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Sounds like you've both had a good week. I have met up with family and friends and am currently dog sitting for my sister. I'm querying just quite how I am fitting into a quarter of the sofa whilst the dog is taking up the rest. Am also pondering possible responses to give when he's looking at me hopefully as I'm eating a slice of toast and honey! I have done very little work which is good in many ways although I have no doubt I shall regret it tomorrow... Enjoy the weekend everyone!

So, so fast the weeks are flying! Hope the grandson is good 🤞- and not too spotty itchy. Ive done far too much eating out this week 😮... realy needed today's exercise class 😂 Had the grandchildren over for a few days, been to the zoo, out feeding ducks, haircuts etc- actually looking forward to going back to work Monday for the rest!!! Just remembered I have a softplay party tomorrow 😳🙄😂... Have a good weekend all.

Good morning - 'tis Friday Another week that has just whooshed by. Hope those still working have had a lovely half-term break. Have looked after youngest two grandchildren for a couple of days - only to find that youngest grandson now has Chickenpox 🤦‍♀️ sure it will all be fine 🤞 he is fine in himself just a wee bit spotty... Still really enjoying my little Knit and Natter group (aka Stitch and Bitch!) we are now passing our blankets on to our nearest Hospice, they use them for fund-raising and/or for patients - we currently have six ready to go and it's a lovely way to use them. Off to Sainbo's now - Mr needs a passport photo for his Blue Badge renewal - I am not looking forward to completing his application form - but hey ho such is life! So mild today which is lovely, but shame about the rain... Onwards and upwards! Take care all x

Hi all, I'm Elisabeth, and I'm setting up a business to offer a convenient eco-friendly wet wipes service to nurseries. I'm not going to try to sell you anything (nothing to sell yet!) but I'd really appreciate 5 minutes of your time for some market research so I can understand nursery's current use of wet wipes (& other single-use things like wipes, e.g., blue towels). The survey is here -> https://forms.gle/93GsjQmNUi3mM2LUA It's short and anonymous and will help me make this service as good as it possibly can be so that settings can save staff time AND do their bit for the planet. If you're on LinkedIn and want to spread the word I've written a post about this here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/elisabethjane_earlyyears-reuse-plasticpollution-activity-7298004247005069312-9M2r Any questions just give me a shout on elisabeth@sprout-innovation.co.uk Thank you so much for your help!

Portage Workshop: A small step approach to learning for children with SEND - 2024 This two-and-a-half-day course is the basic qualification certificate in the Portage model of teaching. Monday 24 March 2025 9.15am-4pm Civic Centre Tuesday 25 March 2025 9.15am-4pm Civic Centre Tuesday 13 May 2025 9.30-11am Online session Who should attend? Those who work with the 0-5 year’s age range and are interested in delivering inclusive learning and play activities. It will be of particular relevance to those who hold the Early Years Special Educational Needs coordinator role in the r setting or those who wish to move into this position. It would also be highly beneficial for practitioners looking to further develop their SEND practice and as part of their work support individual children or lead small group work including children with additional needs. You will be able to: Understand the Portage Principles and model of support Use the basic skills to deliver Portage under supervision Apply Portage skills in one’s own workplace Understand the history and local development of Portage Understand the range of materials and resources Develop confidence in working together using the Portage Model Demonstrate awareness of the National Portage Association Southampton maintained schools and Southampton PVI Early Years & Childcare providers Price: £120 Academies, free schools and other organisations Price: £150

No idea.... but I like it! 😂 Good weekend everyone. x

Good morning -'tis Friday Yay and whoop to those about to start their half-term break! There is a strange bright light in the sky this morning - does anyone have any idea what it might be 🤣 Take care all x

Hello! I am a new Manager at a term time nursery, and I have been going through staff folders to see what training they may need to do. By doing this I have discovered that a staff member we thought could have a 1:13 ratio, is instead a level 2 staff member which I know is a 1:8 ratio. They were not aware about this as they believed, or were told, their qualification was full and relevant for a 1:13 ratio. This does not cause a problem for the ratio side of things. However, they have also been a room lead. My question is, can they continue to be the room lead as a level 2 practitioner?

Welcome back 😊 Pop along to the 'Friday' thread for a catch up!

Welcome back! Yes it certainly is tiring...I'm with toddlers and my knees don't much like sitting on the floor all day (well the getting up and down bit really! 😄)

Same here after a 7 year break ! Just returned to early years and forgot how physically tiring it is , ut amazed to see so many names from the early days still here .

Hi everyone! I’m a PhD student at the University of Sheffield researching how Reception teachers use digital technology in the classroom. I’m looking for QTS Reception teachers to take part in the interviews (online or in person). 💡 The study explores: ✅ How digital tools are used in Reception classrooms ✅ Opportunities & challenges of digital technology in early years ✅ Teachers’ perspectives on digital learning Participation is voluntary, and all data will be anonymised. If you’re interested, please comment, message me for more details. Your insights would be invaluable—thank you for your support! 🙌

Thanks Louby, is this on the new EYA central site? I’ve never used them but thought I’d take a look as I need to update a couple of our policies.

Well. I just found them... took me about 10 mins and I'm not sure how I actually found them!! I have the feeling that they have possibly now changed them so you only have access for a year? (or it may .be you just don't get the yearly updates anymore?) I went to the home page- logged in. After a bit of faffing I got to the Training and Resources, then the tab 'My purchases and bookings' - then kept scrolling down, I had to 'keep loading' more pages to find them. Hope that helps. 😊x

Oh crikey Mousie - I can't remember - but what I do remember is that every summer holiday would find me messaging Cait with a 'please help, remind me how we get into the EYA policies' Hope someone far more helpful comes along with a sensible answer for you

Hi all, and 🙌 🙌 to half way through the school year sunnyday, I have never needed to see a year group move on to school as much as this years cohort for everyone’s sanity, I just hope we can break the cycle of the learnt behaviour in the staying children 🙏 Is anyone here an EYA member? If yes, can you tell me how to find their flippin policies please 🤷‍♀️

No problem - I was going to add 'what's a crutch or two between friends' but then thought that sounded a bit bit weird 🤣 I can't tell you how often I search for the right word!

That's the word!!!! Thank you! 🤣

Think you were looking for 'crux' - but it makes no difference - I knew exactly what you meant x

Afternoon all. I went back to my class again today! 🤣 Very cold here even had some sleety type snow 😮❄️ One more week- which is three more days for me before half-term. I really need to sort my retirement out though 🙄 My daughter would like my GS so come to the setting- which means another year for me 😭.... but this itself is the *crutch* of the matter... I'd be having him two days of week the anyway- and if I'm totally honest it's far easier when I have him at the setting than it is at home! He just goes off and plays whereas - when at home I have the 'entertain' him all of the time! 🤣🤣🤣 have a good weekend everyone. ** not sure that's the correct word - happy to be corrected.

Good morning - 'tis Friday How is everyone? For those still working - it's very nearly half-term - think I say this every year but it never fails to surprise me that this half-term marks the halfway through the school year mark... Dear goodness it's flippin' cold again - I realise that I shouldn't be surprised by this! Hope that the weekend is kind to all x

You can do it! 😊😊😊

That was me for us! I actually took a sewing machine in and got the older children involved with making them 😁😁 Next week the machines going in again and we're making bean-bags (throwing sort)

I would think if they are geniunely competent (ie not only just started- but well into their courses) then this would be covered? 1: 8 over 3s 1:5 2yrs. = 13. So technically 2 staff needed - which could be one L3 and one L2 ? As you would actually have 3 staff then fine? We don't acutally use the 1:5 for two years olds, but it is handy in emergencies.

Hi I think they technically can count in ratio but NOT at the level they are studying - if studying for level 3 they will count as level 2 for ratios. For your 13 children you'd need minimum of a level 3 qualified member AND at least half of any other staff qualified at level 2. So if the level 3 and two apprentices are all you have then no I dont think it works. However since ratios apply across the whole setting not per room (which I've always struggled to understand!) if there are other level 3 staff in the setting it may be. This is what I found on the kinderly website: Students on long term placements and volunteers (aged 17 or over) and staff working as apprentices in early education (aged 16 or over) may be included in the (qualified) ratios at the level below their level of study, if the provider is satisfied that they are competent and responsible (3.49). To assess competence, providers could use the criteria in Annexes C, D & E from the DfE Early years qualification requirements and standards to support them. This change means that someone studying towards an approved level 3 qualification (including qualifications at levels 4, 5 and 6) may count within the level 2 ratio, and someone studying towards EYTS or QTS may count within the level 3 ratio. For reference, not all level 6 degrees give a licence to practice. They must have been assessed in practice and be on the Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL), in which case they will count as level 3 for ratio purposes. To count as level 6 for ratio purposes someone must have EYTS, EYPS or QTS.