Training and qualifications for early years practitioners

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 EYFS-related subjects are periodically advertised by the early years team via email to early years providers and schools.

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.

Early Years Team events and training spring 2024

We are very pleased to be able to offer a range of events and training opportunities for Herefordshire settings and childminders. All events are available to book through Eventbrite. Please click on the Eventbrite link for each event to find out more and book your place.

April 2024

Course details and booking link Date and time
Improving Mathematics in the Early Years - Cohort 5 (5 Sessions) Monday 15 April, 10am-12 noon
Improving Mathematics in the Early Years - Cohort 6 (5 Sessions) Wednesday 17 April, 9.15am-12 noon
Early learning goals - Supporting your judgements (April) Tuesday 23 April, 3.30pm-5pm
Child readiness: Perfecting how to have a welcoming setting for all: Part 1
Part 2 will be held on Monday 3 June, 9.30am-3pm
Monday 29 April, 9.30am-3pm
Effective Assessment in the Early Years Wednesday 24 April, 6.30pm - 8pm

May 2024

Course details and booking link Date and time
Early learning goals - Supporting your judgements (May) Monday 13 May, 9.30am-3pm
Keeping in touch briefing for childminders (May) Thursday 16 May, 6.30pm-7.30pm
Childminder twilight training - Making sense of number Tuesday 21 May, 6.30pm-7.30pm
Early years update briefing (May daytime) Thursday 23 May, 1.30pm-3.30pm
Early years update briefing (May evening) Thursday 23 May, 6pm-7pm

June 2024

Course details and booking link Date and time
Safeguarding training - Whistleblowing in the early years Wednesday 5 June, 1.30pm-2.30pm
Preparing for success - Child readiness getting the welcome right Friday 7 June, 9.30am-3pm
Early writing development Monday 10 June, 6.30pm-7.30pm
Training for Designation Safeguarding Leads Friday 14 June, 10am-1pm
EYFS Roadshow Friday 21 June, 2pm-7pm
Keeping in touch briefing (June) Wednesday 26 June, 6.30pm-7.30pm

July 2024

Course details and booking link Date and time
Early years update briefing (July daytime) Thursday 4 July, 1.30pm-3.30pm
Early years update briefing (July evening) Thursday 4 July, 6pm-7.30pm

Early years practitioner wellbeing support

Get ideas on how to support the mental health and wellbeing of yourself and other practitioners working in your early years setting.

Early years education recovery programme

Designed to support all areas of the early years sector, the package offers training in:

Additional funding for qualifications

Support and guidance to all early years settings through:

Supporting the needs of young Service children