Early years
Virtual School Early Years
In the Telford and Wrekin Virtual School team we have an allocated Education Adviser who supports Children in Care (CIC) within the early years foundation stage.
Anita Farrant supports children from the term after their second birthday to the end of the reception in private, voluntary and independent early years settings and reception classes who are looked after both within Telford and Wrekin and those placed out of county.
All children who are in care must have a Personal Education Plan (PEP) which is reviewed 3 times a year. The PEP forms part of the child’s statutory Care Plan.
Anita will facilitate the PEP process and in partnership with providers and social workers is responsible for ensuring every Child in Care (CIC) has an up to date Personal Education Plan which includes individual educational targets set by the child’s setting.
Anita will work closely with the Designated Teacher or practitioner within the setting or school and track progress and monitor the appropriateness of pupil premium usage in relation to impact on outcomes. Anita also ensures that any barriers to success are challenged, thereby promoting a culture of high aspiration for every individual child in Local Authority care to improve and maximise educational opportunities and outcomes.
Since September 2020 the PEP for all early years children has been completed using the online My Telford Portal. Designated Teachers or practitioners receive information how to use via secure access and a password.
Download the Early Years Designated Practitioner Online User Guide (.pdf Size: 1489Kb)
Last updated : 26 July 2024
Free childcare for foster children
Children in foster care will be eligible for free childcare where the foster parents meet certain eligibility criteria, giving foster families the same support as other families where it is right for the child. Children in foster care will be able to receive free childcare, if the following criteria are met:
- Agreement from the responsible local authority that the foster parent engaging in paid work outside their role as a foster parent is consistent with the child’s care plan. The agreement that the foster parents can take up the free childcare entitlement should be recorded and the care plan for the child should be updated as appropriate.
- That, in single parent foster families, the foster parent engages in paid work outside their role as a foster parent, although there is no minimum income requirement.
- And in 2 parent foster families, either both partners engage in paid work outside their role as a foster psrent (although there is no minimum income requirement for either foster parent) or one partner engages in paid work and the other partner receives certain qualifying benefits.
- If one partner is not a foster parent, then that partner must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum, unless they are receiving certain qualifying benefits. The Eligibility Checking System (ECS) is unable to perform the additional eligibility checks required so the Department has developed a parallel application process that uses existing delivery arrangements wherever possible. If one partner is not a foster parent, then that partner must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum, unless they are receiving certain qualifying benefits.
Please visit the Department for Education to find out more information.
Early years one minute guide
Talking childcare - Telford and Wrekin
View the talking early years and childcare page for more information on the early years service
Nurseries and childcare
View information about nurseries and childcare and the services available to you
Early Years Transition Booklet
Telford and Wrekin SEND Local Offer - early years
Visit the SEND Telford and Wrekin local offer website
Virtual school training and continuing professional development
View our training page for more information on our training and development opportunities
Talking early years and childcare - advice for home learning
The following activities and challenges are designed to fit into everyday life and do not require any specialist equipment.
Hungry Little Minds - HM Government
The Government have supported home learning through their the Hungry Little Minds website.
Simple, fun activities for kids, from newborn to five.
Many little things light up hungry little minds. Kids take everything in, and even the smallest things you do with them can make a big difference. They love it when you chat, play and read with them, even when they’re too young to understand everything. Whatever the time and wherever you are, you can turn almost anything into a game. And every little thing you do together will help set them up nicely for the day they start school.
We understand that due to the coronavirus outbreak, you and your children are spending more time at home and you might be looking for a bit more inspiration for things to do. Start by trying some of these simple, fun activities.
Visit the HM Government website, Hungry Little Minds for information about the ideas and activities
Last updated : 28 August 2024