Midlands Stronger Practice Hub: HEART
Helping Early years practitioners Apply Research to Teaching and learning
An exciting new partnership, working collaboratively with Birmingham Local Authority, BEYN and all 27 Maintained Nursery Schools to continue to build on and strengthen our existing support for early years within Birmingham and beyond.
You can find more information about the programme on the national Stronger Practice Hubs website.
Part of the DfE’s Early Years Education COVID-19 Recovery Package, the Midland’s partnership consists of:
Bloomsbury Nursery School
Castle Vale Nursery School
Norton Hall Children and Family Centre
Weoley Castle Nursery School
LMC Childcare Solutions
Local Authorities covered:
Birmingham, Coventry, Herefordshire, Solihull, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
In partnership with
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What’s involved?
Early years stronger practice hubs will be funded for 2 years (until late 2024).
We will support other nurseries and childminders in their area to adopt evidence-based practice improvements by:
Building on and strengthening local networks of early years educators to share knowledge and effective practice
proactively sharing information and advice on evidence-based approaches - for example, through newsletters, blogs and social media
acting as a point of contact for bespoke advice and signposting to other funded support
working with the EFF to select evidence-based programmes to fund and make available to nurseries and childminders.
Please feel free to view and download the DfE’s privacy notice for the Stronger Practice Hubs programme.
Our Early Years Spring Conference was a huge success!
A total of 405 individuals attended the conference, representing 192 different settings from both the Stronger Practice hub home area and the wider SPH reach area.
The attendees included professionals from schools, PVIs, childminders, children's centres, and other fields. The conference spanned two days and featured six keynote speakers and 14 workshops covering a variety of topics.
Dedicated resources for the Early Years sector
The EEF has launched a suite of resources dedicated to the early years sector.
Support to help you put evidence-informed approaches into practice. Designed to support Stronger Practice Hubs, the store summarises evidence-informed approaches, illustrated with practices that typically make up these teaching approaches and video examples of what these could look like.
A summary of the best available evidence on key areas for learning and development.
The Toolkit provides information on the average impacts and costs of different strategies, alongside guidance on what to consider when putting a particular approach into practice in your setting.
Read about the power of story in the early years, making mathematical moment counts, evidence-informed programmes for Early Years staff, finding the right fit for your setting and lots more.
Evidence Based Programmes
Our Counting Collections Trainings are now available to book. See section below.
Concept Cat
Not currently enrolling
Concept Cat is a whole setting teaching methodology for early verbal concepts (part of the widely used book ‘Word Aware 2’) and delivered by the authors, two leading experts in the field (Stephen Parsons and Anna Branagan), working with a partner organisation (Better Communication CIC).
Tales Toolkit
Enrolling
Tales Toolkit is a set of resources which uses storytelling to help develop many areas, skills and characteristics of effective learning, including language, literacy, social skills, creativity, confidence, empathy, boys writing, problem-solving, maths and lots more.
Apply to enroll at the link below.
Counting Collections
Summer Training - Book Now
Counting Collections is a ‘hands-on’, practical approach to developing young children’s enjoyment and understanding of numbers. It aims to provide all children with essential early number learning in counting and subitising, addressing differences in their home or broader number experiences, so all children have a firm foundation for future mathematics learning.
Mentoring
Early Years Experts and Mentors programme
Did you know that you can access support through the DfE Experts and Mentors programme?
This is open to settings and childminders.
For settings
The experts and mentors programme for settings offers early years support, delivered either face to face or virtually, by trained experts and mentors to:
early years practitioners
leaders
whole settings
The offer to early years settings includes:
leadership support
coaching for leaders
mentoring for practitioners
whole-setting support, depending on a setting’s priorities and needs
How settings can apply
Early years settings can now self-refer and request the support of an expert and mentor from the programme using the application form on the Pen Green Centre website.
Or, if you are in Birmingham, you can email eyduty@birmingham.gov.uk and ask to be referred to the experts and mentors programme.
For childminders
The childminder mentor programme offers bespoke support to childminders across England.
Trained early years professionals will support childminders in area lead and mentor roles. Area leads and mentors may support childminders to:
identify strengths and areas for development
improve your confidence in or knowledge of child development
implement the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework
plan an effective curriculum
support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
support children with English as an additional language (EAL)
build strong relationships with parents and carers
Who can apply
Childminders must currently provide childcare to at least one child aged between 0 and 5.
You can apply for support as an individual or with other childminders as part of a small group (of up to 4 people). If you apply as an individual, you’ll be placed in a group with others.
How childminders can apply
Childminders will be able to obtain one term of support during the next academic year, from September 2023 to the end of July 2024.
If you want to apply, please complete the form on the Hempsall’s website.
Closing dates for applications for each term are as follows:
Spring Term support: Deadline for submission passed
Summer Term support: Deadline for submission = 17 March 2024
NOTE: Hempsall’s is the official DfE delivery partner for the Covid-19 Childminder Mentor Programme. Your data is protected under the DfE privacy notice for the programme.
Network meeting for Childminder Area Leads and Mentors
We are pleased to offer a network meeting for Childminder Area Leads and Mentors in the West Midlands. Get in touch if you are a mentor in one of the West Midland areas and would like to know more.
Childminder Playgroups at Birmingham Leisure Centres
Did you know there are childminder playgroup sessions at many Birmingham Leisure Centres? Held Monday-Friday during term time, they’re created specifically for childminders to attend with their children.
Free to attend
Tea and coffee are available
Opportunity to meet with Area Leads and Mentors in your area
Surgery dates for support
Inflatables & soft play
All Childminders welcome - please have a copy of your certificate upon arrival
Playgroup Details
Stechford Leisure Centre: Mondays and Fridays, 9:30am-11:30am
Wyndley Leisure Centre: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30am-11:30am
Cocksmoor Leisure Centre: Wednesdays 9:30am-11:30am
Read the HEART Stronger Practice Hub blog
Sharing findings, best practice and news relevant to the HEART Stronger Practice Hub.
