Early Years Alliance

Big news from Famly! Managing Tax-Free Childcare just got a whole lot easier. Here are the benefits:  ✅ Automatic payment logging & reconciliation – saving you time  ✅ Seamless payments for families – fewer missed payments  ✅ Less admin for you – all payments in one easy-to-track place Book a demo with Famly today and get up to 20% off as an exclusive discount for Alliance members: https://lnkd.in/eqyXRKne 

Alliance members Michelle and Mat Stephens use Famly’s collaborative Early Childhood Platform in all aspects of how they run their pre-school. In fact, they estimate that Famly does the work of an entire member of staff. Read more: https://bit.ly/41Lq5cl Want to find out more about how much you could save with Famly? Book a demo today and get up to 20% off as an exclusive discount for Alliance members: https://bit.ly/EYAFamly

FREE Alliance Connect: Supporting early social and emotional development using the Shaping Us Framework Wednesday 9 April, 6.30pm - 7.30pm Earlier this year, The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood published the Shaping Us Framework, which aims to improve the awareness and understanding of young children's social and emotional skills, and outlines 30 “crucial” life skills that begin to develop in the early years and impact throughout life. This free Alliance Connect session will discuss how the framework can be used to inform conversations between early years educators in settings and families about the development of social and emotional skills in early childhood. Find out more and secure your free place: bit.ly/3CZtY3C

** Alliance Connect Roadshow: Celebrating SEND - a world without limits ** Join us on 1 May in Nottingham to hear from experts on how you can provide the best foundation for children with SEND, feeding challenges and neurodivergence, and what the SEND code of practice means for early years settings, PLUS your show-exclusive 50% discount to new Alliance toolkit 'Supporting children with SEND in the early years: celebrating every child' – and much, much more! And if you can’t make it to Nottingham, you’ll have a second chance in Bristol on 16 October. Hear from Professor Sam Wass from the Baby Development Lab at the University of East London about his session A blooming buzzing confusion: young brains and neurodivergence below. Get your ticket today! https://bit.ly/4aBfhjG

** Alliance Connect Roadshow: Celebrating SEND - a world without limits ** Join us on 1 May in Nottingham to hear from experts on how you can provide the best foundation for children with SEND, feeding challenges and neurodivergence, and what the SEND code of practice means for early years settings, PLUS your show-exclusive 50% discount to new Alliance toolkit 'Supporting children with SEND in the early years: celebrating every child' – and much, much more!   And if you can’t make it to Nottingham, you’ll have a second chance in Bristol on 16 October.   Hear from TTS' Catherine Jewkes on her session 'Wondering why in the early years' below.   Get your ticket today! https://bit.ly/4aBfhjG

** Alliance Annual Conference 2025 ** No child left behind: Putting the needs and voices of children at the heart of decision-making, Thursday 26th June We are excited to announce that the Alliance annual virtual conference will take place on Thursday 26 June at 6.15pm via Zoom This year’s Alliance annual conference will explore what it really means to put the needs of the child at the heart of early years provision, and look that the practical steps that we as providers can take to provide equity of opportunity to all children, regardless of background, circumstance or level of need. Keynote speakers - Dr Melernie Meheux, educational psychologist, certified play therapist and BPS Division of Educational Psychology Committee member - Frank Cottrell Boyce, Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate - Neil Leitch, Alliance CEO After the keynotes, attendees can choose to attend one of the following seminars live: - Light up language - Alice Sharp, early years specialist and trainer - Early steps... to an inclusive setting - Suzy Rowland, founder and CEO of the Happy in School Project - Supporting children and families experiencing domestic abuse in the early years - Jo Sharpen, consultant For more details and to book your place visit: https://bit.ly/41YPezf

We're continuing to receive reports of local authority funding agreements which include restrictions and requirements that go beyond the Department for Education statutory guidance.   If this is the case in your local authority, please get in touch with our policy team at policy@eyalliance.org.uk with further information so we can urgently raise this in our ongoing discussions with government.

We are currently working with The Food Foundation to investigate the challenges and opportunities around the provision of healthy, balanced and nutritious food in the early years. If you are a group provider and would be interested in joining an online focus group to discuss these issues on Wednesday 26th March between 6.00pm – 8.00pm, please contact Michael.freeston@eyalliance.org.uk

Proposed changes to early years inspection: an update session with Ofsted Tuesday 25 March 6:30pm - 7:30pm, Member only Ofsted has launched a new consultation on plans to implement a new approach to inspecting education providers, due to come into effect in the autumn. Proposals for a new inspection model include introducing a ‘report card’ system and replacing the current overall effectiveness judgement with a new five-point grading scale for each evaluation area. Join this free member-only Alliance Connect session, led by early years development manager Richard Knight, where we will be joined by Ofsted's Lee Owston, National Director, Education, and Samantha Sleeman-Boss, Early Education Policy and Practice Lead, where you will get the chance to: - Hear an overview of the proposed changes - Discuss and understand how the plans are likely to impact early years inspections going forward - Share your thoughts and views on the plans directly with Ofsted representatives For more details and to reserve your place visit: bit.ly/3DlmZSW

"The truth is that for many settings across the country, the income they receive from additional charges is the only thing standing between them and permanent closure." Alliance director of communications and external affairs Shannon Pite has written in Mumsnet on the current pressures on early years providers and why recent policy changes are likely to make things worse, not better, for parents. You can read the piece here: bit.ly/4kFnNCV