EYCC Noticeboard

Early Years and Childcare Update - 28 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.

Early Years Ordinarily Available Guidance (OAG) Webinar 

The Early Years Ordinarily Available Guidance (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 may need a bit more help. 

Come and join us to look at the Early Years OAG together.   

We welcome anyone working in the Early Years sector to join one of the following sessions: 

  • Wednesday 10th June at 2.00pm 
  • Thursday 11th June at 4.00pm 

During the webinar, we will: 

  • answer questions you have about the Early Years OAG 
  • talk about what would help you use the OAG in your setting 

Book your place using one of the links below. Please select your preferred date: 

We look forward to seeing you there.

Last Chance: Sign Up Before 30 June for £500 of FREE Early Years SEND Training 

Birmingham Early Years Professionals and Families - don’t miss out! 

You have until Tuesday 30 June 2026 to secure access to £500 worth of FREE online training from Dingley’s Promise. 

Why this matters? 

Dingley’s Promise, England’s leading specialist nursery provider for children under 5 with SEND, has developed 10 high-quality modules to strengthen inclusive practice across Birmingham, helping every child thrive. 

What’s on offer? 

Sign up by the end of June and complete any or all modules by December 2026: 

  • Introduction to Inclusive Practice 
  • SEND Transitions 
  • Behaviours That Challenge 
  • Intersections in Early Years Practice 
  • Difficult Conversations with Families 
  • Voice of the Child 
  • Leadership & Management for Inclusion 
  • Inclusive Curriculum & Assessment 
  • Supporting Communication Development 
  • Creating Inclusive Environments 

The training modules offer: 

  • Flexible learning – complete at your own pace 
  • Interactive resources – videos, activities, workbooks 
  • Certificate for every module completed 

Who should take part? 

This opportunity is open to anyone supporting children under 5 in Birmingham, including: 

  • Early Years practitioners and SENCos 
  • Childminders 
  • Family Hub staff 
  • Local Authority colleagues 
  • Parents and carers 

How to sign up 

Access the training via the Dingley’s Promise – Training Finder, located here: Comic Relief Early Years Inclusion Programme - Dingley's Promise (Select Birmingham and create an account) 

Deadline: Tuesday 30 June 2026 

Bonus Mark of Achievement for Settings 

Settings, including childminders, can earn the Dingley’s Promise Mark of Achievement, which is formal recognition for your commitment to inclusion.  To gain this, if your setting has: 

  • 4+ staff: 75% of staff must complete the Introduction to Inclusive Practice module + 2 other modules 
  • Under 4 staff (including childminders): The lead practitioner must complete the above 

When your setting has achieved the above, please notify Dingley’s Promise training team via email on training@dingley.org.uk   

Applications for Summer 2026 Bring it on Brum Delivery Close Soon

Applications to deliver the Bring it on Brum! programme close at midnight on Sunday 31st May 2026. 

If you have already submitted an annual application, you do not need to submit an application for summer 2026. 

All of the information you need can be found in the ‘Apply for Funding’ section of the Support Hub. Access the Support Hub using the password: bringitonbrum (all lower case, all one word). 

Applying for HAF Funding  

Step 1) Read the updated Delivery Guidance 
We ask that all providers read the 2026 Bring it on Brum! Delivery Guidance before starting an application. There have been changes to the guidance which must be read and understood before proceeding. The delivery guidance outlines the updated programme requirements, as well as key delivery dates.

Step 2) Submitting your application  
Start a new application by selecting this link: Start a new application.

Top Tip: When planning your holiday club delivery, we recommend checking out the Develop your Programme section for guidance on meeting each of the framework standards. Support Hub password: bringitonbrum (all lower case, all one word).

If there is anything in the guidance document you do not understand, or if you would like to discuss your plans ahead of starting a grant application, contact your Area Lead. 

Application Outcome

All organisations will receive an email letting them know the outcome of their application between Monday 15th- Friday 19th June. 

Successful applicants will receive an award email confirming the amount of funding they have been awarded, as well as a partnership agreement (please make sure to check your junk mail). If the value of your grant is different to the value you applied for, please contact your Area Lead, who will be able to explain this decision to you.

Area Lead Contact Details 

Matt James | Area Lead for Sutton Coldfield, Edgbaston, Northfield & Selly Oak
E: matt.james@streetgames.org

Bryn Lewis | Area Lead for Hall Green, Hodge Hill & Yardley
E: bryn.lewis@streetgames.org

Ray Vince | Area Lead for Erdington, Perry Barr & Ladywood
E: ray.vince@streetgames.org 

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.

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: 

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. 

Early Education Entitlements

Temporary Accommodation – Funding Claims

PVI & LA Providers. 

There are thousands of children living in temporary accommodation across Birmingham and we need to ensure that we remove the barriers to these families accessing their funded places, even if they have missed headcount and we want to ensure that you receive the funding for supporting that short period of time that would not usually meet the terms and conditions of funding.  

If you have a child that is eligible for EEE and they leave your setting before headcount because of a temporary accommodation house move you can still claim funding for them. Equally if a child moves into your area after headcount, we will also fund a late start claim – which may mean splitting the funding with their current childcare provider or if they have not attended a EEE place before we will fund a late start for the remaining weeks of the term.  

Please make sure that you confirm the child is in temporary accommodation when you complete the parent declaration form and then submit a funding request form to claim the funding.  

If you are claiming for a child that started and left before headcount because of a temporary accommodation move you are requesting an exceptional agreement. 

If you are claiming for a child that wants to start after headcount because of a temporary accommodation move but has been accessing funding somewhere else that term, then you are requesting an exceptional agreement. 

If you are claiming for a child that wants to start after headcount because of a temporary accommodation move and they have never accessed a funded place elsewhere, then you are requesting a flexible funding agreement. 

Use the funding request form which can be found on our EEE document library. 

Who is a Looked After Child? 

It is important that a child's looked after status is recorded correctly. A looked after child (LAC) is also known as a child in care (CIC). 

Children categorised as a looked after child are: 

  • Child in Care - a child or young person under the age of 18 who is provided by a local authority, acting in its social service capacity, with accommodation provided for a continuous period of more than 24 hours. 
  • Section 20 - voluntary accommodation at the request of a parent or a child aged 16 or over. 
  • Subject of a relevant court order (interim care order or care orders - section 31) under Part 4 of the Children Act 1989. 

Once a child has left care / the relevant order has ended they are no longer looked after and would be categorised as PLAC - Previously Looked After Child.  

The following is not categorised as looked after: 

  • Final Adoption Order 
  • Special Guardianship 
  • Child arrangement order (previously residence order) 
  • Subject to a Child protection plan or Child in Need plan (CP / CIN) 
  • Supervision orders 
  • Private Fostering 

Please ensure that you identify children correctly on your headcount / census claims.  

Looked after children Early Years Pupil Premium and Free School Meals - Summer term 

Looked After Child are entitled to claim EYPP.  If the carer meets the economic eligibility criteria and the child attends in line with the terms and conditions for Free School Meals they will also be able to claim this too 

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) 

Looked after and previously looked after children aged 9months – 4 years are entitled to EYPP. An eligibility code is needed from here https://eee.birmingham.sentinelpartners.co.uk/SentinelPortal/applicationEarlyEYPP.html  if they are going to a private nursery or Childminder and from here https://apply.cloudforedu.org.uk/oeypp/birmingham if they are going to a nursery school. Providers should support parents and foster parents to get the code.  

Free School Meals 

Looked after and previously looked after children aged 2– 4 years are entitled to a Free School meal only if the carer meets the economic eligibility criteria, you can find here: Get extra funding for your early years provider - GOV.UK 

LAC do not automatically qualify for FSMs.  Any FSM claim must access their place in line with the terms and conditions of funding, which means that children attending for a minimum of 5 hours between 9am and 3pm. You will need a code which is the same code as the EYPP code using the links above. 

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:

WellComm Data Sessions

For the attention of all EEE providers.

Come and join us for one of our online sessions to demonstrate how to use the WellComm data spreadsheet to collate your screening data and prepare for sharing your WellComm data with the Local Authority. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and be signposted to practical support if required.  

WellComm Data Sessions for Schools and Maintained Nursery Schools 

WellComm Data Sessions for Day Nurseries, Preschool Playgroups and Childminders 

This entry was posted by Jessica Wykes on 27/05/2026.

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