Support for early years professionals

The Early Years Improvement Team holds regular briefings for leaders and managers of all types of provision, including childminders, to give updates on:

• Local and national early years policy and practice
• Safeguarding arrangements
• Ofsted inspections
• SEND 
• CPD
• Funding opportunities and more.

Short courses and workshops on a range of subjects relating to EYFS pedagogy and practice are advertised on the Herefordshire LA Early Years Team Eventbrite page.

It is the responsibility of providers to ensure mandatory training is in place and renewed at the relevant time and that staff in designated roles have access to appropriate training. Courses must enable providers to meet the The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework.

For information on training for safeguarding and child protection please visit: Safeguarding and child protection in early years settings.

The Early Years Improvement Team offers support to teachers who are newly qualified and staff who are new to working in EYFS in schools, through network meetings, moderation activity, and training on completion of the EYFS Profile.

Qualifications for working in childcare

For a career in childcare, you will need relevant qualifications. The minimum requirement is level 2 however most providers require practitioners to hold a level 3 qualification that meets the Early Years Educator level 3 criteria.

If you are not qualified to the expected level there are options for obtaining the right qualification either by training on the job or through an apprenticeship route.

To be counted within statutory EYFS ratios, the qualification must be deemed full and relevant by Ofsted and the Department for Education, please see the Qualification checkers.

Herefordshire and Ludlow College offers courses and apprenticeships locally.