Visit our online portal to book places on the various courses available.

Please contact us at earlyyears.admin@hackney.gov.uk if you require assistance booking your team members on the courses.

Maths Champions is an evidence-based, professional development programme delivered by NDNA. It is aimed at increasing early years practitioner skills, knowledge, awareness and confidence in supporting children’s early mathematical development.

Commissioned by the Education Endowment Foundation, the independent evaluation team from the Universities of Durham and York analysed the results of the programme, which showed that children in a setting that ran the programme made on average three months additional progress in maths and language development

To read more about the programme visit the NDNA website or watch this short information video.  

For more information contact:

📞 0208 553 2479 / 075 9616 5918

📧 abrighterstart@sheringham-nur.newham.sch.uk

The nominee will act as a vital link between your setting and our inspection team, assisting communication and supporting leaders' workload and well-being during inspection.

In this video, you'll learn:

• what the nominee role entails

• how nominees support the inspection process

• key responsibilities and expectations

• how to decide if your setting needs a nominee

We also discuss several example scenarios showing the nominee role in practice.

Please do let the team know if you decide to engage with Grow London Local as it would be great to get some feedback around this.

We are aware that some settings are not listed in the Family Navigator section. If you do not see your setting's name, please contact the family navigator linked to your neighbourhood. If you do not know your neighbourhood, please contact FIS.

Please do share any feedback on their offer as well as any future suggestions with Cimone Brown (Early Years Strategy Manager) who would be happy to discuss this directly with the SPH.

Website: https://sheringham-nur.org.uk/stronger-practice-hub/about-sph/

Sign up for their newsletter: A Brighter Start: East London's Stronger Practice Hub Sign Up

Read the blog post

• What MECC is

• Population health and wellbeing in City & Hackney

• Key issues affecting children and young people locally

• Good conversation techniques

• The 3As approach: Ask – Assist – Act

• Useful resources and signposting

Importantly, these sessions have been informed by insights from Hackney Youth Parliament. Young people shared what they want adults to understand about their health and wellbeing needs, what makes conversations feel safe and supportive, and how professionals can better recognise the issues that matter to them. This input has shaped the content and examples used in the training to ensure it reflects the real experiences of young people in our borough.

The sessions include theory, case studies, and practical activities, and are suitable for anyone who regularly interacts with CYP and has opportunities to discuss their wellbeing.

Bookings can be made on Eventbrite, and if you have any questions regarding the training, please contact: meccsupport@smgateway.co.uk. 

The webinars include:

• Watch the recording of Ready to Thrive? How 50 Things to Do Supports a Confident Start to School.

   

• Learning Begins at Home: Everyday Experiences that Build a Strong Home Learning Environment with 50 Things to Do
  9th February, 4-5pm

• Commissioning 50 Things to Do Before You're Five: Guidance for Implementation
  19th March 4-5pm

• Talking, Reading, Exploring: Supporting Early Learning with 50 Things to Do
  25th February, 4-5pm

  
  

• Growing Together: Family, Community, and the Role of Shared Experiences with 50 Things to Do
  11th March 4-5pm

  
  

• Commissioning 50 Things to Do Before You're Five: Guidance for Implementation
  ​​​​​​​19th March 4-5pm​​​​​​​

If you are unable to attend a webinar, it will be recorded.

To find out more and to register for a webinar, please visit: https://50thingstodo.org/audience/small-steps-big-futures/webinars

Find out more

Take part in one of our new early years projects

We champion evidence in early education by investing in new projects that help to build the sector’s knowledge of what works.

Schools, nurseries and private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings are invited to take part in four trials and one pilot across England.

The projects will:

• provide educators with professional development,

• aim to support children's social and emotional, early language or maths development,

• evaluate each programme to contribute to the early years evidence-base.

Nursery:

• Talk with Tales for Children (TWiTCH) – trial is a professional development programme that aims to improve language interactions and language development among three- and four-year-olds by supporting educators in the early years to use enhanced, high-quality interactions during storytime.

• Positive Early Childhood Education (PECE) – trial is a professional development programme for educators in the early years. It provides 22 practical strategies that aim to improve self-regulation and support positive interactions among three- and four-year-olds.

• Early Skills for Life – pilot is a universal personal, social and emotional development programme that aims to improve self-regulation and emotional expression among three- and four-year-olds.

Reception:

• Maths Through Picture Books – trial is training for reception teachers and teaching assistants to deliver targeted, small-group sessions that teach children foundational maths through picture books and conversation.

• OxEd Whole Class and NELI – trial is a universal oral language enrichment programme for Reception pupils to be delivered alongside or independently of NELI, a targeted companion oral language intervention.

Search your setting

Friday 5^th & 19^th June ’26 at 10.00am at The Tomlinson Centre, Queensbridge Rd, London E8 3ND

This 2-day course will support your practice by providing: 

• A grounding in the 3 tenants of the approach – Containment, Reciprocity and Behaviour Management 

• An introduction to infant, early childhood and adolescent brain development 

• An understanding behaviour as a communication 

• An understanding of development milestones 

• An understanding of the impact Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) 

• Access to Solihull resources for your professional use for three years after course completion 

Find out more

Wednesday 22nd April 2026

9:30am - 12:30pm

In person at Linden Children's Centre

Session 2

Wednesday 13th May 2026

9:30 - 11:00am

Online

Course overview

Explore the power of open-ended play through the magic of block play and loose parts. This practical and reflective course covers the theory, history, and stages of block play, its benefits for brain development and well-being. Course attendees will also discover links to the statutory guidance plus how open-ended play can be used to develop the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ and across all areas of learning (such as the exploration of shapes and space, construction, problem solving, language and communication skills, social interaction as well as fine and large muscle control).

Gain practical strategies to enhance your provision, plan enabling environments, support high-quality adult interactions, and follow children’s interests through creative, purposeful play.

The Early Years team has decided to deliver this CPD in two parts, as detailed below. Evidence shows that this delivery style leads to more active learning, provides an opportunity for peer support and improves the chances of transferring the learning back to your setting.

Who should attend?
Practitioners working in the private, voluntary, independent and maintained settings with children aged 0-5.

Spaces are currently available on the course. Please visit this link asap to book your place: 

https://hackneyeducation.bookinglive.com/book/add/p/946

Wednesday 6th May 2026

9:30am - 12:30pm

In person at Linden Children's Centre

Session 2

Tuesday 2nd June 2026

9:30 - 11:00am

Online

Course overview
Join us to discover how to seamlessly weave mathematical concepts into the activities children already love—from the rhythm of a favourite song and the narrative of a classic storybook, to the familiar comfort of daily routines.

Participants will also explore why your own creativity is the most powerful tool you have and empower you to become a confident, creative practitioner who sees mathematical opportunities everywhere.

The Early Years team has decided to deliver this CPD in two parts, as detailed below. Evidence shows that this delivery style leads to more active learning, provides an opportunity for peer support and improves the chances of transferring the learning back to your setting.

Who should attend?
Practitioners working in the private, voluntary, independent and maintained settings with children aged 0-5.

Spaces are currently available on the course. Please visit this link asap to book your place: 

https://hackneyeducation.bookinglive.com/book/add/p/942

Please review these slides at your earliest convenience, as they contain important funding updates.

Making the Most of Digital Tools for Early Years and Childcare Providers on Vimeo

If you are working as an Early Years SENCO, or have an interest in Early Years SEND provision, this is the perfect programme for you. We accept multiple applications per setting, enabling settings to strengthen whole team SEND provision.

Apply by 3 May to join the May EY SENCO cohort!

The Programme

• Accredited and fully-funded by the Department for Education

• Learn to actively engage with children and their families using the Assess, Plan, Do, Review process

• Understand what an effective support plan should include and why clear outcomes are important

• Gain the techniques to identify SEND at the earliest point

• Learn through online study units

Eligibility checklist

For those working in a setting

• Full and relevant Level 3 qualification or above

• Working in a Private, Voluntary or Independent (PVI) setting

Places are limited, so early applications are recommended.

If you would like to find out more or chat to our team, please do get in touch.

 eysen@bestpracticenet.co.uk

0117 920 9200

Use the chatbox on our website

Level 2 - Early Years Practitioner https://skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0888-v1-1 

Level 3 - Early Years Educator https://skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0135-v1-5

Time: 10am - 1pm

Location: Zoom

MECC Plus enables professionals and volunteers to use a motivational approach to conversations which support positive behaviours. It builds on the learnings from MECC and takes them a step further, enabling participants to engage service users effectively, address barriers, and strengthen motivation for change.

Who is the training for?

This training is for people who have conversations with residents related to their lifestyles, health or specific decisions like vaccination.

Course Objectives:

• The spirit of the motivational approach and core techniques

• Draw on the practice of Motivational Interviewing with people who would benefit from behaviour change

• Identify what motivation people have to change

• Build and strengthen their motivation to change

Course Outline:

• Behaviour change and building on MECC skills

• Core skills, strategies and processes

• Watching and critiquing a model conversation

• Putting the motivational approach skills into practice

This 3-hour interactive online session is on Zoom.

Email us to find out more:

meccsupport@smgateway.co.uk

Sign up: https://MECCPLUS_CityandHackney.eventbrite.co.uk

Time: 1pm - 3pm

Location: Children Ahead, 91-93 Stamford Hill, London N16 5TP

The Early Support Team in collaboration with Children Ahead, invite you to the Early Years SENCO forum.

Highlights:

• The Importance of Play - Zippy Leigh, Children Ahead

• Identifying SEND needs, following a Graduated Response and accessing Early Years Inclusion Funding - The Early Support Team, Hackney Education

Please RSVP to:

jo.matheson@hackney.gov.uk

Professional resources are here to help you protect babies and support grieving families.The Lullaby Trust has a range of resources to help you protect babies and support grieving families. Resources include:

• Safer sleep for babies: a guide for professionals

• Bereavement support leaflet

• Safer sleep essentials list poster

Access the resources on the Lullaby Trust website

Link to register 

or email: fis@hackney.gov.uk to register your interest.

This flexible online training will help you to:

• Build and strengthen your child development knowledge

• Get practical advice and ideas to support children in your setting, including reception classes

• Reflect on your practice and test your knowledge

• Learn from practical training videos filmed in early years and reception settings

• Access modules in any order, at any time 

• Download a certificate on completion of each module

The programme includes 8 modules, covering key areas such as:

• Brain development and how children learn

• Personal, social and emotional development

• Communication and language

• Physical development

• Mathematics

• Effective curriculum and assessment

• Supporting individual differences and needs

The training has recently been updated to include:

• Additional videos and practical advice for supporting children in reception

• Guidance on supporting the EYFS profile assessment

Access the training: 
Visit the Early years child development training to register or sign-in if you already have an account. 

Free early years resources: 

Help for Early Years Providers also offers free resources for educators working with children aged 0 to 5 years. The website has recently been updated to include EYFS profile assessment support  including bite-sized videos and case studies. A new safer sleep page has also been created in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust, providing advice to create and maintain safer sleep environments for babies and young children in their care. 

Upcoming training includes:

• CHSCP: Group A/B/C - Safeguarding Children with Disabilities - 24 June

• CHSCP: Group A/B/C - Oral Health Care - 2 July

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/zan-voqz-auw

The training workshop supports early years practitioners and health visiting teams in delivering high quality integrated reviews (27th-month progress check) by providing best practice and guidance. 

The workshop addresses all required stages of an integrated review and emphasises the importance of collaborating with early years practitioners, health visiting teams, and parents/carers.

It discusses ways to collaborate to benefit the child's health and development progress at 27 months.

Visit the Professionals Hub

• Build and strengthen your child development knowledge

• Get practical advice and ideas to support children in your setting, including reception classes

• Reflect on your practice and test your knowledge

• Learn from practical training videos filmed in early years and reception settings

Access modules in any order, at any time

Download a certificate on completion of each module

https://child-development-training.education.gov.uk/

Upcoming training and updates includes:

• Government Response to Protecting All Vulnerable Babies Better

• CHSCP: Group B/C - Safer Sleep Training - Wednesday 28 October 2026 (10:00 - 13:00)

• CHSCP: Group A/B/C - Safeguarding Children with Disabilities - Wednesday 9 December 2026 (09:30 - 16:30)

We have secured funds to deliver the Maths Champions programme fully funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and Department for Education (DfE) to eligible providers in England. Maths Champions has been evaluated by the EEF.d

Find out more

Apply for free access

Follow the links below to book a place: 

• 22 September 19:00-21:00

• 1 October 12:30-14:30

• 13 November 09:30-11:30

You can view upcoming courses and reserve your places directly via our online portal Bookinglive.

Time: 10am - 1pm

Location: Online

Discover the legal obligations and practical strategies to support every child's right to an inclusive education.

Find out more and register

• Building Positive Relationships with Parent Carers in Early Years (Practitioners – 16/9/26)

• Supporting Your Child’s Speech, Language and Communication Skills (0–5) (Parent / Carers – 16/9/26)

• Early Years Educational Support for Children with SEND (Parent / Carers – 17/9/26)

• Sensory Processing in the Early Years: What it is and why it matters (Practitioners – 29/9/26)

• Supporting Your Child’s Speech, Language and Communication Skills (0-5) (Parent / Carers – 1/10/26)

• Supporting your Child's Social Communication Skills (Parent / Carers – 6/10/26)

• Building Positive Relationships with Parent / Carers in Early Years (Practitioners – 7/10/26)

• Understanding and Managing Anxiety (0–5) (Parent / Carers – 8/10/26)

Find out more and register

Visit the Early Years Hub