National school breakfast club programme
It is important for pupils to start the day with a nutritious breakfast. Evidence shows that providing a healthy school breakfast at the start of the school day can contribute to improved readiness to learn, increased concentration, and improved wellbeing and behaviour.
All participating schools will receive a 75% subsidy for the food and delivery costs of breakfast club provi-sion until the end of July 2024. Schools will contribute 25% of costs. All pupils in participating schools are to be offered breakfast supplies at no cost to them or their parents.
School eligibility
Schools in disadvantaged areas will be eligible for the programme if they have 40% or more pupils in bands A-F of the income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI). This will include state-funded primary, secondary, special schools and alternative provision.
National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership
We’re pleased to be able to tell you about the new, Department for Education-funded, National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) which has been developed to increase knowledge of leadership in early years settings, strengthen staff approaches to teaching and learning, and support children whose development has been impacted by the pandemic.
Participants will gain skills and confidence so they can deliver high-quality education and care to support children’s development, become a better organisational leader and develop staff so they can reach their full potential.
The course is free, flexible and designed by sector experts to help professionals across the sector to develop their career.
The next cohort commences in February 2023 and a further two funded cohorts will be offered in 2023/2024.
Watch the animation and then find out more about the eligibility criteria and how to apply on GOV.UK
Wellbeing measurement for early years settings by Anna Freud Centre
The Anna Freud Centre has produced a wellbeing measurement resource which provides sets of questions to help early years settings better understand their staff and provide them with the support they need. It includes tools that can be used to measure wellbeing robustly and consistently.
Winter wonderland resources
At the start of December, when glistening lights fill shop windows, stockings are hung on fireplaces and trees stand tall inside, thoughts turn to festivities. What better opportunity to deliver Christmas literacy activities, from reading and writing wintery tales and poems, to hosting your own festive celebrations?
Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or simply celebrating a time for cosy reading, this resource offers lots of ideas for literacy activities to mark this Winter period, including:
- Book recommendations to read aloud with pupils from Early Years to KS3 (3-14 years-old)
- Suggestions for speaking and listening activities including storytelling and performance poetry
- Writing ideas such as winter Haikus, festive science experiments and grammar games.
The activities are designed to be adaptable for teachers working across different age ranges, and for the time you have available.
Explore National Literacy Trust's range of hot topic resources.
Casting Long Shadows Report
A report published by the Parent-Infant Foundation on behalf of the First 1001 Days Movement and Institute of Health Visiting explores the ongoing impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on babies’ and young children’s social skills.
Casting Long Shadows Report