Our regular  newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with the latest sector news, information and guidance, and bring you real life case studies to highlight best practice.

If you’re interested in finding out more, or would like to receive PACEY’s newsletter, it’s quick and easy to sign up.

LA Early Years Support is a network for local authority teams in England – a place to come together, share information, ask questions and find support from each other and PACEY.

Membership is open to local authority teams such as Family Information Services, Early Years teams, Children’s Services, and Starting Life Well.

To find out more and join the group, click here.

We compile best practice case studies provided by local authorities in England, to showcase successful examples of high quality childcare settings and how high quality childcare can benefit children and families. If you have experiences or examples that you think it would be useful to share with other early years teams across the country, you can email the Policy team with details.

We know that high quality childcare delivers the best outcomes for children, and helps to narrow the gap for disadvantaged children. We also know that time and money are both key factors that can prevent childcare providers from engaging in training and CPD. That’s why we’ve developed CEY smart  innovative learning created alongside childcare providers and experts including The Open University.

CEY smart offers online CPD training for everyone working in early years and childcare. Whether a childcare provider is new to the industry or has 30 years’ experience under their belt – CEY smart has something for everyone.

Our user-friendly learning includes interactive, engaging courses that take just 10-20 minutes to complete. Courses can be done on any device, at any time.

This fresh approach to learning enables childcare providers to fit CPD around their busy schedules, supporting them to take manageable steps towards continuing professional development and quality improvement.

The short courses are designed to build confidence and encourage reflective practice. CEY smart offers simple next steps and ideas, as well as an easy way for childcare providers to keep track of their CPD.

Local authority teams have a crucial role in supporting childcare providers to deliver high quality care to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). We understand the challenges that local authorities face, including gaps in funding, staffing capacity and the variation in practice across England

Through our spotlight on SEND page, we have drawn together some useful information for you to share with childcare providers:

• PACEY childminders caring for disabled children

• What is SEND?
• What is the SEND Code of Practice?
• What does the SEND Code of Practice mean for me?
• Case study: Caring for a child with SEND and claiming the 2-year-old funding – read Cathy’s story