Free literacy resources for young children
14 Jul
Created by a team of literacy specialists, Lovemybooks, combines carefully chosen books with activities and resources designed to help parents and young children enjoy sharing books together. In addition to suggestions for reading, talking and writing, there are ideas for play, art and other creative activities to fire children’s imagination and extend their enjoyment of the stories.
Video material and weblinks are also available.
This organisation claims the tried and tested activities plus related resources will help support children in becoming successful and enthusiastic readers.
Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak (updated 10th July)
14 Jul
Providers of out-of-school and holiday activities operate from a range of premises including schools and other regulated educational institutions, by arrangement with the proprietors of those institutions, and other community premises such as village halls, by arrangement with the owners or managers of those premises.
The Department for Education wants to ensure, with these protective measures, that all providers are able to open in:
their own premises
education premises, such as schools or colleges (where providers would be using them outside of school hours, or when closed over school holiday periods)
community-facing premises including village halls, community centres and places of worship
Read more from the latest government guidance.
Important DfE updates regarding early years children no longer needing to be in bubbles
14 Jul
Please read the following important updates from the DfE on actions effective from 20th July when children no longer need to be in bubbles but settings still need to minimise mixing:
amended order of sections
set out a change to the protective measures in early years settings that will be effective from 20 July, removing the requirement to keep children in small consistent groups within settings but still minimising mixing where possible (sections 2.1 and 3.3)
new content on risk assessment (3.1), supporting staff with increased risk factors (3.2) and system of controls (3.3) which is a new way of describing the protective measures in settings (34.3)
updated content on attendance at settings for those shielding, with changes to the advice effective from 1 August, and removal of content on vulnerable children since settings are open for all children (section 4)
updated content on wraparound care (5.3)
an update on early years foundation stage reforms (7.6) and reception baseline assessment (7.7)
Further information
Ofsted’s phased return to inspections for early years
07 Jul
New guidance Education plans from September 2020 has been published. From September, Ofsted will begin carrying out regulatory activity with providers that have been judged inadequate or requires improvement and have associated actions to fulfil. Inspectors will look at what action leaders and managers have taken since the last inspection. In these visits, inspectors will confirm whether the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) are met. Currently, the DfE has disapplied the learning and development requirements until 25 September 2020.
Visits will not result in an inspection grade, but inspectors can use regulatory or enforcement actions if appropriate.
Ofsted will publish an outcome summary after a visit, confirming whether a provider has improved and is meeting the requirements of EYFS.
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