EYCC Noticeboard

Early Years and Childcare Update - 24 September 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.

Who needs a Nexus Provider Portal account?

The Nexus Provider Portal is required for Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) providers that have registered provision for children of all ages. It is also required for Maintained Nursery Schools (MNS) where there is registered PVI provision for children under two years old.

School-based nurseries and schools do NOT require a Nexus Provider Portal account. These settings should continue to use Pendulum for all funding and provider-related processes

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

Funded Places Available on the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership

Registration is now open for the November 2026 cohort of the national professional qualification in early years leadership (NPQEYL). The programme is designed for current and aspiring early years leaders who want to develop their leadership expertise and potential.   

The NPQEYL is available to managers of private, voluntary and independent nurseries, childminders with leadership responsibilities, headteachers and leaders of school-based and maintained nurseries, alongside other early years foundation stage leaders.  

Whether leading provision in a nursery, pre-school, childminding setting or school-based early years provision, participants benefit from evidence-based leadership training that supports them to: 

  • deepen expertise in delivering high-quality early education and care 
  • lead and develop staff effectively 
  • work in partnership with parents and carers 
  • implement improvements across their setting 

For the first time in recent cohorts, funding for the NPQEYL is available for all eligible participants who secure a funded place with an NPQ provider.  

Please circulate this information through relevant early years services, networks and communications channels to help raise awareness and encourage applications. 

Read the guidance and apply: Early years leadership national professional qualification - GOV.UK

What’s on? Autumn Term CPD Round-Up

A skilled, confident and knowledgeable workforce is at the heart of giving every child the best start in life. Birmingham's Autumn Term CPD offer provides a wide range of opportunities for practitioners, leaders and childminders to strengthen practice, deepen professional knowledge and improve outcomes for children and families. The Best Start in Life approach places strong emphasis on a workforce that is supported, evidence-informed and committed to continual learning and improvement. 

As you explore this term's training programme, consider: 

  • The needs of the children and families in your setting. 
  • Areas for development identified through your quality assurance, SEND, safeguarding or curriculum reviews. 
  • Priorities highlighted by your district or cluster Early Years Consultant. 
  • The professional interests, aspirations and development needs of your team. 

A well-planned CPD journey can support higher quality provision, strengthen inclusive practice, improve early identification, enhance communication and language development and ultimately help more children thrive. 

Start planning your team's professional learning journey today.  Explore Birmingham’s Autumn Term CPD offer: 

Are thinking about becoming a childminder, starting a group-based childcare business in Birmingham?  We are also here to support you too: 

CPD Reflection Point for Childminders, Leaders and Managers 

Attending training is only the first step.  How will learning be brought back into your setting, shared with colleagues and embedded into everyday practice? Consider how you will create opportunities for reflection, discussion and coaching so that professional development strengthens the knowledge, confidence and capability of the whole team, not just the individuals who attend. 

Together, we can build the skilled, supported and consistent workforce needed to deliver Birmingham's Best Start in Life vision. 

New Workshop - Keeping Children Safe: Practical Risk Assessment in the Early Years

New Workshop for Early Years Providers 

Do you sometimes wonder whether your risk assessments are too detailed, not detailed enough, or simply taking up valuable time that could be spent supporting children? 

Join us for Keeping Children Safe: Practical Risk Assessment in the Early Years - a highly practical and engaging workshop designed to help childminders, nursery leaders and practitioners develop confidence in assessing and managing risk whilst enabling children to explore, learn and thrive. 

This session will move beyond paperwork and theory, focusing on how risk assessment can become a meaningful tool that supports children's safety, wellbeing and development every day. 

What will you gain? 

  • A clear understanding of your statutory responsibilities under the EYFS Statutory Framework and health and safety legislation 
  • Greater confidence in identifying hazards and assessing risks within your own setting 

Practical approaches to managing risks linked to environments, activities and individual children's needs 

  • Real-life examples, case studies and opportunities for discussion and reflection 
  • Strategies for creating a positive culture of risk awareness that supports both children and staff 

Why attend? 

Risk assessment is about more than compliance.  Effective risk management helps practitioners: 

  • Keep children safe while supporting exploration and independence 
  • Make informed decisions with confidence 
  • Reduce preventable incidents and hazards 
  • Strengthen safeguarding and health and safety practice 
  • Develop a shared understanding of risk across the whole team 

Whether you are new to risk assessment or looking to refresh and strengthen existing practice, this workshop will provide practical tools and ideas that you can apply immediately within your setting. 

Who should attend? 

  • Childminders 
  • Nursery Managers 
  • Room Leaders 
  • Early Years Practitioners 
  • Anyone with responsibility for children's health, safety or risk assessment 

Book Your Place 

  • Monday 28 September 2026 
  • 6:00pm to 8:00pm 
  • Delivered online via Microsoft Teams 

Book your place here 

Further dates will be available throughout the academic year. 

Places are expected to fill quickly, so early booking is recommended. 

Other CPD Offers for Early Years and Reception Educators 

More about why such training is being made available now 

It is imperative that we all familiarise with Best Start Brum, Birmingham’s local strategy in response to the DfE’s ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ national strategy, which aims to improve outcomes for children from birth to age five.  Also, do keep an eye on the Best Start Brum Action Plan as it is variable document that will keep you up to date and informed on progress happening across Birmingham. 

Back by Popular Demand: Building Babies' Brains Specialist Baby Room Programme Returns to Birmingham (Apply Today)

Following the success of the first Birmingham cohort earlier this year, Building Babies' Brains Specialist Baby Room Training is returning for a second time to support Early Years practitioners and childminders working with children aged 0-2.  The programme proved extremely popular with practitioners across the city, with places filling quickly and participants reporting significant improvements in confidence, knowledge and practice. 

Birmingham Early Years practitioners, room leaders and childminders are invited to register their interest in attending this fully funded specialist Baby Room training programme, designed to strengthen practice for babies by enhancing the work of existing baby room practitioners across the city. 

The previous Birmingham cohort demonstrated exceptionally strong engagement, with all participating practitioners reporting increased confidence in supporting babies' brain development. 

This three-session programme, funded by the Department for Education, will be delivered through the HEART Midlands Early Years Stronger Practice Hub by Clare Stead. 

What Previous Participants Said: 

"The best baby training."  

"My brain is full of so much knowledge. I am so proud of what I do now."  

"Since doing your training it's really opened my eyes and made me think: we don't just look after babies, we build their brains and help them grow." 

"I really enjoyed the training and found the practical examples and discussions helpful. It has made me reflect on my practice and given me ideas that I can use every day." 

"One of the best in-person trainings I have ever attended… I left feeling motivated, confident and proud of the work we do."  

About the Trainer 

Clare Stead is an Early Years specialist, trainer and researcher with over 20 years' experience in education.  She is internationally recognised for her work on baby brain development and the first 1,000 days.  Clare is passionate about helping practitioners move beyond care routines to create environments where babies can truly thrive. 

Programme Structure 

This programme explores how high-quality baby room environments, interactions and partnerships can support babies' learning, development and wellbeing. 

Key themes include: 

  • The First 1,000 Days & Neural Growth 
  • Connecting Through Communication 
  • Space, Movement & Rhythm for Development 
  • Observation, Planning and Partnership 
  • Sustaining Curiosity & Growth: Reflection 

Training Dates (In-person) 

  • Day 1: Tuesday 6th October 2026, 9:30am to 4:00pm 
  • Day 2: Tuesday 20th October 2026, 9:30am to 4:00pm 
  • Day 3: Tuesday 3rd November 2026, 9:30am to 4:00pm 

Participants must be able to attend all three sessions. 

Who Is This Programme For? 

  • Baby room practitioners, leads and childminders working with children aged 0-2 
  • Practitioners working in Birmingham Early Years settings 
  • Staff with a specific responsibility for baby room practice 
  • Practitioners able to commit to the full programme and complete pre- and post-training questionnaires 

Limited Places Available 

To ensure high-quality learning, discussion and reflection, places are limited to just 30 practitioners. 

Given the popularity of the previous programme and the highly positive feedback received, we strongly encourage interested practitioners to submit an expression of interest as soon as possible. 

Register Your Interest 

To be considered for a place, please complete the Microsoft Form: Register your interest 

Submitting the form does not guarantee a place. If demand exceeds capacity, places will be allocated to ensure a spread across Birmingham settings and maximise city-wide impact. 

This programme is delivered through the HEART Midlands Early Years Stronger Practice Hub and funded by the Department for Education (DfE). 

Dates for Your Diary: Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Safeguarding Update Sessions 2026-2027

Stay informed. Stay compliant. Keep children safe. 

Birmingham’s Early Years and Childcare Service is pleased to invite Designated Safeguarding Leads, managers, leaders and safeguarding practitioners to our upcoming DSL and Safeguarding Update Sessions. 

These sessions are led by our Early Years Safeguarding Officers and will provide the latest safeguarding information, updates to statutory guidance, emerging themes, local developments and key considerations for early years and childcare providers. 

Dates for Your Diary 

Autumn term 2026: 

  • Tuesday 20th October 2026, 9:30am to 10:30am 
  • Wednesday 21st October 2026, 2:30pm to 3:30pm or 6:00pm to 7:00pm 

Spring term 2027: 

  • Tuesday 9th February 2027, 9:30am to 10:30am 
  • Wednesday 10th February 2027, 2:30pm to 3:30pm or 6:00pm to 7:00pm 

Summer term 2027: 

  • Tuesday 22nd June 2027, 9:30am to 10:30am 
  • Wednesday 23rd June 2027, 2:30pm to 3:30pm or 6:00pm to 7:00pm 

What to Expect 

  • National and local safeguarding updates 
  • Emerging safeguarding concerns and trends 
  • Key learning from practice and inspections 
  • Opportunities for questions and discussion 
  • Networking with colleagues across the sector 

These sessions are designed to help settings maintain effective safeguarding arrangements and ensure children remain safe, supported and protected. 

Each session will be held online; booking information will be shared separately. 

Note: Additional dates may be added throughout the year in response to emerging safeguarding updates and changes to guidance.  Please keep an eye on the EYCC Noticeboard for further announcements. 

Early Education Entitlement

Disability Access Fund Autumn 2026 Term

The Disability Access Fund (DAF) is a one-off annual payment of £975 for each eligible child 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. 

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.  

WellComm

WellComm Data Collection on EEE Portal for PVIs. 

All PVI settings are required to add WellComm screening results for each child on the EEE portal as part of your headcount submission. 

For each child you will be asked 2 mandatory WellComm screening questions: 

  1. Child Wellcomm Screen Outcome 
  2. Progress since previous WellComm screen 

There are drop down options for each question that are explained in the attached guidance.  

To assist you in you in planning your WellComm screenings for the autumn term the EEE portal will open for headcount on Thursday 1st October and close on Thursday 8th October.  

Please ensure this information is completed. Incomplete headcount records will be reverted for you to complete. 

If you have any questions or require any support with WellComm, please contact eyduty@birmingham.gov.uk  

If you need any support with the portal, please email earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk  

WellComm is the approved approach for Birmingham City Council and a requirement of the terms and conditions of Early Education Entitlement funding. 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.  

Collecting WellComm screening results through the EEE portal will provide child-level data for the first time, allowing more efficient tracking of progress for Birmingham children and targeting specific cohort groups for support. 

Consumables

The Early education and childcare statutory guidance is clear that anything provided over and above the free hours must be voluntary to parents. Your chargeable extras need to be clear, up to date and easily accessible and from January 2026 they must be included on your website where you have one.  

Your invoices and receipts must be itemised and provide a clear break down of the free hours, additional paid hours, food charges, non-food charges, activity charges.  

You can charge for: 

  • consumables to be used by the child, such as nappies or sun cream 
  • meals and snacks consumed by the child 
  • extra optional activities such as events, celebrations, specialist tuition (for example music classes or foreign languages) or other activities that are not directly related or necessary for the effective delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework 
  • additional, private paid hours according to your usual terms and conditions provided that taking up private paid hours is not a condition of accessing a free place 

You cannot make the following charges:  

  • Top-up fees (any difference between a provider’s normal charge to parents and the funding they receive from the local authority to deliver free places). 
  • the supply of or use of any materials, including, but not limited to, craft materials, crayons, paper, books, instruments, toys, or other equipment or learning resources that are necessary for the effective delivery of childcare 
  • business running costs, including, but not limited to, rent, staff wages, cleaning materials, insurance, or utility bills such as energy, gas or water 
  • registration fees as a condition of taking up a child’s free entitlement place 
  • non-refundable deposits as a condition of taking up a child’s entitlement place 
  • general charges, including but not limited to, non-itemised enrichment charges, sustainability charges, business continuity charges, additional charges, enhanced ratios, hourly rates, or any other supplementary charges on top of the free hours 
  • any additional fees that are not specifically identified and itemised as being for chargeable extras as described in A1.33. 

You cannot ask parents to collect their children in the middle of a funded day to feed their children and return them back to the setting, or for example, only offer 10- midday and 1-3 entitlement hours with only private hours in between, as this is not reasonable and creates an artificial break in the day. 

New Owners and Directors

For the attention of PVI providers. 

If you have a change in the ownership of your childcare setting your EEE registration is no longer valid – even if the staffing / children do not change. If ownership changes you must inform earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk as soon as possible before the change happens as it will affect your payments. A change in ownership means that you get a new Ofsted registration number and this means that you have to have a new portal set up and a new Impulse ID with us and we cannot release payments to the old registration.  

Please ensure that you contact us as soon as possible so that we can send the new owners a new registration pack for completion and return and avoid any delay in the release of Early Education Entitlement. All EEE payments will be held until the completion of a new registration is completed so it is imperative that you act quickly. 

Headcount Information

Headcount day is – Thursday 1st October 2026 and this is when the EEE Portal will open for you to submit your headcount claims. All funded children must have started with you on or before headcount date, but you will have until the 8th October to submit your claim.    

Autumn term is 13 weeks.

To make sure that you are able to submit your claim as smoothly as possible please make sure you have done the following before headcount opens: 

  • The appropriate contact has portal access  
  • All children’s details are accurate and ready to enter onto the EEE Portal 
  • All overrides are requested the day before portal opens. 

Please also ensure: 

  • All codes for disadvantaged 2 year olds and working codes have been checked and are eligible before allowing children to start. 
  • Existing children’s codes have been reconfirmed before the start of term 

If you need to contact us for any support please email earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk and remember to include your name, your setting name and your setting ID.  

Please ensure that all eligibility override requests are submitted no later than Wednesday 30th September.  

Thank you for your continued cooperation. 

Portal Opening for Headcount

For the attention of PVI providers only.

Headcount Date is Thursday 1st October 2026. 

Portal Open: Thursday 1st October 2026 at 0.01am             

Portal Close: Thursday 8th October 2026 at 23:59pm (midnight)  

Autumn term  

Please ensure that you read all of this email to enable you to submit an accurate headcount claim.  Inaccurate claims will be sent back to you to rectify and resubmit. 

You must only include children on your portal headcount claim that have started at your setting BEFORE headcount day which is Thursday 1st October. Any children wanting a place after headcount day must meet the flexible or exceptional criteria.  You must submit a Funding Request Form.   

As is usual for Autumn term, you will be required to complete your Census, Data Collection form, then headcount claim.  

Step by Step guides for each element of these claims – Census, Data Collection and Headcount entry – will be emailed out to the named EEE contact.    

Autumn term is 13 weeks. This is the maximum number of weeks you can claim. If children have a later start date, you should adjust the number of weeks you are claiming accordingly.   

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 Webinars

For the attention of EEE registered settings.

You’ve got the pack, you’ve started a screening, but what next? How can you get the most out of WellComm whilst making it work for you and your setting? 

Birmingham Early Years Networks ‘WellComm in Practice’ sessions offer real, practical advice and the sharing of ideas, supported by the Birmingham Speech and Language Therapy Team and Early Years Consultants.

This is a 'cameras on', interactive session – bring your WellComm pack including the Big Book of Ideas and be ready to share your experiences.

  • 7th October 2026: WellComm Babies
  • 4th November 2026: WellComm Two-Year-Olds
  • 6th January 2027: WellComm Pre-School/Nursery
  • 3rd February 2027: WellComm Reception
  • 3rd March 2027: WellComm Everyday
  • 5th May 2027: WellComm EAL Learners
  • 9th June 2027: WellComm SEND Learners

7th October 2026: This session is ideal for practitioners working in the Baby Room. It will look in more detail at Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Big Book of Ideas, learn about strategies for effective interactions with younger children/babies and a chance to share ideas and learning.

Please use this link to book your place Webinar Wednesday: WellComm Babies

DSL Network for School Aged Childcare Providers

For the attention of Out of School Clubs, Wraparound Providers, and Holiday Playschemes. 

This session is aimed at setting managers and DSLs (Designated Safeguarding Leads) who work with children aged over 5 (wraparound, out of school, holiday playschemes & HAF providers). 

These sessions are led by a Safeguarding Officer and will provide the latest safeguarding information, updates to statutory guidance, emerging themes, local developments and key considerations for providers of school aged childcare. 

These sessions are designed to help settings maintain effective safeguarding arrangements and ensure children remain safe, supported and protected. 

Guidance for Childminders Employing or Considering Assistants

As demand for childcare places continues to grow, some childminders may be considering employing an assistant or expanding their provision. If you currently work with an assistant, or are thinking about recruiting one, we would like to remind you of some important requirements and considerations.

Increasing child numbers

Before increasing the number of children you care for, ensure you continue to meet EYFS ratio requirements and that any assistants have been approved as suitable by Ofsted, ensure:

  • You understand the EYFS ratio requirements.
  • Your premises can safely accommodate additional children.

A childminder wishing to increase numbers, must remain within the statutory ratios and any conditions attached to their registration. The relevant ratio requirements are on page 27, while the notification requirements are on page 39 of the EYFS statutory framework for childminders.

Keeping Ofsted informed

If you employ or plan to employ an assistant, you must ensure that Ofsted is informed and that all required suitability checks have been completed. Assistants must be suitable to work with children and meet all relevant safeguarding requirements before having unsupervised access to children.

For information about registration requirements and suitability checks, please see:

Safer recruitment

Childminders and any assistants must be cleared as ‘suitable’ by Ofsted or their CMA via the suitability letter before they can begin working in the setting. It is the childminder’s responsibility to check the initial and ongoing suitability of an assistant.

Enhanced criminal records checks and barred list checks are required by Ofsted or a childminder’s CMA, for any relevant people including volunteers.

Childminders must not allow assistants to begin working or volunteering at the setting until they have received their enhanced criminal records and barred list check.

When recruiting an assistant, it is important to follow safer recruitment practices, including:

  • Obtaining references.
  • Verifying identity and employment history.
  • Completing relevant suitability checks.
  • Ensuring appropriate safeguarding knowledge and training.

Robust recruitment processes help safeguard children and support high-quality provision.

Insurance requirements

Before employing an assistant or increasing your provision, please check with your insurance provider that:

  • Your policy covers assistants.
  • Your level of cover remains appropriate for the number of children and staff working within your provision.
  • Any changes to your business arrangements are declared.

Planning considerations

Childminders looking to expand their provision, increase numbers significantly, employ assistants, or operate from additional buildings may need to consider planning requirements. We are unable to confirm the likelihood of approval for individual childminders due to the variety of factors involved; there is no standard approach to this type of planning request. Each case must be assessed on its individual merits.

Key considerations include:

  • Number of children proposed to be cared for
  • Size and layout of the property
  • Location and surrounding context
  • Whether additional staff will be employed
  • If the care will take place in a purpose-built structure
  • Potential for increased traffic, drop-offs/pick-ups, and parking demand

Further information is available from:

Childminders are encouraged to seek planning advice before making significant changes to their provision.

Recommended Next Steps for Childminders

  1. Pre-Application Advice
    We strongly recommend that childminders submit a pre-application enquiry. This allows the planning team to assess individual childminders' specific proposals and provide tailored advice before a formal application is made.
     Pre-application advice and Planning Performance Agreements | Pre-application advice | Birmingham City Council 
  2. Lawful Development Certificate (LDC)
    Alternatively, you may apply for a Lawful Development Certificate. This allows the Council to determine whether your proposed changes would be considered ‘development’ under planning law.
     Lawful development certificate - What to do next - Planning Portal

Useful links

Childminder support:

If childminders have individual enquiries relating to EYFS requirements, assistants, ratios or expanding their provision or any other queries, please contact the Childminder Duty support by phone or email:

This entry was posted by Jessica Wykes on 15/09/2026.

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