I had a message from a childminder the other day saying she would appreciate everything in one place, so I hope this is a useful round up of the main changes and things to do from January 2024.
I have added links to more information and guidance where relevant –
**The EYFS for childminders 2024 will be legislation from 4th January. You might need to make changes to your Safeguarding Policy (more information to follow) and if you care for children who are learning English as an additional or second language, you will need to speak to parents about the implications of the change in wording.
EYFS – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2
**Safeguarding changes you might need to update your policy to reflect the broader scope of the mobile phone and camera policy (to include other devices). I have explained changes that might need to be made to the whistleblowing policy in this blog.
Blog - https://independentchildminders.weebly.com/blog/eyfs-update-012024
**You might need to update your Safeguarding Policy to ensure you cover everything that is noted in the EYFS for childminders 2024 (see requirement 3.7) and the recently updated Ofsted early years inspection handbook (see points 57 – 60). I will plan a webinar to cover this later in the year. You should always check your Local Authority model safeguarding policy for local updates.
Ofsted EY handbook – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-inspection-handbook-eif/early-years-inspection-handbook-for-ofsted-registered-provision-for-september-2023#safeguarding
**As the funding changes are reported more widely in the press and parents of 2-year-olds learn they might be eligible for 15 funded hours from April, you might want to share the Childcare Choices website link with them and provide them with a copy of your funding policy (if required in writing by your LA).
Childcare Choices – https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
**The Prevent Duty was updated in Sept 2023 to broaden the scope of the duty. There are no new legal requirements. One relevant change for early years is that we are expected to ‘tackle the ideological causes of terrorism’ by, for example, ‘building resilience through the curriculum’. You will also note that Ofsted are talking about resilience as part of the PSED curriculum in their recent early years research reviews.
DfE briefing paper – https://www.educateagainsthate.com/resources/prevent-duty-guidance-update-september-2023-a-briefing-note-for-schools-and-early-years-providers/
Ofsted research reviews – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/best-start-in-life-a-research-review-for-early-years
**Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) was updated in Sept 2023. The changes are detailed in Annex F. The EYFS for childminders 2024 states that, ‘Childminders may also find it useful to look at this document.'
KCSIE - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
**Working together to safeguard children was updated in Dec 2023. The Ofsted early years inspection handbook references this statutory guidance to be used by inspectors. NSPCC has a useful summary of changes.
Working together – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children--2
NSPCC summary of changes - https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/2023/working-together-to-safeguard-children-2023-summary-of-changes
**The Ofsted early years inspection handbook was updated in Dec 2023, for use by inspectors from Jan 2024, to reflect the changes to EYFS for childminders 2024.
Handbook – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-inspection-handbook-eif
**Don’t forget to prepare your accounts ready to submit your HMRC return for 2022-23 by January 31st, 2024, if you haven’t done them already. Childcare.co.uk offers lots of free guidance in the ‘childminder accounts’ folder and you can refer to the HMRC BIM for childminders page for more information.
Childcare.co.uk free guidance – https://www.childcare.co.uk/childminderpaperwork
HMRC BIM – https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/business-income-manual/bim52751
**Spotlight on the prime areas of learning – we know that Ofsted are putting a lot of focus on their ‘Better start in life’ research reviews and focusing on the prime areas of learning during inspection. Childcare.co.uk has planned a series of webinars for January 2024 and further updates for February 2024 which will help to refresh knowledge and update latest Ofsted inspection expectations.
Sign up for the free webinars – https://www.childcare.co.uk/webinars
**Planning for January – in our early years setting the overarching planning focus will be on noticing winter changes. In week 1, we will settle back in and talk to the children about their New Year celebrations. In week 2, we will explore the weather and move onto learning more about winter animals and birds in winter. We will also visit the garden centre to buy some new winter plants and bulbs.
Free Childcare.co.uk childminder organiser – https://www.childcare.co.uk/childminderorganiser
I am always happy to answer questions on the Independent Childminders Facebook group if you tag me, then everyone will benefit from the information sharing and wider discussions.
Happy New Year! Sarah x