Partnership Working Event Action for Children
Agenda 14.00 Welcome and outcomes of the day 14.05 Partnerships The Current Picture 14.30 Case study presentation 15.15 Q and A 15.30 Opportunities for partnership working table discussion 15.45 Feedback 15.55 Plenary 16.00 Close
Aims To offer support to schools and settings including childminders wishing to work in partnership with each other To explore examples of developing and existing good practice Opportunities to explore resources to support partnership working To provide support to Local Authorities interested in working with their providers through a partnership approach to deliver the 30 hours Opportunities for networking
Partnerships The Current Picture
Hub Project DfE funded VCS project 2012-15 Partnership working across early years providers in a locality Lead provider usually a school/children s centre Linked with local provision PVI including childminders Around 50 hubs established across the country
Partnerships 2017-18 Evidence OPM evaluation Ofsted gradings - Improved quality Children s progress- Improved outcomes
Motivations for Partnership Working Learning from each other Sharing practices/resources/experiences Consistency for children of EYFS offer Strong transitions for children to support progress and improved outcomes Peer to peer support Moderation Stronger community/local links Parental engagement
Benefits of Partnership Working Children: Improved transitions Consistent transitions Joined up day Secure outcomes through joint moderation Improved quality Greater resources Events, trips Improved SEND provision
Benefits of Partnership Working Parents: Flexible early learning and childcare offers Consistency of messaging Security of quality Easier access Trust Communications Community events
Benefits of Partnership Working Providers: Mutual support to deliver entitlements Shared resources Shared best practices and learning Shared CPD Shared resources Shared support for children with SEND Joint problem solving Networking removes isolation Trust
Focus on Childminders CPD Stimulus to parents to train as childminders Offering premises to childminders Blended offer with a school Support to deliver EYFS Support with planning and assessment Shared resources and practice Removes isolation
Support -Partnership Toolkits Two separate toolkits: Toolkit one Working in Partnership to meet the Childcare Need 2 sections for schools/childminders Toolkit two Extension and development of the existing Hubs toolkit partnership working across the PVI sector. Including case studies and resources
Toolkit 1 Working in Partnership to meet the Childcare Need: Schools section looks at Establishing wraparound childcare that is run by the school Working in partnership with an existing Ofsted registered provider such as an out of school club or childminder agency Working in partnership with registered childminders Working in partnership with other local schools
Toolkit 1 Working in Partnership to meet the Childcare Need: Childminder section looks at Establishing a partnership with schools Childminder Agencies Quality of provision
Toolkit 2 Early Learning and Childcare Partnership Hubs: Development and extension of the previous Hubs toolkit Focus on the 30 hours Developed with our partner schools/existing hubs/advisory board Includes good practice case studies
Toolkit 2 Toolkit 2 focuses on the following areas: Supporting Partnership working Supporting the PVI sector Supporting childminders to deliver a blended childcare model Adding value to National Teaching Schools Supporting Leadership Supporting the effective use of data Improving children s transitions Working together to support the 30 hour extended entitlement through blended childcare
Toolkits Both toolkits include: Information on the benefits of partnership working Links to further resources Flowcharts to establish need Downloadable resources (in Word format) designed to be used by schools/settings to support partnership working
Where to Find the Toolkits Working in Partnership Toolkit https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2017/10/inpartnership_childcare-needs_final.pdf Extension of existing Hubs Toolkit https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2017/10/earlylearning_childcar ehubs_final.pdf
Contact Us foundationyears@actionforchildren.org.uk
Why Formalise? 30 Hours sharing funding Continuity of learning for children documentation to help schools/providers to follow the children s interests and complement activities undertaken at school/other provider Smoother transitions for children due to partnership procedures for sharing information Sharing data Reassurance for providers/schools Reassurance for parents
Documentation to support formalisation Partnership Agreement Partnership leaflet Allocation letter Consent for information sharing Daily information transfer sheet
Documentation to support the coordination of learning Medium term planning template Tracker Transition information
Formal Partnerships In groups look at some of the resources available: Do you need a written partnership agreement and if so what should this include? Are transitions documents between settings and schools useful? Are there additional other resources that would be useful for partnership working?
Childcare Hub Around the Park Partnership working in Telford Nicky Brown, Deputy Head and Hub Coordinator and Karen Green, Nursery Manager, Grange Park Primary School
Child Childcare Hub around the Park Telford OUR JOURNEY SO FAR
Why did we choose to be a Hub? We were keen to build partnerships with our local Early years settings, child minders and parents. We were keen to develop a financially sustainable, flexible and responsive model for childcare in our local area. To offer a one stop shop of information for parents to find out about and access Early education/childcare locally. Be ready for the 30 hour offer.
Hub working As a Hub we work with settings and childminders to develop: Improvements in the quality of our provision; The provision of childcare places focussing on funded two year olds where this is seen as a gap; and Provision that supports our parents with their working patterns by offering blended childcare and early education and to meet the 30 hour offer demands.
The benefits we have seen.. Partnership working and improved communication links. Clearer strategy for Early education/ childcare in our local area. Better outcomes for our children. Seamless transitions More accessible information for our parents. Access for parents to the 30 hour offer in our local area to meet needs.
Priorities for our model No dominant sector / Equal partnership. Respectful relationships with professional challenge. Planned transition work to support children and parents. Quality provision moderation processes and consistent formats - tracking document for the hub. Shared training and resources. Supporting vulnerability and SEND.
Childcare Hub around the Park Our Child care Hub is based around Grange Park Primary school with Child minders, Nursery and school staff, Pre school providers and PVI settings. Recently another local school has asked to join the hub. We created a Website together for information to be the one stop shop for parents.
Hub website
Website Information about all settings/ Childminders linked to the hub. Development of video footage of each setting give a flavour. Availability of places updated regularly with costs. Childminder development Information sessions and training for new childminders - increasing the number Looking at blended childcare opportunities links with other providers/ looking for availability / space.
Improving quality of provision Transitions children coming to Grange Park Nursey /Reception classes. Joint CPD sessions SEND/ Phonics / Speech and Language more planned. Links to Telford and Wrekin training opportunities. Sharing of Learning journeys, planning and resources. Visits to each others settings. Flexible 30 hour offers to suit families.
For us Childminders are key. Engaging childminders is a crucial part of providing our blended Early education/childcare offer. Parents of younger children often prefer the caring home environment offered by childminders, who can also provide before and after-school care for older children. Childminders can also deliver the free entitlement, sometimes in partnership with other settings and sharing spaces.
Childminders at our Hub We have 7 childminders who attend our meetings at present and 2 more who have asked to come along. We have two parents training at the moment. Childminders are presently working with us providing a blended childcare offer for parents. We offer opportunities for child minders to access our Nursery environment particularly the outside environment on a regular and planned basis.
Nursery environment
A Child minders perspective. 30 hour offer works well in the hub Grange Park are very supportive of child minders. There is an on- going commitment to continue to develop our local 30 hour offer through joint documentation and sharing planning. Childminders can provide the flexibility parents may want eg hours in different ways early start, later pick up.
Transitions Our hub is essential for ensuring transitions are seamless. Once relationships are established meaningful conversations can take place information is shared. Development of seamless transitions is key transitions during the day and transitions from setting to setting and into school. Better outcomes for children
Hub approach for transitions Orientation visits for parents and children. Transition visits to new setting. It is really important that familiar staff accompany children with additional needs on orientation visits they know them best! Transition objects and information
30 hour journey so far.. 20 parents have taken up the 30 hour offer within our hub. Staff have assisted parents to fill the forms online.- EAL families. We still have sufficiency for rising 3 s in Nursery. Other parents are accessing the hub facilities for more than 15 hours eg college course funding is available for this. 3 children accessing breakfast club as part of 30 hour offer. Staff take and collect children to and from a nearby setting over lunchtime shared. We set up meetings with Childminders and take parents and children to visit.
Parents perspective on our 30 hour offer. Its working really well 15 hours in Nursery and 15 hours with a childminder. It s the best of both worlds The Nursery was recommended to me and then the Nursery recommended the childminder I was very grateful for the help and am really happy with the arrangements Georgia is very settled and it has been a really positive experience for us both I chose a childminder alongside the Nursery as I felt Georgia needed something different and more homely in the afternoon
Next steps for us. To continue to develop our 30 hour offer for parents. To continue to build up a bank of childminders for our area. To ensure the quality of provision across the hub. To share and moderate evidence in Learning journeys and agree judgements to ensure quality and consistency. To ensure parent s continue have up to date, accessible information so they can make informed decisions about their child s early years offer. To monitor how the offer is working for us and if it is meeting the needs of our community- what can we improve or change.
New developments. Our Nursery has evaluated how the 30 hour offer could work for us and as from January we are now providing 6-30 hour places. We have capped the offer at 6 children to ensure we can still provide Easter places for our parents who only meet the 15 hour universal offer. Children bring their own packed lunch we have employed a lunchtime worker and we provide enhancement activities in the afternoons with a dedicated key person. We will now look at our projected numbers each term to ensure we are meeting the needs of all our families. Using Story Park within the hub settings.
Storypark Storypark is an Online learning journey which is secure and gives parents immediate access to their child's day. Storypark includes the curriculum, EYFS framework and can be fully customised to align with our practice. We have shared it across the hub and parents of children who attend more than one setting can opt to give access to both settings so the learning can be shared.
Our main priority is The children s and parents experience is seamless, of a high quality and best we can offer to meet their needs.
Contact us nicky.brown@taw.org.uk. karen.green@taw.org.uk. Telford.Hub@taw.org.uk Any questions? Thank you for listening.
Q and A
Opportunities for Partnership Working
Discussion points Reflect on how you can deliver the free entitlements. What opportunities are there for collaboration and partnership working in your local area? What challenges and barriers will you need to overcome for successful partnership working? What support do you need? What do you need to do next? Use the A3 sheets provided and be prepared to feedback
Action for Children Support for Partnerships
Action for Children Support Roadshow type events across the country Bespoke visits to schools/settings Bespoke visits to childminder groups Toolkits Advisory board Learning shared from National Partnership events through film Development new case studies to give examples of successful partnership working
Action for Children Support Contact details: Fliss.James@actionforchildren.org.uk
Plenary and Evaluations