The bulletins include relevant up-to-date news on changes to policy, training, safeguarding, network meetings, surveys and much more.
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 - eeac@staffordshire.gov.uk
Previous bulletins
Issue 34 - 12 June 2026
- Updated Parent Declaration form and Provider Agreement coming soon
- Eligibility checking for 2-year-olds
- ECS data collection
- Childcare sufficiency data request (summer 2026)
- Staffordshire Families Integrated Front Door (SFIFD) contact details on setting websites
- Early Years Safeguarding Forum
- Right Help Right Time launch sessions
- SSCP multi-agency safeguarding training opportunity
- Synergy event 24 June 2026
- Sharing information to tackle child sexual abuse guide
- Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership
- Free training opportunities
- Business support tools for providers
Issue 33 - 5 June 2026
- Joint Targeted Area Inspection
- ECS data collection
- Childcare sufficiency data request (summer 2026)
- Best Start in Life campaign
- Early Years Safeguarding Forum
- Getting children ready for Reception
- Free child development training
- Infant Mental Health Awareness Week (8 to 14 June)
- SSCP multi-agency safeguarding training
- Free training opportunities
Issue 32 - 22 May 2026
- Health and safety alert: asbestos found in some play sand products (urgent action required)
- Preparing for a SEND inspection
- Early Years Safeguarding Forum
- Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby survey
- Finance update: summer actuals and census
- 9,500 funded EY SENCO training places (DfE)
- Free training opportunities
- Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme
- Using EYPP funding to close learning gaps
Issue 31 – 15 May 2026
- Preparing for a SEND inspection
- What providers can charge for
- Safeguarding updates, including the Staffordshire Families Integrated Front Door (SFIFD)
- Child death notifications
- Consultation on stretch funding hours
- Finance update: summer actuals and census
- UKHSA advice for recently vaccinated children
- Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP)
- Free training opportunities
- DfE research for practitioners working with children aged 0 to 2
- Feedback on the early years qualification checking service
Issue 30 – 8 May 2026
- Preparing for a SEND inspection
- Consultation on stretch funding hours
- Finance update: summer actuals and census
- Safer recruitment and EYFS ‘Suitable People’ requirements
- SSCP updates
- Free training opportunities
- Stronger practice in early language, literacy and maths
- National Union of Childminders survey
- Dingley’s Promise SEND parent roundtable
Issue 29 - 1 May 2026
- Provider website review
- Early Education and Childcare Provider Agreement 2025 addendum
- Funded childcare toolkit
- Finance update
- Summary of changes to “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026”
- Reporting serious childcare incidents
- EYPP planning tool
- Free training opportunities
- Feedback on qualification checking service
- Sharing experiences of identifying and supporting SEN
Issue 28 - 24 April 2026
- Stronger Practice Hub recruitment
- Safer sleep guidance
- Provider Agreement 2025 addendum
- Updates to safeguarding guidance
- Key messages on child sexual exploitation
- Free training opportunities
- Guidance on childminders’ household expenses
- Support for transition to Reception
- Updated school-age childcare guidance