smalltalk - Summer 2019

smalltalk…supporting the early years sector in Wales for over 30-years.

Published quarterly since spring 1986, and mailed free of charge to all Early Years Wales members. smalltalk is the must-read title for early years education and early years childcare providers in Wales.

Whether you are looking for ideas to implement within the setting or to help you with your training and development, wanting to keep up to date with the latest curriculum changes or changes in legislation, our 28-page, full colour magazine is packed full of articles to inspire you to embed and inform high-quality practice, whilst continuing to run a successful business.

Welcome to the summer 2019 edition of smalltalk

Hello Summer!

You did it! You helped us make the very first Early Years Wales Awards an absolute rip-roaring success – we cannot thank & congratulate you enough. We were completely blown away with the response we received. You may have seen some of the photos filtering through on social media but if not, turn to page 4 where we bring you the winners and give you a taste of the day.

The theme of excellence and outstanding quality provided by our sector in Wales continues throughout this issue. As early years and childcare providers we know you recognise the importance of having skilled and competent staff. This September, Qualifications Wales launch the first suite of qualifications, developed jointly by City & Guilds and the WJEC. They are designed to meet the evolving needs of the early years and child care workforce. Geraldine Donworth & Suzi Grey from City & Guilds explain the changes and what they mean for the future of childcare in Wales on page 8.

To support the induction of new staff into your setting turn to page 12 for a handy at-a-glance pull-out of the All Wales Induction Framework (AWIF) where you will find the resources you will need.

However, we understand that when it comes to releasing staff from the setting for training and CPD, managing expectations against budgets & time can be difficult. We’ve done the research that will help guide you & your staff in the right direction when it comes to managing time off work for training or study (see page 20).

Before I let you get stuck in I am pleased to announce that smalltalk is now officially certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). Our label (see page 2), means that the paper comes from trees grown in FSC-certified well-managed forests. Early Years Wales is committed to reducing the impact our activities have on the environment & this is one of the many ways we can demonstrate this. You may also have noticed that the wrapping we use to mail smalltalk in, has changed too. Made from potato starch, these bags are completely biodegradable and compostable, simply put them in with your food waste or on your compost heap! (See how one settings allotment has had a positive impact on their learning and development, page 14).