This site provides comprehensive information on all the services currently available to schools, academies and other organisations from West Berkshire Council. West Berkshire Council has a great deal of experience and expertise in providing support and services to schools. There are many benefits to buying services from the Local Authority: • We are committed to supporting schools to make the best possible use of their resources in order to maximise the impact on raising educational standards for pupils. • We have an experienced and highly trained workforce familiar with the work of schools and in the context in which they operate. • We ensure our services are compliant with legal requirements and national standards • We are committed to improving the lives of children.

The DfE released the childcare and early years providers survey 2018 on November 1st. The findings can be accessed here. Or by clicking on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2018?utm_source=b31f08bf-c15a-478a-9ff2-c56bbf2a3a37&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

Please click here to read the September Newsletter from Foundation Years. It contains information about: Updates from the Government including: Evaluation of the first year of national rollout of 30 hours free childcare Evaluation guidance and monitoring toolkit for local authorities for 30 hours free childcare Follow-up survey to the 2017 Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents (CEYSP) Take-up of Free Early Education Entitlements (FEEE) Impact Study on Early Education Use and Child Outcomes up to age four years Childcare Business Grant Scheme EY Workforce Updates from the sector including: Partnership working case studies Healthy Lifestyles for our children Dingley’s Promise: New early years inclusive practice qualification now available online Launch of Musical Development Matters Digital Parent Support Service National School Breakfast Programme National Parent Support Service 300th setting is awarded Millie's Mark National Portage Association (NPA) Infection prevention and control in an early years setting Suffolk Childcare Agency inspection National Events Early Education CPD courses: Autumn 2018 Hempsall’s: Continuing in our social mobility series NDNA: Free early years events Sightlines Initiative PLUS many more links and articles. If you cannot access the above link please copy and paste the following link into your browser. https://r1.dmtrk.net/3WYE-GIML-044VZ8VA32/cr.aspx

Foundation years newsletter - October 2018 To read the November 2018 Foundation Years Newsletter please click here: Updates from Government: With winter approaching and our young children being vulnerable to flu, the Chief Medical Officer has writtena letter to early years practitioners seeking their help in raising awareness of the childhood flu immunisation programme. DfE published the results for the 2018 Early Years Foundation Stage Profile. The figures can be viewed here. The headlines are: The percentage of children achieving a good level of development (GLD) continues to increase year-on-year: 71.5% in 2018 compared to 70.7% in 2017, and 51.7% in 2013. The percentage of children achieving at least the expected level of development in all 17 early learning goals also continues to increase: 70.2% in 2018 compared to 69.0% in 2017 and 48.9% in 2013. The gender gap is narrowing Updates from the sector Eat Better, Start Better - Healthy eating surveys Digital Parent Support Service National School Breakfast Programme National Parent Support Service LuCiD ESRC International Centre for Language and Communicative Development: Tools for monitoring language development NDNA: Critical Evaluation National Portage Association: Portage workshop PLA: Healthy Eating support Events Family Action: Youth Mental Health First Aid Hempsall’s: Forthcoming seminar – Linking early years services to parental employment; maximising opportunities National Literacy Trust: Talk To Your Baby 2019: From the national agenda to the front line SMaR+ Professional Development: Early Years Mathematics courses and INSET

The new issue of the Health and Wellbeing in Schools Hub is now available. In the November issue - New resources for primary and secondary schools including dental health, mental health and puberty. The results of the West Berkshire Daily Mile survey Upcoming events schools can participate in and support. And the new Learning Well offer for schools including the Health and Wellbeing in Schools Award.