Early Education & Childcare Update
The Early Education and Childcare (EEAC) Update is a weekly e-bulletin for the early years sector in Staffordshire, this is published each Friday during term time.
The bulletins include relevant up-to-date news on changes to policy, training, safeguarding, network meetings, surveys and much more. We also like to celebrate recent Outstanding Ofsted judgements.
It is emailed directly to the registered email address for early years providers and previous issues are available to view on this page.
Please pass bulletins on to all staff within your setting or signpost them to this page.
If you have any ideas for articles you would like to see in future bulletins, please email the Early Education and Childcare team.
Bulletins
EEAC Update issue 11 - 21/11/2025: Safeguarding-Prevent, Measles and Childhood Vaccination Timeline, Free training opportunities, Staffordshire Early Years Childminder Conference.
EEAC Update issue 10 - 14/11/2025: Early Threat Identification Notice: Safeguarding professionals alert, EY Stronger Practice Hubs, Children’s flu vaccine, Free training opportunities, Supervised toothbrushing champions and Best Start in Life’s free top tips for teeth resources, Congratulations Outstanding-Little Chicks Childcare.
EEAC Update issue 9 - 07/11/2025: Staffordshire Early Years Childminder Conference, Working Together to Safeguard Children Multi-Agency training Level 2 offer, EY Stronger Practice Hubs, Childhood immunisations, Free training opportunities, Congratulations Outstanding-Little Owl Childcare.
EEAC Update issue 8 - 24/10/2025: Ofsted recorded webinars about the renewed inspection framework, New disability guidance and training for early years providers, EYPP and how to claim for children who meet non-economic criteria, Free training opportunities, New CBeebies parenting content plus half-term activities, Heath Hayes Early Learners case study.
EEAC Update issue 7 - 17/10/2025: Best Start in Life: support for parents and young families, Childcare Works workforce recruitment and retention advice and marketing and promotion tips, PVI Leadership Network meeting date, Free training opportunities, Seven effective tips for supporting transitions in the early years, NHS Toilet Training support for parents, Safeguarding information for providers with older children aged 7+ and letter template for parents (re: Spy Dog/Pups and Spy Cat books by Andrew Cope - website link alert).
EEAC Update issue 6 - 10/10/2025: School Based Nurseries programme phase 2, Resources to support schools planning for a school based nursery, Early Years Forum dates 2025-26, SSCP Rapid Review briefings, Magnet and button battery awareness, Free training opportunities, Ofsted Big Conversation, Free supporting children with SEND for smooth transitions event, DfE survey to help them understand checking of EY qualifications.
EEAC Update issue 5 - 03/10/2025: The importance of self-care strategies for staff, children and settings, Shape the future of EYPP, Free training opportunities, Dingley’s Promise-new courses available, Maths Champions programme-boost early years maths confidence, Congratulations-Outstanding, Answering your questions on food brought in from home (packed lunch) policies, Join the National Education Nature Park.
EEAC Update issue 4 - 26/09/2025: SSCP priorities 2025-28, Childminder Conference 2026-save the date, Free training opportunities, EYFS update for schools, Congratulations-Outstanding, Getting ready for school resources, Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP), Have your say on the future of NPQEYL.
EEAC Update issue 3 - 19/09/2025: EYFS statutory framework safeguarding and welfare requirements-safeguarding policy update changes, Ofsted early years inspection toolkit, Strengthening safeguarding in the early years: why the updated self-assessment tool matters, Sign up to the virtual Childminder Roadshow, SCAS change to name (to SFIFD), Free training opportunities, Childminder safeguarding and welfare group support workshop, Reports from the EY team, DfE’s EY teacher roundtable, Congratulations-Outstanding.
EEAC Update issue 2 - 12/09/2025: Ofsted changes to inspection and new look report cards, EEF Provider Agreement, Updates to SSCP Early Help page, Free training opportunities, Childminder safeguarding and welfare group support workshop, Free toilet training resources, Share your views on EY workforce register, Martyn’s Law, Dingley’s Promise-Training, Congratulations-Outstanding.
EEAC Update issue 1 - 05/09/2025: Message from Helen Gibson-Head of Early Years, Protecting against measles in early years settings, Updated EYFS frameworks, Free training opportunities, Congratulations-Outstanding Woodlands Extra, Best Start in Life website launches.