Background from Department for Education (DfE)

The government is providing a package of workforce training, qualifications and support and guidance for the early years sector to help address the impact of the pandemic on the youngest and most disadvantaged children.

• practitioners
• leaders
• settings, including private, voluntary, independent organisations, childminders, school based nurseries and maintained nursery schools

Training

• Professional Development Programme – phase 3: communication and language, early mathematics and personal, social and emotional development
• child development
  • Early Years Child Development Training How to enrol

Qualifications

• a new national professional qualification in early years leadership: leadership of settings
• graduate-level specialist training leading to early years teacher status
• SENCo qualification early years level 3: accredited level 3 early years SENCO qualification

Support and guidance to all early years settings through:

• DfE Early Years Coaches and Mentors expert coaches and mentors
• stronger practice hubs

DfE Childminder Mentor programme

• COVID-19 Recovery Childminders | Hempsalls
• DfE Childminder Mentor programme poster
• DfE Childminder Mentor programme information
• Application form