Early Years Reference Group Minutes: 08 October 2025, 18:00 to 19:30 via Teams
Present
Council
- Kev Taylor - Early Years Funding, Sufficiency and Compliance Lead
- Sarah McDowell - Improvement and Inclusion Lead for Early Years (North) - Chair
- Rosie Boardman - Improvement and Inclusion Lead for Early Years (South)
- Felicity Pepper - Entitlements Officer (minute-taker)
Early Years Sector
- Helen Townsend - Hey Diddle Diddle/Catkins
- Natasha Richards - Wolstanton/Cheadle Kindergarten
- Sadie Shenton Jones - Dollymixtures/PVI Rep on Schools Forum
- Sharon Schilling - Our Pride Our Joy
- Philip Siddell - Humpty Dumpty Day Nursery/PVI Rep on Schools Forum
- Tim Hopkins - Humpty Dumpty Day Nursery
- Julie Wetton - Sandytots
- Rob Lawford - Childminder
- Sharon Keane - Childminder
- Jo Di Castiglione - Greenhall Nursery
- Sally Lynch - Oaklands Nursery
Apologies
- Helen Gibson - Early Years Lead - SCC
- Karen Winfer - Accountancy Support Team Leader - SCC
- Debbie Nash - Family Hub Continuous Improvement Partner - SCC
- Sarah McCormick - Little Owl Childcare
- Megan McComiskie - Colwich Preschool
Welcome and Introductions
SM opened the meeting, all attendees invited to introduce themselves.
Minutes & matters arising from last meeting (04/06/25)
EAPDR-introduction sessions were delivered last week and were well attended and received. Further sessions are scheduled to be delivered and can be accessed via the EY Practitioner hub.
Minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record.
Sufficiency and School Based Nurseries Update
KT shared a presentation (PowerPoint).
One provider asked whether local PVI’s would be informed if funding for a new school based nursery was being approved and about to open in their locality as a result of the School Based Nursery funding, as it would impact their business model and staffing.
The LA will provide support for projects where schools are based in an area where there is a sufficiency need. Local PVI’s are considered when decisions are made, and schools are encouraged to consult with local provision on their proposals.
Schools cannot submit an application without LA support. Whilst the LA can provide support to individual projects, the DfE will make the final decision on which schools will receive funding.
Action: KT will raise this with DfE to find out at what point in the process local PVI’s can be informed of the approval of funding.
Another provider commented that there was a bias in the way that this project is being promoted to parents by the DfE, encouraging parents in favour of school-based nurseries.
Action: KT will feed this back to the DfE.
Some providers have experienced ‘poaching’ of parents by schools.
Comments and Reflections on EYFS Reforms 2025
No comments were shared.
Best Start Strategy and Good Level of Development Target for Staffordshire
In July 2025 the DfE launched their Best Start for Life strategy, with the overarching objective of improving outcomes for children; for 75% of children to reach GLD. Staffordshire has a specific target to increase GLD to approximately 78% by 2028 and for FSM GLD to increase by approximately 10%. (Exact targets to be confirmed). It is recognised this needs a system change alongside Health and Social Care systems.
The Families First initiative has also been launched. A Schools Conference took place recently and was well received. An identical event will be held for the Early Years sector in January 2026-date to be confirmed. Input from this event will help to shape and inform system change and promote locality partnerships.
Head Teacher from Greenhall School attended the event and shared her experience of the event with the group. One provider suggested it may be more advantageous to do this within districts.
A provider commented that there is an overwhelming amount of new information being published by the DfE, but there seems to be no support from the DfE with regard to funding.
DfE has announced a further funding stream for SEND children with high needs via the Best Start for Life Strategy but no further details have been shared yet.
How can the Early Years Team better inform the sector of their contribution to GLD?
Item deferred.
Early Years Improvement Team Priorities for Support to the Sector for 2025 – 2027
Following expansion of the Inclusion team, children are being seen much quicker, often within 4 weeks.
Improvement priorities were previously based on Ofsted inspection date and where the provider was in cycle.
A project is currently ongoing as per LA operational guidance, with the two Maintained Nursery Schools to support a small number of settings feeding into schools with low GLD; a further similar project is taking place led by the Improvement Consultants supporting providers that feed into schools with low GLD.
Beyond this, visits are prioritised around Ofsted inspection date and likely re-inspection. We anticipate that providers will also be able to request improvement support and that each provider will be offered a visit within the next 2 years.
Feedback after support visit is vital and providers are encouraged to be honest. SMC clarifies that the feedback goes to a Compliance officer, not individual team members.
The existing support mechanisms for providers less than Good will continue.
The DfE’s Best Start in Life strategy, references support for providers less that good will also be given from Stronger Practice Hub, further details will be shared when we know more.
Thrive Together Early Years Stronger Practice Hub (West Midlands) | Stronger Practice Hubs
Please send any further suggestions and comments to sarah.mcdowell1@staffordshire.gov.uk
One provider reported that their settings’ Inclusion support visits were a fantastic and positive experience, and staff teams have valued the visits.
Sector updates
- Childminders
- Schools
- Day Nurseries
- Preschools
One provider reported that numbers of babies and 2 yr olds are increasing and that they continue to find staff recruitment and retention a challenge.
One provider reported that they have had a positive experience with Apprentices. Pay is still an issue.
KT mentioned that he attends regional DfE meetings and the funding rate is often raised as an issue and fed back to the DfE.
Another provider commented that staff in settings are an increasingly younger, less experienced cohort, yet there are always new initiatives to keep up with.
A member of the Early Years team is tasked to attend Schools Careers Fairs and Job Fairs and is actively promoting Early Years as a career. Any providers who would like to be involved please contact kevin.taylor@staffordshire.gov.uk
One provider commented that the issue was the quality of courses delivered and gaps in basic child development knowledge, and the number of qualifications.
Qualification checker-the DfE are asking providers for feedback on the checker and if it's working for PVI. Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
LA items
- SCC developments
- DfE updates and projects
Covered in agenda items.
AOB
One provider commented that they value the support that the LA gives providers in Staffordshire.
Date of Next Meeting:
Funding Workshop 13 January 2026 10:30am to 12:00pm