Army HIVE Info

January 4, 2024

Bristol: 24 things to do in Bristol in 2024

From festivals and fiesta's to street art and exhibitions, there is plenty of experiences to be had in Bristol this year.

Click here to be inspired!

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE's

January 3, 2024

Gloucestershire: Events and places to visit in Gloucestershire this year

There are lots of sights to see in Gloucestershire this year, either in the county town of Gloucester or around the county itself. These helpful guides will give you a glimpse of what's coming up in 2024!

What's on in Gloucestershire in 2024

Visit Gloucester - what's on

Information provided by Colerne & Lyneham HIVE's

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)

January 2, 2024

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

December 22, 2023

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.