Childcare and Preschool

Help with Parenting

As any parent knows, parenting doesn't come with a handy guidebook and none of us can know what challenges being a parent will throw at us along the years. But it's good to know there is a lot of help out there and Milton Keynes Council's Parent Support Co-ordinator Carmen Kane can point you in the right direction. more...

Leading to excellence

Ofsted has published its third national report on childcare and early education, Leading to excellence, which is based on evidence from 90,000 inspections of all childcare and early education providers. more ...

An Introduction of the Key Person Approach for Babies and Toddlers

Date: Friday 21st November, 2008. Time: 9.15 - 11.45 am. Venue: Galley Hill Education Centre. Cost: FREE.
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To all Out of School Care, Day Nurseries, Pre-Schools, Childminders & Creches

Our fourth Childcare Forum Event will be held on Wednesday 4th February 2009. Registration 6.50 pm, Forum 7pm - 9pm. Look out for your invitation with the November 2008 issue of Newslink.

Changes to the Ofsted Childcare Registers

The Childcare Act 2006 introduced two new registers for people caring for children - the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register. These Registers came into full effect on 1st September 2008. more ...

Business and Marketing Workshops

Attend a FREE Business and Marketing Workshop and find out why developing a business plan and understanding the principles of marketing can help you develop your childcare business.

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Grow your future in childcare

Milton Keynes Council and the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership have secured Sure Start funding to create New Childcare Places in identified areas of Milton Keynes.

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Childcare Sufficiency Assessment

The Childcare Act 2006 fulfils the government's commitment to give every child the best start in life. It gives the parents greater choice about how to balance work and family life while securing a provision of childcare that is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents to enable them to work or undertake further training.


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Childcare Team News Update

Newslink contains all your up to date childcare information. Our September 2008 issue is now available and has been mailed out to all providers. Click here for latest Issue

Sustainability Funding 2008 - 9

If your childcare setting is experiencing a short term financial crisis then you may be able to apply for Sustainability funding which will help put you back on a sound financial footing. more details ...

Important Information for Registered Childminders

Childminding Training Available for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
For up to date information for Childminders please click here
EYFS Training update

Results of the Consultation for the future management of the Day Nursery Service
Results Document

NCMA Quality Start Pack

All Childminders in Milton Keynes who become registered between the 1st April 2008 and 31st March 2009 are entitled to apply for a FREE NCMA Quality Start Pack. For details of how to apply please click here

Calling all Early Years Professionals!

Have you acheived Early Years Professional Status or are you working towards it? We have some exciting news for you!

Graduate Leader Funding

Milton Keynes Early Years and Childcare Team are pleased to launch the new stream of funding available until 2015 for all settings who currently employ a graduate, wish to recruit a graduate or who have a member of staff at Level 3 / 4 who is working towards attaining Level 5 / Foundations Stage Degree Status Find out more and apply.

There has been rapid growth in the Sure Start Children's Centre programme in Milton Keynes. Families with children aged 5 and under can now access a range of services through the 9 centres that are now open. Plus outreach work in the Hanslope and Newport Pagnell areas will be bringing more services to families living in these areas. Further details

Childminding Support Groups and Drop-ins

Childminders pop along to your local SureStart Children's Centre and join one of our Childminding Support Groups and Drop-ins.
Sure Start Children's Centres - Childminding Support Groups

Do you know about the changes to Nursery Education Funding?

From September 2010, Milton Keynes Council will be offering a flexible 15 hours of free early education to all 3 and 4 year olds over a minimum of 38 weeks. Find out more

Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Consultants, alongside colleagues at Galley Hill, over the last year have explored the new EYFS framework over 3 days of training.

Day 1 has explored in depth "The Unique Child" and "Positive Relationships".

Day 2 has explored in depth "Enabling Environments" and "Learning and Development".

Day 3 has explored observation, assessment and planning and the next steps for settings in implementing the framework.

Want to know more about EYFS? Go to the website www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/eyfs
Early Years Foundation Stage

Children and Young People's Plan - Review 2007 - 08

The 2007 - 08 Review of the Milton Keynes Children and Young People's Plan is now available Children and Young People's Plan Review 2007-08

The vision of the Milton Keynes Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (MKEYDP) is to improve the life chances of children, young people, their families and the communities of Milton Keynes.
The Plan for 2007 8 and a review of the work done in 2006-7 are now available.
Details

Milton Keynes Childcare Team gains accreditation

The Milton Keynes Childcare Team has been accredited with the nationally recognised quality mark for organisations which provide support to individuals to make learning and work more accessible -
the matrix Standard

The Milton Keynes Childcare Team has set out the level of service for the information, advice and guidance that they provide to clients, staff and partners in the Early Years Childcare Sector in a Statement of Service