This article is brought to you by Slough Borough Council, on behalf of Thames Valley and South Central Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, for the attention of all Early Years settings.
We hope you’ve all managed to survive the recent heat and still enjoy some of the May sunshine and bank holidays. Warmer weather can bring so many wonderful opportunities for babies and young children to explore through sensory play, water activities, loose parts and shaded outdoor experiences, while also supporting their wellbeing and curiosity in a safe and meaningful way. Whether you've been adding ice to your mud kitchens, practicing pincer grips by hanging washing on the line, creating sensory water trays, we hope you have all managed to have fun together and keep cool.
We’re pleased to share that recruitment is now open for our Early Learning Leads. This is a wonderful opportunity to help shape and strengthen early learning practice across the network. The application deadline is Friday 5th June, and we’d be grateful if you could share this opportunity with colleagues who may be interested.
We have lots of wonderful training, network and resources planned for the summer term so please do take a look and join us!
FREE OF CHARGE TO HUB MEMBERS
Please click on the links below for more information, to book your place or to download.
SEND
SENCO Network
Date: Tuesday 7th July 2026
Time: 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
To book: SENCO Network Tickets | TryBooking United Kingdom
BOYS
Getting it Right For Boys
Date: Monday 13th July 2026
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
To book: Getting it Right For Boys Tickets | TryBooking United Kingdom
MATHS
Early Learning: Counting & Cardinality Webinar
Date: Tuesday 30th June 2026
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
To book: Early Learning: Counting & Cardinality Webinar Tickets | TryBooking United Kingdom
COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGE
Blog: What Comes Before Phonics? Part 2
What Comes Before Phonics? Part 2 | Stronger Practice Hubs
Blog: What Comes Before Phonics? Part 3
Blog: What Comes Before Phonics? Part 3 Tickets | TryBooking United Kingdom
BABIES
Baby Room Network Session: Creating an Inspiring Baby Room
Date: Tuesday 9th June 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
To book: Baby Room Network Session: Creating an Inspiring Baby Room Tickets | TryBooking United Kingdom
Baby Music and Sensory Play
Date: Thursday 25th June 2026
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Open Event: Caversham Nursery School Baby room tour
Date: Friday 10th July 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Suzanne Taylor: Moving to Write (Portsmouth)
We are delighted to offer two sessions in one day of our highly sought-after Moving to Write workshop.
Date: Thursday 11th June 2026
Choose the time that suits you:
🕘 Morning session: 9:00 – 12:00
🕐 Afternoon session: 13:15 – 16:15
To book: Suzanne Taylor: Moving to Write (Portsmouth) | Stronger Practice Hubs
Boosting Learning through Movement
Date: Friday 26th June 2026
Time: 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
To book: Boosting Learning through Movement Tickets, Shaw House, Newbury | TryBooking United Kingdom
PSED
Open Event: Enabling Environments, The Lawns Nursery School
Date: Thursday 11th June 2026
Time: 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
The Enabling Environment Supporting the Unique Child
Date: Monday 22nd June 2026
Time: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
CHILDMINDERS
My Home as a Playground - Childminder Workshop
Date: Thursday 25th June 2026
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM
WHATSAPP NETWORKING GROUPS
Baby Room Network
WhatsApp Network. For Early Years Practitioners working with babies to connect, share ideas, and develop their practice.
Led by Dr Mona Sakr.
To join the group click here.
Reception Years Maths
WhatsApp Network. Whether you’re looking to enhance classroom practice, support your team, or strengthen your maths provision, this network is here to support you every step of the way.
To join the group click here.
Join our WhatsApp Network for Childminders which currently has 100+ members. Keep updated about all of our events, training, webinars and bespoke advice, as well making contact with other childminders in your area who can offer peer-to-peer support.
To join the group click here.
A WhatsApp Network for SENCOs. A helpful group where practitioners can support each other and share strategies. It’s a small group at the moment, but we already have a mix of trainees and experienced SENCOs.
To join the group click here.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE: JOBS IN EARLY YEARS
For more information, click HERE
👉 Submit your EOI here or scan the QR code above..
Access a short video that covers the basics of the Maths Champions Programme here.
To see how the programme is being implemented in real early years settings, the benefits for children and the positive impact on practitioner confidence, access the videos from:
Thornhill Community Pre-school here
Hey Days Nursery and Preschool here
To register your interest please follow the link here or scan the QR code above to complete the short Expression of Interest form. If you meet the criteria above you will then be sent the full registration materials.
Starting School and the Transition into Reception, plus RISE Reception Quality Webinar Series
Starting school is an exciting milestone. To help make the transition into Reception as smooth and positive as possible please can you encourage early years settings to share the following resources from Starting Reception with parents and carers:
Starting Reception is a free, practical online resource designed to support parents and carers in preparing their child for school. It offers simple activities, helpful advice and clear guidance on the key skills and routines that help children feel confident and ready for their first day.
Starting Reception have also provided guides for Potty Training and Children’s Toothbrushing. Children being able to use the toilet independently and having healthy routines such as brushing their teeth is an important part of getting ready for starting school.
- Potty Training Guide website
- Potty Training Guide (Downloadable PDF)
- Children's Toothbrushing Guide website
- Children's Toothbrushing Guide (Downloadable PDF)
RISE Reception Quality Webinar Series: These sessions will focus on EYFS profile assessment, transitions into Reception, and preparing high quality Reception provision, offering practical, evidence‑based support aligned with recent guidance. They can be accessed here.
Looking after children and those in early years settings before and during hot weather.
This guidance advises those working with children on how to reduce the risks of hot weather to the health of people they provide care for. Access here.
The government’s Best Start in Life campaign, aims to help break down barriers to opportunity for every family, supporting parents and children from pregnancy through to age five and beyond.
Click on the links below to access the full, refreshed suite of campaign assets available across the following areas:
Pregnancy: Resources to guide parents and carers through every stage of pregnancy and preparation.
Breastfeeding: Support for mums and new parents through the first weeks of breastfeeding and beyond.
Bonding with Your Baby: Resources to support parents and carers to bond with their baby and promote early development.
Introducing Solid Foods: Support and advice for parents on introducing solid foods to their baby.
Children’s Oral Health: Top Tips for Teeth resources providing oral health advice for children, parents and pregnant women.
Screen Time: Evidence‑informed guidance to help parents and carers of children under five navigate screen time.
Early Years Education and Childcare: Resources to help parents and carers understand childcare options and find support that works for their family.
Preparing for School: Resources to help parents and carers support their children in feeling ready for school.
Brand and Campaign Awareness: Resources to support promotion of the Best Start in Life campaign and website.
BICYCLE Study
Born in Covid Year – Core Lockdown Effects
The BICYCLE study is mapping out whether being born-in-lockdown may have had effects on later talking and thinking. The study looks at children as they reach four years old, and compares them to children of the same age who were born-after-lockdown. The research team is led by City St George’s, University of London, and supported by funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.
Webinar 1: Tuesday 23rd June 2026, 3.30 – 4.30pm
Developmental outcomes for four-year-old children born in the first Covid-19 lockdown in England
Please register here to guarantee your place: The BICYCLE Study Webinar 1 – Fill in form. A joining link will be sent to you a few days before the webinar.
Webinar 2: Tuesday 7th July 2026, 12.30 – 1.30pm
Caregiver experiences of being pregnant, giving birth and parenting young children during lockdown
Please register here to guarantee your place: The BICYCLE Study Webinar 2 – Fill in form. A joining link will be sent to you a few days before the webinar.
At each webinar, you can expect an in-depth presentation from the BICYCLE team plus a response to our findings from an expert by profession or lived experience.
There will be a Q&A session for you to submit questions and vote for other questions.
Clicke here for more information
Have you visited the EEF (Education Endowment Fund) Early Years Evidence store?
The Early Years Evidence Store is a summary of evidence-informed approaches to help educators to understand and reflect on their practice. The approaches are illustrated with practices that typically make up the approach and a range of examples of what these might look like in practice.
The Early Years Evidence Store demonstrates that the approaches and practices can be implemented with children across different contexts for teaching and learning spanning adult-led and child-led learning opportunities in the Early Years.
Follow the link https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/support-for-schools/evidence-for-the-early-years/early-years-evidence-store
New Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood film series shows how everyday actions support early development.