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SEND Early Years
Published
In this issue our colleagues in Early Years provide news on 1. Parent carer training and 2. Funding. Gloucestershire Early Years & Childcare Service are taking part in a Comic Relief-funded programme to improve inclusive practice in the Early Years. There is a range of training courses to choose from so please take a look and book your place! Please select Gloucestershire as your local authority.
1. Free online training to support inclusion in the Early Years
Are you confident you know what good inclusive early years provision looks like, and can advocate for your child in your setting?
We know parents want what’s best for their children but don’t always feel confident to talk to professionals about the support their child needs. We also know from experience how important it is for families to work in partnership with early years settings and schools.
Parents and carers will always be the expert at in their own child’s needs, but understanding what good inclusive practice can transform the communication between you and significantly improve the approach to meeting the needs of children.
Our training is designed primarily for those working with children with SEND, but many of our parents and carers have benefitted hugely from the training too. It has helped them to increase skills and knowledge, work in collaboration with early years settings and staff as well as to develop new strategies to support their child.
2. 15 and 30 hours of childcare support
Government help with childcare is expanding.
From September 2025, 15 hours for working families with children under 3 will expand to 30 hours, meaning eligible working families can now apply for 30 hours of childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age.
If you currently receive 15 hours for working parents, just reconfirm as usual and the code will work for the 30 hours offer in September, providing you remain eligible.
All 3 and 4-year-olds who live in England can get up to 570 funded hours per year from the term after they turn 3 years old through to starting school, irrespective of income levels, benefit status, or family circumstances.
The criteria are:
- You, and any partner, must each expect to earn (on average) at least £183.04 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage).
- If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.
- You can't get Working Parent Entitlement funded childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.
Funding takes effect:
|
When child turns the relevant age (9 months, 2, 3 or 4 years) |
When they can get their hours from |
|
1 January to 31 March |
Summer Term starting on or after 1 April |
|
1 April to 31 August |
Autumn Term starting on or after 1 September |
|
1 September to 31 December |
Spring Term starting on or after 1 January |
Parents have to apply before the deadline date, have a valid eligibility code and the code has a start date on or before:
31st August for the Autumn term
31st December for the Spring term
31st March for the Summer term
Further details can be found at: Homepage | Childcare Choices