News and Updates
Important News - The EYFS has been updated
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children's 'school readiness' and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
Since 3 September 2012, the EYFS was updated. There is a statutory requirement for all early years providers to meet the 'learning and development requirements','assessment' and 'safeguarding and welfare requirements' within the revised framework.
Please refer to EYFS and the supporting documents
Voluntary Food and Drink Guidance for Early Years Settings in England - A Practical Guide has just been published, which will help you meet the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) welfare requirements for the provision of healthy, balanced and nutritious food and drink.
As stated in the Statutory Framework for the EYFS, page 27 "Where children are provided with meals, snacks and drinks, these must be healthy, balanced and nutritious. Those responsible for the preparation and handling of food must be competent to do so. Fresh drinking water must be available at all times." This guideline will help you achieve this. Encouraging children to eat well and learn about food in their early years not only protects their health when they are young, but also sets the foundations for their future health and wellbeing.
This guidance is focused on children aged from one to five years old, and will help you understand why a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet is essential (page 7), what is a healthy, balanced, nutritious diet (page 7)
The food and drink guidelines are underpinned by a nutrient framework, which is outlined on page 13
The guidance will help you:
- Develop a Food Policy (page 45)
- Put together a Code of Practice checklist (page 59)
- Put together a menu planning checklist (page 61) There are seven steps for planning healthy meals, snacks and drinks (see page 11).
Did you know? As a precaution the Department of Health recommends that from six months to five years of age, children should be given a vitamin supplement containing vitamins A, C and D unless they are drinking 500ml of infant formula a day or are eating a varied diet with a wide range of foods to provide an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals.
Guidelines on the recommended dose for children's liquid paracetamol products - has been published by 'The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency' (MHRA).
The full report outlines the key message on page 2, with a table on pages 3 and 4 detailing the most effective dose of paracetamol based on the child's age. Please remember that you must implement an effective policy on administering medicines, which must include effective management systems to support individual children with medical needs. You must keep written records of all medicines administered to children, and inform parents. Also, you must obtain prior written permission for each and every medicine from parents before any medication is given. Please refer to page 26 of the Statutory Framework of the EYFS.
Quality Forums for Registered Childminders
These forums are to help you keep you up-to-date, and support you with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2012 and the Quality Assurance Framework. You will also meet other Childminders and have the opportunity to network, share ideas and good practice. Book on today! Email: childminding@manchester.gov.uk
Find out how the Family Information Service (FIS) can help you to market your childminding service to anyone looking for childcare.