News and Information

Spaces on Early Years CPD Training Courses

As part of our team's commitment to provide continued professional development for staff within early years settings we provide training courses for staff across the board, from childminders to nursery workers. We have a number of courses during September and October 2008 that are currently under subscribed.

Please see the link at the bottom of this page for details on the courses available. You can download and print a copy of the booking form below to fax to us or you can fill in the online booking form (preferred method). By filling in the online booking form an email will be sent directly to the booking administrator. This will enable us to keep an online copy of your booking as well as highlighting your request immediately.  

 

Annual Conference

Over 100 early years practitioners from schools and settings across the borough attended the EYFS team’s 12th annual conference ‘Play – a child’s work’ in June.

Delegates spent the day considering the importance of play for children’s learning and development.

Professor Tina Bruce, Early Years specialist and author, in her keynote speech, explored and demonstrated ways in which children use play to understand their environment, to solve problems, to work with others and to develop a wide range of skills and understandings. She also talked about how, when we watch children’s play, we see “a window to their future”.

Throughout the rest of the day delegates had the opportunity to attend workshops on a range of topics such as, outdoor play, sensory stories and engaging parents.

The conference was a great success with the team having received a lot of positive feedback from those who attended.

We now begin planning for our 13th annual conference of 2009 and look forward to seeing many of you then.

 

Maintained funding bursary for staff from LBI maintained settings

A funding bursary maybe available through the EYFS team to support access to qualifications (normally an Early Years Degree) for practitioners working with children in the LBI early years service. If you want to find out more about a Qualification Bursary, please contact the Qualifications Administrator on 020 7527 1819 or you can download an application form by clicking on the link below.

Graduate Leader Fund

The Government is aiming for all PVI full day care settings to employ an Early Years Professional by 2015 (2 in the most disadvantaged areas) who will lead on the development and learning for the setting. The Transformation Fund was allocated until March 2008 to support this which is now being replaced by the graduate leader fund and focuses specifically on securing graduate early years professionals (EYP).

A Graduate Leader Grant is available to full day care PVI settings and Children's Centre's where the childcare is provided by the voluntary sector. £6000.00 per annum if they employ an EYP or £4500.00 if they employ a graduate on an EYP pathway. 

For more information on eligibility requirements please contact the Early Years Workforce Manager on 020 7527 5629

Further information and guidance on national funding to support the development of the early years workforce can also be obtained via the every child matters website link on the right hand side.

Further information on early years professional status and other children's workforce developments can be obtained through the Children's Workforce Development Council website link on the right hand side. 

For the latest course information and new courses, click on the link on the left.