Training and support (EYFS)

East Sussex County Council provides advice, information and training, some of it funded.

The Early Years Team (EYT) work with all early years providers in East Sussex, including:

childminders
pre-schools, nurseries and school nurseries
Ofsted registered out-of-school providers and holiday clubs

This document sets out the service you can expect to receive:

Standard operating procedures for early years settings [110.8 KB] [docx]

Training

Training is available every academic year. The training offer is based on:

Ofsted outcomes
local need
outcomes at the end of the Reception year

To find out more and book, visit the East Sussex Learning Portal.

East Sussex Learning Portal

Ofsted registered childcare providers can purchase traded services by contacting childcare.support@eastsussex.gov.uk .

Early Years Hubs for Excellence

Hubs enable early years providers and key partners to work together to ensure children achieve the best outcomes from their early education.

It is a chance to:

share good practice
discuss current practice and pedagogy

Early Years Hubs for Excellence - guidance [138.6 KB] [docx]

Hub activities and events

Some events may be open to schools and settings across different Education Improvement Partnership (EIP) groups. Contact the organiser to check.

Ashdown Hubs

Hastings, Rother and Rye Hub

Hastings Rother and Rye
Instagram
Facebook group

Eastbourne Hubs

The Eastbourne Hubs have a private Eastbourne Hub Facebook group.

Wealden Hubs

Wealden Hubs information

Qualifications

The EYFS provides guidance on qualifications for a variety of roles and settings.

Check an early years qualification - GOV.UK (CEYQ) allows managers to check staff qualifications quickly and easily by entering key details such as the qualification name, awarding organisation, and course start date. A clear outcome is provided, which can be printed for records. This tool saves managers valuable time during recruitment and HR processes, ensuring they have appropriately qualified staff in place ahead of the expansion of funded childcare entitlements in September 2025.

CEYQ is currently available for EY managers only. Practitioners should continue using the Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) to check their qualifications.

Early Years Officers

Early Years Officers provide support and training for all practitioners in the EYFS. The team work alongside the early years hubs and moderation groups to provide strategic guidance.