Information for Early Years Practitioners
Support/Training from the Local Authority
The Local Authority is available for advice, information and training. Some of this is funded by the Local Authority but you are also able to purchase a range of services.
Support/Training from the Local Authority
Tools to help you assess the prime areas of learning
This section provides tools and templates to help you assess children’s level of communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. Use the monitoring tools to track children to support you if you make a referral for further support. The Pathway documents describe the different level of support that are available in East Sussex.
Communication and Language
East Sussex Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Pathway
East Sussex Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Pathway Overview
East Sussex Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Monitoring Tool
Language Checkers (with translations in different languages)
Link to: Information for Parents (including Communication and Language Resources)
Physical Development
Early Years Physical Development Pathway
East Sussex Early Years Physical Development Monitoring Tool
Link to: Information for Parents (including Physical Development Resources)
Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) and Well-being
Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) Pathway
Resources to support children and young people
Meeting Children's Emotional Needs in Early Years
Link to: Information for Parents (including PSED and Well-being Resources)
Glossary for Prime Area Pathways - Glossary of all terms used in the pathways. This will help you understand the terminology and know the teams that you can refer children and families to.
Early Years Mental Health and Emotional Well-being (MHEW)
The following link provides more information and resources regarding mental health and emotional well-being in Early Years.
Early Years Mental Health and Emotional Well-being (MHEW)
Improvement Audits
The following documents support reflection on practice helping to ensure EYFS Statutory Requirements are being met. These may form part of the local authority support completed in conjunction with an Early Years Support and Intervention Officer or can be completed as part of your ongoing reflective practice. If you are unsure of the Early Years Support and Intervention Officer in your area, please contact Childcare Support.
Reflect the minimum Early Years Foundation Stage statutory requirements.
Childminder Management and Safeguarding Audit - no assistants
Childminder Management and Safeguarding Audit - with assistants
Group Management and Safeguarding - Full audit
Group Management and Safeguarding - Short audit
Learning and Development Audit
Observation of Characteristics of Effective Learning
Guidance on required policies and procedures for settings
Sources of support for Early Years Providers
EYPP Toolkit
Information in this section describes how you might use your EYPP and provides templates to use to document how you have used your funding if you wish to record this for your own records. There is a poster to promote this funding to parents.
Parent Partnership
This information is for Early Years settings. Further information to help parents is available under the Information for Parents section.
Fun filled ideas to support parents to play with their child at home can be found on the HALO page.
HOME MATTERS: making the most of the home learning environment - Guidance for schools, nurseries, local authorities and public health partners
Practice Guidance
In this section you will find a toolkit of templates and examples and resources to help you work with young children in the EYFS. The templates are for ideas only and there is no requirement to use these formats unless you would like to.
Observation, assessment and planning resources
Working with two year olds
The following links are to support the completion of the statutory two year check (IPR), information about two year funding and an audit to reflect on your practice and provision for two year olds.
Integrated Progress Review Documents
Early Years Educational Entitlement (EYEE) Funding information
Working with under two's
The audit is designed to help you reflect on your practice and provision for children under the age of two.
Interacting with babies (0-18m) collaborative research project
Thirty-six settings took part in the ESCC Interacting with Babies (0-18m) collaborative research project which ran between 2017 and 2019. The full project report and interactions self-evaluation for this award-winning project can be requested from childcare.support@eastsussex.gov.uk
Case study - high quality communication
Case study - interacting during routines
Case study - non baby room practitioner skills
Case study - non verbal communication
Case study - settling in
Case study - singing
Case study - sustained shared interactions
Case study - outdoor interactions
Helping children stay safe online
Healthy eating, exercise and diet
Healthy Active Little Ones (HALO)