

Why Now? 

The new Ofsted Early Years Toolkit places a strong emphasis on inclusion. From November 2025, Ofsted will be considering: 

“The commitment of leaders and those responsible for governance to provide high standards of education and care to improve the lives of all children, especially those receiving statutory support, including disadvantaged children, those with SEND, those who are known (or previously known) to children’s social care, and those who may face barriers to their learning and/or well-being” 

This workshop will help you strengthen your inclusive practice, with confidence and enhanced clarity. 

Please note spaces are limited. 

This is a free workshop, but places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.   

Don’t miss out – book your place today and be part of the change. For more information about the venues and to access our booking links, please follow the links below:  

Other inclusion subject-based training and resources available to you for free include: 

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 and 5pm except Bank Holidays. 

Two New Free Courses: Strengthen Inclusion with Dingley’s Promise 

Dingley’s Promise are thrilled to launch two brand new, expert-led training courses, fully funded by Comic Relief. 

  1. An Inclusive Approach to Curriculum and Assessment 

This course is designed to help practitioners build the confidence and knowledge to ensure their curriculum is underpinned by inclusive practice. You will learn to make necessary adaptations so your curriculum is accessible for all children and understand how to use effective assessment tools to identify needs early and accelerate learning. 

Inclusive curriculum assessment | Birmingham City Council

  1. Supporting Communication Development for Early Years Children with SEND 

Designed to respond to the growing number of children with early communication challenges, this course explores the stages of development and the barriers children with SEND can face. You will gain the confidence to identify needs and act quickly to support every child's communication journey. 

Developing communication in early years | Birmingham City Council

Sign up to access the new courses here: https://forms.office.com/e/V3zvR1cPKr 

Other free courses available from Dingley’s Promise includes: 

  • 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 

You can access these other courses here - Comic Relief Early Years Inclusion Programme - Dingley's Promise but remember, free access to all of these 9 courses is only available for a limited time, so it's a good idea to prioritise completing them while you can!  

NEW Inclusive Practice in Early Years Resources from a Collaboration Between Childcare Works and Dingley’s Promise 

Creating an inclusive environment is essential for every child to thrive. To help you achieve this, Childcare Works, in collaboration with Dingley’s Promise (England’s largest specialist provider of nursery education for children under 5 with SEND) has developed a collection of practical resources designed to support inclusive practice in your setting. 

What’s Included? 

Note: Birmingham’s Ordinarily Available Provision document is called Ordinarily Available Guidance (OAG). 

We have three versions available: 

  1. Early Years Ordinarily Available Guidance 
  2. School Age Ordinarily Available Guidance 
  3. Post-16 Ordinarily Available Guidance 

The Early Years version is currently in draft form but can still be used. 

How to Access: 

Click the links or visit: Dingley’s Promise and Childcare Works: Inclusive Practice in the Early Years 

Speech, Language and Communication (SLC) and the Home Learning Environment (HLE)

Introduction to WellComm training 

For the attention of EEE providers.

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. Birmingham City Council will fully fund one WellComm Toolkit for all schools, nurseries, pre-schools, and childminders registered to offer Early Education Entitlement (EEE) places. Early Years settings need to attend an ‘Introduction to WellComm’ workshop. During the workshop, you will be provided with instructions on how to receive your 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. 

Please click the link next to your preferred date to book your place:

This entry was posted by Jessica Wykes on 13/05/2026.

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