National awareness drive from the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
For Lead Member for Children's Services, Local Authorities, Parents. March 2010
Friday 19 March 2010, LGiU London 10:00 - 15:30
One of the new Family Information Direct services
developed by the Children's Workforce Development Council
Guidance for Children's Trusts and strategic partners
First National Evaluation Report - Child Poverty Unit
Progress made since the Government’s Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A Cross-Government Strategy for England was published in 2008
Interim report of the Family Commission
A surprise for Creswick Sure Start Children's Centre
Aims to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children
A conference about ante-natal support for dads. 27 April 2010 at the Marriott Hotel Leicester
Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant (SSEYCG) and Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC)
An evaluation of the largest early years programme in England
Handbook for national roll-out due mid-March
Apply to be a pilot site for testing
Calling all practitioners working with the under fives!
to implement the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF)
Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England Post 2010
Early Intervention and Prevention
4Children campaign supported by Melinda Messenger and
Thank you to everyone who responded to this consultation which is now closed. The analysis of responses will now take place.
Sport Relief Events Handbook
Discovery e-newsletter
replaces current self-evaluation form (SEF)
Applications for the 6th cohort opens 5th February 2010
Ensuring parents and children understand what they are entitled to expect from schools.
e-leaflet setting out a range of services for local authorities that are focusing on tackling child poverty
Local Authority Family Information Service standards
Announced at the Parent Know How showcase 27th January 2010
The Pregnancy Book, Birth to Five, Pregnancy Planner on NHS Choices, Birth to Five on NHS Choices
Guidance for Children's Trust partnerships, including how to deliver NI 50
by James Browne and Gillian Paull
Tuesday 16 March 2010 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London
Does your school/organisation have a breakfast club?
Would you like to develop a 'family dimension' of your club?
£350 Grants available
Tuesday 16 March 2010 America Square Conference Centre, London
Suite of training materials to support the Achieving Better Outcomes Programme/Commissioning Development Programme
Fatherhood Institute guide for dads will feature in Bounty Pack
Measures to support all families as they bring up their children and to help them cope with times of stress and difficulty
DCSF Consultation 7 December 2009 to 1 February 2010
Tuesday 26th January 2010 10:30am - 4:30pm, Business Design Centre, Central London
ContinYou and Kellogg’s offer over £15,000 worth of cash prizes to the best breakfast clubs in the UK
Parenting Implementation Project website update
Research report January 2010
Independent Review into the supply of teachers trained to meet the needs of children with Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (SLD and PMLD).
FCO Checklist V7 and Designation Checklist for LAs V3
Wednesday 10 February (Lancaster Hotel, London.)
from the Government's Child Poverty Unit
Register now for the Parent Know How Showcase
Online survey for all families
The Government's full response to the independent review of CAMHS
Report from the Family and Parenting Institute
Developed to support Government Policy Drivers including Integrated Working, CAF and Information Sharing
Part of the Change 4 Life campaign
A key Department of Health publication, revised
Fifth in the series helping children's centres promote their services
revised statutory guidance
Questions submitted about the recently published consultation draft of the Statutory guidance on co-operation arrangements
e-consultation closing date 26h February 2010
Further information on implementation postponement
work plan and progress made on Lord Laming’s recommendations.
Booklets on having a baby and living with teenagers
Available to all Children’s Centres in England
Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant (SSEYCG)
Early Years Single Funding Formula
DCSF's next steps to achieve outstanding children’s services
Including Men in Organisations programme from Fathers Plus
Guidance and support for parents with disabled children, kids with life limiting conditions or SEN.
Conducted by Oxford University, published 26th November
Fatherhood Institute puts services to the ‘dad test’ to encourage Agency Champions
Study, undertaken by Capacity for the Commission for Rural Communities
part of the Change4Life campaign
the final impact assessment of In-Work Credit, Work Search Premium, Extended Schools Childcare, Quarterly Work Focused Interviews and New Deal Plus for Lone Parents
Ideas on how to help children, young people and families get more active and eat more healthily
Magazine of the National Association of Headteachers article
PKHD is the DCSF's new, free online signposting service for parents and those who work with them.
A guide for families facing hardships because of the recession, bereavement or other loss.
9 February 2010 at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Greycoat Street, London SW1P 2QD.
NICE Consultation on the Draft Guidance
Results of the consultation and proposed way forward
A picture of overall improvement in care, education and skills in England
Committment to implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Based in a Middlesbrough community in the top 10% deprived wards in the UK
A report investigating how parenting style influences the development of character in the early years
Celebrating the efforts of those helping to improve the lives of the Capital’s struggling families
New joint TfC/TDC product with CHaMP (Child Health and Maternity Partnership)
Allocation for the Think Family Grant 2010-11
Funding for new staff in children's centres
Message To Early Years Leads on the use of mobile phones
Informal Guidance from DCSF
TfC pack for local authorities and children's centres
Vacancy for HR and Finance Administrator
Letter from Dawn Primarolo
A project to explore the most effective ways to encourage parents and carers to communicate more with their babies
November's theme is Children in Need
Including Knowsley and Redcar and Cleveland
Ideas and Support from the DCSF
Key Department of Health publication, revised
The two year review and
Pregnancy and the first five years of life
Report conducted by 4Children on behalf of the DCSF
New DCSF Resource for promoting Sure Start Children's Centres
Autumn CCLN Events video message from Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, Dawn Primarolo
Think Fathers Early Years Shed Tour Highlights
Friday 6 November 2009, 10am to 4.30pm
Thistle Marble Arch, Bryanston Street, Marble Arch Hotel, London W1H 7EH
Letter from the Minister, Dawn Primarolo
Letter from Martin Howarth, Acting Head of Childcare Division to local authorities
Coverage for nine government regions
Guide to commissioning father-inclusive parenting services
led by Dawn Primarolo, the Minister for Children, Young People and Families
Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Results in England, 2008/09
Department of Health Action on Health Visiting document
A joint TfC and TDA product to support links between extended services and children’s centres
Don't miss out on this season's events in your region
New Stakeholder website goes live and Baby Lifecheck has a flying start
Free subscription, quarterly magazine, published for the DCSF, aimed at everyone who works with young children and their families.
First edition of a monthly e-newsletter dedicated
to providing staff working in Sure Start Children’s Centres
4Children conference Wednesday 14th October, London
Extra DCSF Funding to Support Families through the Recession
New guidance from National Strategies
Do you know a family who has an accident story about their child that will help other parents to spot hazards in their home?
Draft guidance for Consulatation
C4EO's new Knowledge Review of the current evidence base provides you with the latest information.
Prominent figures spoke at three events in September
Comprehensive Area Assessment Guidance
Logos, branding guidance and templates
New public health guidance from NICE
Joint Communication to Regional Directors of Public Health and Regional Directors of Children and Learners
For DCSF, Government Offices and Local Authorities
Circular and supplementary letter
For LAs and early years practitioners
Guidance for Early Language Lead Practitioners
Enhanced Childcare Directory (ECD) update
Email from DCSF to 30 target areas
Migration from old Local Authority web site to new ECM website channel
Secretary of Stae for Children, Schools and Families.
Start of nationwide free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds, Up to 1500 hours of Government-funded free childcare for under-fives, Second year of Early Years Foundation Stage
This Commissioning Support Programme guide is to help build shared understanding of the characteristics of effective commissioning.
The Children’s Workforce Network has developed a vision and principles for induction for the children’s workforce.
For local authorities and partners
Register as a partner or supporter ready for Start4Life programme
Small scale report evaluating the impact of integrated services on children, parents and families in 20 children’s centres visited between June and December 2008.
A guide to inspections of provision on Ofsted's Childcare and Early Years Registers. Updated August 2009.
Participation Works has developed a How To guide with Play England.
Children, Schools and Families Select Committee inquiry into Sure Start Children's Centres.
The secrets of successful childcare leaflet
Tuesday 8 September 2009 10.30am
The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre,London
Friday 9th October 2009 part of Children's Book Week 5-11 October
Online resource for parents is going live in September 2009
Children’s Services Improvement Framework booklet
The Event Handbook is now available
Letter from Dawn Primarolo, Minister of State for Children, Young People & Families
Information and Guidance (New TfC Topic Area)
In recognition of processing additional checks on childcare providers.
Support for professional development for outreach in Sure Start Childrens Centres
Fatherhood Institute's mentor programme for expectant and new dads
NHS Early Years LifeCheck becomes NHS Baby LifeCheck
Joint statement from UNITE/CPHVA and the Department of Health
New pocket-sized Dad cards
Resources from the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI)
A letter from DCSF to local authorities
This DCSF guidance is aimed at local safeguarding children board (LSCB) partners and other professionals working with children and young people and their families.
This guidance covers the alerting features in children and young people (under 18 years) of physical, sexual and emotional abuse neglect fabricated or induced illness.
Early Education Pilot for Two Year Old Children Evaluation and Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents 2008
DCSF principles, pledges and commitments for continued working with the third sector to help deliver the Every Child Matters agenda.
A Study of the Dynamics in Six Local Authority Areas
Consultation closes 18th September 2009
Ofsted published report: "The impact of integrated services on children and their families in Sure Start children’s centres".
Video Clips from Leicestershire
Report, published July 2009, by the Coalition on Men and Boys providing an in-depth picture of the current circumstances of men and boys in the UK.
Congratulations to Friar Park, Mesty Crofts and Woods Children’s Centre (Wednesbury)
The Commissioning Support Programme is sponsored by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health to help Children’s Trusts plan, design and implement services more effectively.
Do you know someone who has made a difference either in their field or work or in a voluntary capacity within the community?
Organsied by C4EO and Child Poverty Unit
includes four clauses giving Sure Start Children’s Centres a statutory legal basis and introducing a duty for Ofsted to inspect centres
The current systems for providing parents with information about local childcare provision will change and improve when the Parent Know How Directory (PKHD) goes live.
Outreach work in Southend on Sea
Introductory letter from Ed Balls, Secretary of State
A short guide produced by the Family and Parenting Institute
This conference brings together expert speakers to provide an update on the latest strategy and practical solutions for improving service and support within children’s centres.
New regulation come into force 22 July 2009
Guidance for practitioners in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Handbook for local authorities
Research investigating whether a benchmarking system would support the achievement of best value for money from Sure Start Children’s Centres.
Supporting adults by paying for their childcare and travel costs whilst they are undertaking learning leading to work (including eligibilty poster)
As part of the Think Fathers campaign, DCSF has published The 'Dad Test Guide for Children's Services.'
Information from the DCSF on Sure Start Children’s Centres Legislation – expected implications for local authorities, children’s centres and key partners.
The Preschool Learning Alliance wants to find ways to increase the involvement of fathers in early years services through a new audit for practitioners.
Update from DCSF for interim period before guidance is published in July 2009.
The latest national statistics on provision for children under five years of age produced by the DCSF.
Together for Children has been recognised for its work in delivering the government's children's centre programme
Online booklet which sets out to parents the benefits of high-quality childcare.
The ninth in a series of annual surveys which investigate the circumstances of British families with dependent children.
The Child Poverty Bill, published today, will enshrine the Government's commitment to eradicate child poverty by 2020 into law.
Implementation handbook supporting local authority delivery of the Parent Know How Directory (PKHD)
The World Health Organisation has increased its influenza pandemic alert level to 6.
Additional help to families during the recession
Response to the HSC report on health inequalities laid before Parliament on 18 May
Online survey for LA Feedback
Guide to all resources designed to support LAs in fulfilling their duty to improve the outcomes of all young children from birth to the age of five and to reduce inequalities between them.
These are interactive tools, developed to help early years professionals access and apply C4EO's 'what works' evidence.
C4EO has launched a campaign to recruit and train 18 Sector Specialists to help improve outcomes in services to vulnerable children.
With a number of families taking half-term holidays this week in Mexico and the USA, where there have been more cases of swine flu than in the UK, the DCSF have asked the Health Protection Agency for advice.
Ideal for displaying in universal children’s setting such as extended schools and children's centres.
Consultation to seek the views of parents, early learning and childcare providers, local authorities and others, on how best to deliver the extended free offer.
Booktrust is pleased to announce its support for this year’s National Family Week with their Bedtime Reading Week. The week will run from Wednesday 27 May to Wednesday 2 June.
Letter to Directors of Children' Services
A new section for publications, reports and resources
A letter from Beverley Hughes, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families highlighting issues in two areas of Early Years spending.
Transcript of the Prime Minister’s speech in London on 13 May 2009.
A new website and resources have been developed to support the campaign
To deliver the new network of Children and Learners Strategic Advisers (CLSAs).
Starts in a selection of local authorities in mid-May through to August 2009.
Resources to raise awareness in wake of Father’s day (June 21) and the Think Fathers campaign summit (June 23)
The second phase of delivery for ContactPoint will be 18 May 09
New online resources providing authorities with communications guidance and practical support to help promote Outdoor Play and Childcare.
The Government today announced how it will deliver the step-change in child protection called for by Lord Laming in his recent progress report.
Note and guidance for local authorities on priority issues to be addressed in relation to their local Families Information Service and how to meet their s12 Childcare Act 2006 duty.
Please find attached the latest guidance from the DCSF regarding swine flu.
In the light of the swine flu outbreak, the DCSF is asking local authorities to review their current plans should a pandemic or other emergency occur.
As distributed in Spring 2009 issue of Early Years this poster is now available for download.
The new version of the Looking for Childcare? booklet is now available.
Report by Dr Sarah Jenkins, Isabella Pereira & Natalie Evans published by Policy Exchange.
Following the Minister’s letter of 26 February, there is a process for Local Authorities wishing to bring forward 2010/11 Sure Start Early Years Capital Grant.
The Think Fathers' campaign is running a number of activities to get the general public ‘thinking fathers’ – and this is where you can get involved, support the campaign and join the debate! Read on for more details.
Working Families is providing advice and support to working people in London on low incomes about time and money choices when starting a family. This is a new project, which runs till 2010 and builds on outreach work promoting take-up of tax credits. The project is partially and initially funded by a grant of £25,000 a year for two years from City Parochial Foundation.
Children's Centres are acting as signposting services for the Directgov as part of the Digital Inclusion Strategy
The Children's Centre Leader Network is for all centre leaders dealing directly with children and families.
Register your children's centre contact details for free via BT's 'The Phone Book Website'
NAPP have launched their Commissioning Toolkit website which is designed to help local authorities across England choose the right parenting support for families in their area.
Delivering on the work of its first theme, Early Years, the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes Children and Young People’s Services (C4EO) has launched a major new knowledge resource sector-led support programme.
Child Maintenance Options is a new service providing impartial information and support to help both parents make an informed choice about child maintenance and providing information on other issues parents might face upon separation.
The Fatherhood Institute has produced two evidence-based resources to help children’s, healthcare and education services reach out to dads - and meet the growing raft of policy directives that require them to do so.
This publication sets out a vision for 2020 in which everyone who works with children and young people is: ambitious for every child and young person, excellent in their practice, committed to partnership and integrated working, and respected and valued as professionals.
Chief adviser publishes report on striking the right balance between offering protection without being overly burdensome.
The Fatherhood Institute has been awarded a 50% increase (to £440,000) in core funding from Government from 2009, to support its growing role in shaping a child-focused narrative on fatherhood in children’s policy and services.
Learn more about a free trainers' package and e-learning material Everybody's Business, offering a cost-effective and convenient way to help staff working with children learn about their mental health.
Proposals and consultation sessions
From April 2009, almost all pregnant women in the UK will be entitled to Health in Pregnancy Grant (HiPG).
Get free specialist housing information from Shelter’s Children’s Service Advice Line.
An investigation of the relationship between financial capability and psychological well-being in mothers of young children in poor areas in England (November 2008).
Dads-Space is an interactive portal, recently launched, to help newly separated dads keep in contact with their children.
The NHS Early Years LifeCheck is an online tool for parents and carers with babies 5-8 months old. It provides personalised information and useful advice about what parents can do to help keep their baby healthy, happy and safe.
C4EO has published its first three scoping studies for its first theme, Early Years.
What is an Effective Children’s Centre?
A study to explore the perceptions of parents, practitioners and managers.
This publication celebrates the delivery achievement to date, and sets out the position of the Sure Start Children's Centres programme as at September 2008.
The DCSF has published an update to the first improvement support protocol published in July, 2007.
Blue Peter puts food back on the menu with its biggest-ever Appeal: Mission Nutrition
Dates for the CCLN regional events during November and December have now been released.
Emap Conferences together with LGC are hosting this event on 13th November 2008 to help build a stronger early years workforce and improve outcomes for every child.
This is the first newsletter from the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services (C4EO). It aims to keep you updated with the Centre's latest activities and will be published on a bi-monthly basis.
A toolkit that can be used by practitioners planning sessions or looking to draw on the experiences of others to help build on existing work with dads.
The Tackling Obesity with HENRY e-learning course has now been released.
As part of SCIE’s work on children and families, they have just published this new free e-learning product on the Children of Prisoners.
Together for Children have recently updated their on line Health Support Products, 'Improving health and local authority joint working'.
The Academy has designed a programme of free training and support that will reach over 6000 parenting practitioners in England over the next two years.
A one day conference to explore the next steps for children’s centres and extended schools, combining national policy and leading practice to improve outcomes for children, young people, families and communities.
The National Literacy Trust has launched Early Reading Connects, a new project designed to support early years practitioners in encouraging a love of stories and reading among the children in their care and their families.
Is a suite of free services designed to serve everyone in a parenting role – mothers, fathers, carers and other adults with parental responsibility – by ensuring access to expert advice through existing helplines and services.
The Government is launching a public consultation on proposals to give Sure Start Children's Centres (SSCCs) a specific statutory legal basis, as part of the forthcoming Education and Skills Bill.
The latest issue of the DCSF Early Years Magazine is now online!
The Fatherhood Institute is inviting Children’s Centres and other children’s services across the UK to take part in the UK version of a groundbreaking American ante-natal peer support programme for dads-to-be.
Please find attached a letter that has been sent out to all 3,000 Sure Start Children's Centre Leaders today from Secretary of State Rt Hon Ed Balls MP and Rt Hon Beverley Hughes MP.
The Government’s new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework comes into force today.
A conference run by the National Literacy Trust for Early Years practitioners to consider early communication issues from a young child's perspective, with the help of specialist practitioners and academics.
This Autumn North East Lincolnshire Council is offering Local Authorities from across the country the chance to attend a conference on the innovative new methods we have in place to improve our Children’s Centres.
ContinYou are looking for examples of exciting, imaginative, innovative and enjoyable activities - the kind that really can make learning come alive, and that make a difference.
DCSF launch their introduction to the EYFS leaflet to provide information for Parents and Carers.
The results of the 2007 Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey have been published by DCSF.
DCSF are writing about plans for moving towards full national coverage of children’s centres and the further development of performance management arrangements.
Neil Stewart Associates are running their 6th annual Sure Start conference on the 30th September 2008
The Ministry of Justice and National Offender Management Service are hosting an event on joining up Criminal Justice with services for children and families.
The latest issue of the DCSF Early Years Magazine is now online
The independent evaluation of the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) Programme has been published.
Thursday 25th September 2008 - Central London
Campaign for Learning are running a national conference on Families, Learning and Community Cohesion which will be of interest to Children's Centre Leaders.
Further clarification was requested on the wording in the Planning Guidance. Please see the attached document further information and DCSF clarification.
The Fatherhood Institute launches a campaign on Monday 30 June to ensure the DAD cards are available in every Children’s Centre in the country.
The Parent's Guide to Money, produced by the Financial Services Authority will be distributed free throughout England early this autumn via midwives.
Child Safety Week is supported by the Department for Children, schools and Families and is the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s flagship community education campaign
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have published a tool to support health and social care workers in raising the issue of smoking cessation with pregnant women who access their service.
New briefing paper produced by DCSF for early years leads and commissioners to encourage funding of parental engagement programmes.
Housing charity Shelter has launched a free advice and information for staff of Children’s Centres to best support families who are experiencing housing problems.
The application round for NPQICL has been extended until 12pm on 16 May 2008
Guidance for local authorities
Commercial guidance for commissioners