Early years toolkit
Useful resources to help develop your early years setting.
Leadership and management
Key documents
- Early Education Funding Terms and Conditions (600KB)
- Early Years Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (doc format, 588Kb)
- Childminder Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (doc format, 615Kb)
- EYFS Statutory Framework 2017
- Development Matters (pdf format, 638Kb)
- What to expect when guide for parents
- Safeguarding self-assessment for childminders (docx format, 475KB)
- Safeguarding self-assessment for settings (docx format, 490KB)
- EYFS Musts Audit (docx format, 17Mb)
- Safeguarding self assessment for out of school providers (docx format, 463Kb)
- Community around the setting (pdf format. 856Kb)
- EYFSP Moderation Plan 2019 (pdf format, 712Kb)
- A guide to the descriptors 2019 (pdf format, 462Kb)
Newsletters
Ofsted
- How to contact Ofsted and where to find frequently used forms and documents
- Poster for parents (pdf format, 1Mb)
- Ofsted early years compliance
- Ofsted Myth Busting for Schools
- Ofsted Myth Busting for Early Years Settings
- Early Years Inspection handbook
- School Inspection Handbook Section 5
- School Inspection Handbook Section 8
- Education Inspection Handbooks from September 2019
Business
- Business, financial, and legal aspects of managing early years settings
- Early years business sustainability
- Opening a new day nursery
EYTT Data management tool
Funded two year olds
- Information on the two year old entitlement for providers
- Quality provision for 2 year olds audit (doc format, 75Kb) A useful self-assessment tool.
To apply for an official assessment contact the Foundation Years Team.
Early Years Pupil Premium
The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) gives providers of early education and childcare extra funding to support eligible 3 and 4 year olds.
Providers are paid a pupil premium at the rate of 53p per hour for 3 and 4 year old children. Funding can be claimed for eligible children attending up to 15 hours per week (the pupil premium cannot be applied to the extended entitlement hours).
Qualifications
- Early Years teachers' standards (pdf format, 190Kb)
- Early Years educator qualification criteria (pdf format, 221Kb)
- Find out if a qualification allows an individual to work in an early years setting (pdf format, 101Kb
- Link to GOV.UK tools on checking qualifications - early years qualification finder
Information Commissioner's office and GDPR
- Information Commissioner's office and GDPR
- Data protection: privacy notice model documents - GOV.UK
- Findings from ICO advisory visits to nurseries February 2018 (pdf format, 122Kb)
- Data Protection Act 2018
- Data protection toolkit for schools - GOV.UK
EYFS profile and moderation
- EYFS profile: exemplification materials
- 2019 EYFSP Assessment and Reporting Arrangements (ARA)
- Early Years Foundation Stage Profile handbook
- EYFSP Moderation Plan 2019 (pdf format, 712Kb)
- A guide to the descriptors 2019 (pdf format, 462Kb)
Early education funding
Family Information Service
Staff wellbeing
Research and updates
Narrowing the gap - diminishing difference
Key documents
- Supporting the attainment of disadvantaged pupils briefing for school leaders
- Ofsted: Unknown children – destined for disadvantage?
- Improving the home learning environment
- Metacognition and self-regulated learning
Supportive materials
Children’s learning and development
Communication and language
- Dialogic book talk guide (pdf format, 25Kb)
- Dialogic book talk plan (doc format, 26Kb)
- Ideas for parents to support their children with letters and sounds (doc format, 66Kb)
- BRISC Surveillance sheet (docx format, 1.2Mb)
- IDP - Supporting children with speech language and communication difficulties (pdf format, 1.3Mb)
- IDP - Supporting Children on the Autistic Spectrum (pdf format, 1.2Mb)
- Communication and Interaction Support poster (pdf format, 442Kb)
- Improving the Home Learning Environment
- National Literacy Trust’s website - Words for life
Literacy
- Bookstart
- Gateway to writing: The crucial role of the Early Years practitioner (pdf format,114Kb)
- Writing resources: Beyond A4 white paper and pencils! (pdf format, 52Kb)
- Understanding key elements of narrative writing (pdf format, 87Kb)
- Writing booklet, for schools (pdf format, 977Kb)
- Preparing for Literacy EEF Guidance Report
- Preparing for Literacy EEF Poster
- National Literacy Trust’s website - Words for life
Maths
Observation, assessment and planning
Play
- 101 outside play ideas (pdf format, 1.4Mb)
- Treasure trove - 101 simple activities and games to be undertaken with a small group children, aged between 3 and 5 (pdf format, 783Kb)
- Guidance for stay and play sessions at children's centres (pdf format, 210Kb)
- Promoting high quality play
- Ofsted Teaching and Play in the Early Years: A balancing act?
- NHS - Why play is important (information for parents)
- 50 things to do - National Trust website (pdf format)
- My activity passport
Special educational needs and disability
- SEN support for providers
- Early years SEN toolkit
- The local offer for SEN and Disability (SEND) brings together information about education, health and care services for children and young people from 0 to 25 with SEND.
- Early years guide to the SEND Code of Practice
- Early years guide to SEND code of practice
- SEN Inclusion Funding Guidance (pdf format, 825Kb)
English as an additional language (EAL)
- Supporting children with EAL (pdf format, 231Kb)
- EAL support audit (doc format, 320Kb)
- Guidance for Early Years practitioners on supporting children learning English as an Additional Language (EAL). (pdf format, 457Kb)
- The importance of home languages (pdf format, 68Kb)
- Guidance for Early Years practitioners (pdf format, 1.6Mb)
- Google translate - online text translation
Equality and diversity
- Equality act 2010: guidance
- Getting Started Celebrating Difference and challenging Gender stereotypes in the Early years Foundation Stage
- Creating Inclusive Environments audit (docx format, 377Kb)
- Booklist
Physical development
- UK physical activity guidelines - GOV.UK
- Infographics on physical activity - GOV.UK
- The best start in life (pdf format, 204Kb)
- Start active Stay Active
The voice of the child
- The UN Convention on the rights of the child
- The UN Convention on the rights of the child in child friendly language
Children’s safeguarding and welfare
Online safety
Safeguarding children and protecting professionals in early years settings: online safety considerations for:
Attendance
- Why good attendance is important (pdf format, 837Kb)
- Parental engagement and attendance (pdf format, 362Kb)
- School Attendance Guidance - GOV.UK
- Pupil absence in schools in England: 2016 to 2017 - D of E
- Attendance poster (pdf format, 300KB)
Safeguarding and child protection
- Information sharing advice for practitioners
- Keeping child protection records (docx format, 117Kb)
- Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (OSCB) website
- What to do if you are worried a child is being abused
- Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills
- Simple guidance for staff in education settings on use of social network sites
- NSPCC website
- NSPCC online safety
- NSPCC child protection records retention and storage guidelines
- Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre (CEOP)
- Female genital mutilation (FGM) Oxford Against Cutting
- FGM online training, through the Virtual College
- NHS guidance FGM
- Designated Officer (LADO) leaflet (pdf format, 114Kb)
- Designated Officer (LADO) poster (pdf format, 90Kb)
- Planning for emergency situations in Early Years settings including Lockdown (pdf format, 222Kb)
- Safeguarding noticeboard (pdf format, 706Kb)
- Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education
- Working together to safeguard children 2018
- Good attendance poster (pdf format, 584Kb)
- Updated Keeping Children Safe in Education
- Safeguarding self-assessment for childminders (docx format, 475KB)
- Safeguarding self-assessment for settings (docx format, 490KB)
- Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines
- Safeguarding self assessment for out of school providers (docx format, 463Kb)
Safer recruitment, induction, and supervision
- Code of conduct (staff behaviour policy)
- Code of conduct for parents/ carers
- Whistleblowing policy
- Applying for criminal records checks for overseas applicants
- Disqualification under the Childcare act
- Recruiting and Managing Early Years Staff
- DBS Regulated Activity with Children
- Early years and childcare services: EY3 changes to individuals
- Disqualification waiver form for schools
- Barring - making a referral
- Guidance for safer working practice for those working with children and young people in education settings
Prevent
- Preventing extremism FAQ
- Oxfordshire Channel
- General awareness channel training
- British values and prevent duty (pdf format, 292Kb)
- The Prevent Duty: for schools and childcare providers
- Home Office E-Learning training
- Educate Against Hate
Welfare, behaviour and health
- Supporting schools with medical conditions at school
- Guidance on the use of adrenaline auto-injectors in schools
- NHS eye tests for children
- Mental health and behaviour advice for schools
- Looking after children and those in early years settings during heatwaves
- NHS Sun Safety advice
- Personal Care guidance (pdf format, 321Kb)
- Childhood obesity, a plan for action
- Right to Go - Helping schools and settings manage continence problems
- A practical guide for staff on managing cases of infectious diseases in schools and other childcare settings
- Eat Well Guide
- Oxfordshire oral health improvement
- Mental health and wellbeing in schools
- Start active Stay Active
- Allergen guidance for industry
- Example Menus for Early Years Settings
- Preventing unintentional injuries: a guide for all staff working with children under 5 years
- Gov.uk health, safety and wellbeing in schools
- First Aid reminder (pdf format, 25Kb)
- Immunisation schedule (pdf format, 250KB)
Neglect
Health and Safety
Schools safeguarding webpages
School readiness
Oxfordshire Early Years team adopts UNICEF’s description of the three elements of school readiness:
- Children’s readiness for school
- Families and communities’ readiness for school
- Settings’ and schools’ readiness for children.
Families and communities readiness for school
- Being school ready
- Starting school together
- What to expect, when?
- Road to school (pdf format, 1.2Mb)
- Starting school guide (pdf format, 840Kb)
- Families school readiness booklet (pdf format, 736Kb)
- Talking with your baby parenting (pdf format, 176Kb)
- Bilingual parents advice sheet (pdf format, 135Kb)
- Importance of rhymes (pdf format, 141Kb)
- Reading to your child (pdf format, 65Kb)
- Book list (pdf format, 411Kb)
- The Book Trust 100 best children's books
This is a list of the 100 best books for children from the last 100 years: the ultimate booklist to read before you're 14.
Settings and schools readiness for children
- School readiness booklet (pdf format, 742Kb)
- Being school ready
- Starting school together
- Why good attendance is important (pdf format, 837Kb)
- Parental engagement and attendance (pdf format, 362Kb)
- Smooth transitions in the Early Years. A good practice guide (pdf format, 1.7Mb)
- Book list (pdf format, 411Kb)
- Learning together at home leaflet (pdf format, 1Mb)
- Home learning environment (pdf format, 1Mb)
'Home Matters' guidance for schools, nurseries, local authorities and public health partners on making the most of the home learning environment. - Good attendance poster (pdf format, 584Kb)
- Working with parents to support learning
- Improving the home learning environment
- Early years school readiness contract agreement (pdf format)
Research and information
- School readiness and transitions - UNICEF (pdf format, 1.1Mb)
- Are you ready? (pdf format, 556Kb)
- Critical days (pdf format, 3Mb)
Links to other professionals and documents
SEND
- SEN support for providers
- Early Years SEN toolkit
- Special Educational Needs and Disability: The Local Offer
Health visiting
The Early Years team have developed a comprehensive toolkit of resources to support busy leaders and practitioners in early years settings and schools. The toolkit can be accessed via our dedicated website on an annual subscription basis.