Updates to Early Years Provision

 

The Government is expanding early years and childcare government funding to working families from April 2024 which will enable working families of two year old children to access up to 15 hours of government funded early years education a week (based on 38 weeks). This will be expanded from September 2024 for working families of children after they have turned nine months and then from September 2025 this will be expanded to 30 hours. For more information and parents to check their eligibility visit: Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

There will also be an expansion of wraparound childcare ​places in settings from September for families who need it with children from Reception Year to Year 6. This plan is aimed at families who need wraparound provision from 8 am – 6pm term time only should have access to it within their local community.

There is also government start up grant funding available currently to encourage people to become registered childminders. The website where applications can be made for the start up grant can be found here: Apply for a childminder start-up grant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Togetherall - new year goal setting

Entering a new year may come with hope, happiness, and pressure to achieve goals or feeling like we need to be perfect.

As the new year starts, it’s easy for us to feel like we need to accomplish everything we didn’t get the chance to tackle last year. Sometimes we can put so much pressure on ourselves to improve every aspect of our lives, we can feel anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed.

There’s no problem with setting goals for yourself, but it is important to work towards our goals while being kind to ourselves.

Do you have areas of your life you want to work on this year? Try some of the following tips from the goal-setting guide in the Togetherall platform.

Stafford: SENDIASS Staffordshire family partnership

Staffordshire SEND Family Partnership - Information Advice and Support (SEND IASS) in Staffordshire is the service that supports on education, health and social care issues relating to a child's or young person's (0 - 25 years) special educational needs.

They can be contacted regarding issues such as exclusions, education health and care plans amongst many other issues, including providing support and training for parents and carer's.

You can also follow them on Facebook

Phone them 01785 356921 or Email:
sfps@staffordshire.gov.uk

Follow the link for their website

Web: www.staffs--iass.org/

Information provided by Stafford HIVE

Minimum Income Requirement - incremental approach to new threshold amount

You may have seen reference to the announcement from the Home Office that the planned increase to the MIR to £38,700 will happen incrementally, with a figure of £29,000 applicable from Spring 2024. The Home Office have released a Factsheet that explains more. Among other things, this advises that under the new provisions there will no longer be a separate child element.

Defence continues to liaise with the Home Office in order to understand how this will impact Service Personnel (Officers and Soldiers) and their families, and further information will be provided once more details are known.

Wiltshire: Carer Support Wiltshire

 Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

Lyneham: Yoga & Mindfulness for Kids

 Information provided by Lyneham HIVE

New Accommodation Offer - updated Sway now available

 

Updated communications have now been released on the New Accommodation Offer. To view the new information please go to this SWAY​

Wiltshire: Domestic abuse support in Wiltshire

Further information about the signs of domestic abuse, as well as details of supportive organisations, can be found on the Wiltshire Council website here.

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE

Dundee: Olympia, Dundee's biggest leisure and swimming centre, will re-open to the public from 18 December 2023.

To minimise wait times, visitors to the Leisure Pool can now book a space for the initial opening period. 

Find out more at https://www.leisureandculturedundee.com

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Scotland: Police Scotland - After Dark, home security advice

Although housebreaking can occur at any time of year criminals will often take advantage of darker nights and shorter daylight hours.

Housebreaking can be a traumatic experience.

Simple crime prevention measures can greatly reduce the chances of your home being targeted.

Click on image above to read Police Scotland advice on home security after dark 👆

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE