EYRG Minutes 04 June 2025
Early Years Reference Group Minutes: 04 June 2025, 09:30 to 1:00am via Teams
Present
Council
- Helen Gibson - Early Years Lead (Chair)
- Kev Taylor - Early Years Funding, Sufficiency and Compliance Lead
- Rosie Boardman - Improvement and Inclusion Lead for Early Years (South)
- Sarah McDowell - Improvement and Inclusion Lead for Early Years (North)
- Felicity Pepper - Entitlements Officer
- Debbie Nash - Family Hub Continuous Improvement Partner
- Karen Winfer - Accountancy Support Team Leader
Early Years Sector
- Sharon Shilling - Our Pride Our Joy
- Michelle Lindley - Sandytots
- Philip Siddell - Humpty Dumpty / PVI Rep on Schools Forum
- Tim Hopkins -Humpty Dumpty
- Sally Lynch - Oaklands Nursery
- Sharon Keane - Childminder
- Jo Di Castiglione - Greenhall Nursery
- Jayne Waterman - Little People Nursery
- Helen Townsend - Hey Diddle Diddle
Guest
- Catherine McLeod-CEO Dingley’s Promise
Apologies
- Rob Lawford - childminder
- Sarah McCormick - Little Owl Childcare
- Natasha Richards - Wolstanton Kindergarten/ Cheadle Kindergarten
- Keziah Dewing - Payments Manager
- Vicki Green - Childcare Sufficiency Data Officer
- Megan McComiskie - Colwich Preschool
- Sadie Shenton-Jones - Dollymixtures/PVI Rep on Schools Forum
- Julie Wetton - Sandytots
- Natalie Hart - Greenhall Nursery
Catherine McLeod - Dingley's Promise
Staffordshire County Council (are excited to work with Catherine to support settings in Staffordshire.
Catherine is lobbying for changes to the work being done on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities reform – i.e. training, system changes, funding systems, and how settings are supported for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Catherine is open to feedback from the sector regarding barriers or examples of good practice. Changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system are a priority with a focus on early years.
1. Focus group has been set up re: inclusion principles document. This needs input from providers and agreement by the sector. Draft document will be shared with this group for wider engagement and for feedback.
2. Department for Education are developing a self reflection tool-this also requires input and feedback from Staffordshire providers.
3. Recognition award is being developed and whether processes for this are relevant in Staffordshire.
4. Ordinarily available document-what does the local authority provide as standard. This also requires input and feedback from providers. Catherine would welcome support from this group to work with her and our providers to develop materials.
Group discussion then took place.
One provider commented that engagement with focus group initially was an issue due to capacity because of staff recruitment. However, this has now improved so is able to commit and contribute moving forward.
- issues arise when needs aren’t identified and support put in place early enough.
- funding is a key issue and a focus needs to be put on this to ensure the sector is funded appropriately from central government
- the NASEN self assessment toolkit was discussed and a provider offered to be involved in the group as this will bring experience of using this toolkit to shape the new toolkit being developed.
- parents are choosing to defer school start until child is aged 5, this is causing a blockage in the system.
- Some delays in obtaining Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding
- Time required to complete necessary paperwork for funding and Education, Health and Care Plan process
Catherine agreed that transition to school should be a focus. She is exploring Transition funding to support both the early years setting and the school. Local authorities are currently trialling this and it seems to have a positive impact. (Staffordshire offer transition funding and this had a positive impact last year for settings, schools and children).
A provider explained that in his experience they liaise with feeder schools early but from some schools there is limited engagement. Effective transition is essential.
Catherine thanked everyone for their contributions. She will be attending the early years conference on 25th June and hopes to visit some settings whilst in the county.
To contact Catherine her email address is catherine.mcleod@dingley.org.uk
Helen Gibson raised that the local authority are working to address some of the concerns raised above, such as the simplification of paperwork and an increased transition package for children moving to schools. She also raised that the LA has worked with Health to develop an accelerated complex medical pathway which will be shared with the sector soon, meaning eligible children will be able to get the necessary support they require more quickly.
Dingley’s Promise feedback sessions have been scheduled on Thursday 26 June at
Newcastle Family Hub–9:30 to 11:30 and Stafford Family Hub–1:30 to 3:30. Open to all. To express an interest in taking part, email eeac@staffordshire.gov.uk (note: these are now postponed).
Minutes and matters from last meeting
All actions complete.
Enhanced Assess Plan Do Review pathway-modified version will be introduced from September. Sessions will be delivered in autumn term which will be advertised on e-newsletter with bookings via Early Years Practitioner Hub.
Action: Rosie Boardman to meet with Jo, Headteacher of Greenhall outside, of this meeting.
Minutes were agreed as an accurate record of the previous meeting.
Terms of Reference
Vice Chair-after some discussion the group agreed that a co-chair be recruited from the sector. The Co-chairs will meet a couple of weeks before meeting to identify and plan the meeting and agenda. Tim Hopkins was nominated to co-chair with Head of Early Years.
The Vice chair will only be required to chair if Helen is unavailable. Sarah McDowell was nominated.
Group agreed that Terms of Reference was fit for purpose and this was signed off (subject to the minor changes to co-Chair and Vice Chair as above).
The Early Years Offer
Following review of early years team structure and changes made, a review of the needs of sector is now taking place in terms of what the sector feel is important regarding the previously named quality or rota visits. Members were asked for feedback.
Inclusion agenda is a high priority.
Rota support visits-what works well and what could be improved?
One provider suggested combining visits in one central location to several settings in a chain to save consultant time. He shared that the recent support received for Requires Improvement was really useful as meant that staff heard info from someone impartial.
Quality Assurance form is sent to each setting after a visit and responses are being tracked over time. There is a consistent upward trend to satisfaction and how visits meet needs.
To share any further thoughts email sarah.mcdowell1@staffordshire.gov.uk
Accredited SENCOs
SCC will deliver a face to face course in Autumn term. This has been advertised in the e-newsletter and has received a good response. To express an interest email eysenis@staffordshire.gov.uk
Sufficiency Update
No sufficiency concerns from parents at the moment, although some providers report they are full.
Capital funding - £700k has already been assigned to deliver 600 places across county for 0-2 and 2 yr olds. Applications are ongoing.
Latest data shows there is a shortfall in places for working parents in some key areas. Work is ongoing to produce maps for each age group to enable us to assess where the providers are that they have no capacity to meet demand. This will be used to target capital funding to areas of need.
It was raised that the sufficiency survey only asks for vacancies on a particular day. This is being reviewed. Could some of the questions asked be improved?
Sector updates:
From early years settings - none
From Staffordshire County Council: Expansion from September - system update testing is currently taking place. Provider briefings will take place on 25th June. This will be advertised on the e-newsletter and will be available as a recording.
Any other business
Schools Forum -Sadie Shenton-Jones and Philip Siddell’s tenure on Schools Forum is coming to an end. Both wish to stay on to continue work that has been done.
The group thanked them for their work and contributions. The process for future nomination was discussed.
Action: Helen Gibson to check the guidance and feedback to the group.