Courses

05-08-2025

A free to attend, online, drop-in Q&A and support session led by Bolton Start Well. If you are an early years practitioner at the beginning your career, returning after time away, or moving from another key stage, come along for quick advice, reassurance, or a bit of inspiration, whatever you need to feel EYFS ready.

31-08-2025

Free DfE online training covering child and brain development, PSED and Communication and Language. Training accessed via child-development-training.education.gov.uk

10-09-2025

Please book directly with the Learning and Development Service.

16-09-2025

This New Gold Standard 'GMCA WellComm Training' provides participants with a deeper level of knowledge and the skills to know how to effectively use both the WellComm screen and the interventions. Join us for 2 half-day sessions as we focus on the use of the WellComm as a screening tool and undertake a deep dive into the interventions, results monitoring, and how we review progress.

18-09-2025

ELKLAN 3-5s is a 10-week accredited course for EYPs working with children aged 3-5 years and their families. The course is externally accredited. Discover ELKLAN teaching methods and activities designed to support and engage children. Part-funded for settings and schools.

25-09-2025

Attention Autism programmes are suitable for all EY children, both those with and without social communication difficulties. EY learning can be delivered inclusively through this model to great effect with a strong emphasis on speech, language and attention skills as well as the promotion of PSE skills. If this course is oversubscribed, priority will be given to schools and settings with high numbers of inclusion fund children, areas of deprivation and settings which have not accessed the training before.

25-09-2025

A face to face session at Tonge Family Hub. This is an opportunity to consider best practice to meet SEND needs in reception class. Max two per setting.

01-10-2025

This in person briefing for Early Years Leads in Schools will include national and local news and updates from Start Well and partner services; it will help support professional development and leadership of the EYFS. Venue: The Oak Room, Inclusive Education and Learning Centre, C/o Bolton SICT, Smithills Dean Road, BL6 1JT.

03-10-2025

Making it REAL is an evidence-based approach to improve outcomes for young children based on the original REAL study of Cathy Nutbrown and Peter Hannon at the University of Sheffield. This is a training programme for group providers who deliver the EYFS to funded 2, 3 and 4-year-olds and children in reception.

07-10-2025

A workshop jointly delivered by the Early Years Communication and Language Development Service (EYCLDS) and the Achievement, Cohesion and Integration Service (ACIS). For practitioners in schools and settings working with children aged 0-5 for whom English is an additional language. Discover resources, strategies and activities to support and engage children and hear about the services available in Bolton.

08-10-2025

This facilitated network opportunity allows EYFS Leaders in schools to review key topics at opportune points throughout the academic year, with time in between for self-reflection. Meeting venue: St James CE Primary Farnworth

15-10-2025

Want to feel more confident at story time? On the lookout for new games and ideas to add to your early years toolbox? Looking for accessible ways to pull a Start Well story off the page? Join Alice to learn new skills and build confidence in making story time more interactive for the children you work with.

15-10-2025

Want to feel more confident at story time? On the lookout for new games and ideas to add to your early years toolbox? Looking for accessible ways to pull a Start Well story off the page? Join Alice to learn new skills and build confidence in making story time more interactive for the children you work with.

23-10-2025

A face to face session at Harvey Family Hub. This is an opportunity to consider best practice to meet SEND needs in reception class. Max two per setting.

13-11-2025

Providing the opportunity to look at an example Early Years Transition document to help you review and write your own transition policy. We will focus on how policy is put into practice in your EYFS setting and reflect on transition in general, through discussion and activities. In addition, we will explore effective SEND transitions.

26-11-2025

For DSLs (and Deputy DSLs) in PVI settings only. This annual network event allows DSLs the opportunity to keep up to date with safeguarding news, access CPD opportunities and to network with other DSLs in Bolton. You will hear from Bolton Safeguarding Children Partnership and LADO colleagues.

26-11-2025

This New Gold Standard 'GMCA WellComm Training' provides participants with a deeper level of knowledge and the skills to know how to effectively use both the WellComm screen and the interventions. Join us for 2 half-day sessions as we focus on the use of the WellComm as a screening tool and undertake a deep dive into the interventions, results monitoring, and how we review progress.

21-01-2026

Making it REAL is an evidence-based approach to improve outcomes for young children based on the original REAL study of Cathy Nutbrown and Peter Hannon at the University of Sheffield. This is a training programme for group providers who deliver the EYFS to funded 2, 3 and 4-year-olds and children in reception.

21-01-2026

Please book directly with the Learning and Development Service.

05-02-2026

A workshop jointly delivered by the Early Years Communication and Language Development Service (EYCLDS) and the Achievement, Cohesion and Integration Service (ACIS). For practitioners in schools and settings working with children aged 0-5 for whom English is an additional language. Discover resources, strategies and activities to support and engage children and hear about the services available in Bolton.

18-03-2026

Please book directly with the Learning and Development Service.

20-04-2026

A face to face workshop to find out more about using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires in your setting or school. This session is for you if you do not have an ASQ pack in your setting or if you already have one but do not have anyone trained to use it.

21-04-2026

ELKLAN 0-3s is a 10-week accredited course for EYPs working with children aged 0-3 years and their families. The course is externally accredited. Discover ELKLAN teaching methods and activities designed to support and engage children. Part-funded for settings and schools.

27-07-2026

This hour long webinar is available to watch in your own time on the Bolton Start Well E-learning platform. Hear from Rachel Flesher HMI, Early Years Senior Officer and Jenny Burgeen, Early Years Regulatory Inspector, about how inspectors conduct inspections. Gain an understanding of how to prepare for your inspection and what to expect! For registered Childminders in Bolton.

27-07-2026

This hour long webinar is available to watch in your own time on the Bolton Start Well E-learning platform. Hear from Rachel Flesher HMI, Early Years Senior Officer and Patricia Graham, Early Years Regulatory Inspector, about how inspectors conduct inspections. Gain an understanding of how to prepare for your inspection and what to expect! For Leaders and Mangers in Daycare settings.

27-07-2026

This hour long webinar is available to watch in your own time on the Bolton Start Well E-learning platform. Hear from Rachel Flesher HMI, Early Years Senior Officer for Ofsted and Katie Sparrow, Early Years Regulatory Inspector, about how inspectors conduct inspections. Gain an understanding of how to prepare for your inspection and what to expect! For Leaders and Mangers in Out of School Clubs.

28-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. This course creatively explores how every child communication resources and the Start Well Stories can be used to develop two crucial aspects of early reading development: Word recognition and language comprehension for children under 3 years old.

28-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. This course creatively explores how every child communication resources and the Start Well Stories can be used to develop two crucial aspects of early reading development: Word recognition and language comprehension for children aged 3-4 years.

29-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. Bolton Start Well in collaboration with The Turing North West Maths Hub have developed this interactive E-learning package. The package includes four modules: 1. Number Journey 2. Counting and Cardinality 3. Subitising 4. Spatial Awareness

29-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. The interactive course is designed to help practitioners to support children in early years education to develop the physical skills needed to become confident writers. Please allow up to 2½ hours to complete the full course, although you can stop and restart at any point.

29-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. A focus on developing phonological awareness, the building blocks for reading and writing.

29-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. Designed to help practitioners understand typical communication and language development of early years children. This package includes three modules: 1. Communication and Language Journey 2. Information Carrying Words 3. BLANK Level Questions. This course was rewritten in June 2023 following the revised EYFS and updated Communication and Language Pathway.

30-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. This course aims to support practitioners to learn ways to manage inappropriate behaviour and conflict in early years and understand how to prevent meltdowns and misunderstandings.

30-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. Find out more about practical ideas, strategies and effective intervention that supports children at risk of speech and language delay.

30-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. Use your communication and language toolkit to develop sequenced, progressive communication and language provision. Enabling adults as the main resource.

30-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. Learn more about the role of the Communication Champion and ways to embed communication and language in your setting.

30-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. Explore essential knowledge and tools to support families and children for whom English is an additional language.

30-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. Meeting the needs of children with SEND in the Early Years.

31-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. E-learning for Childminders in Bolton which will focus on the WellComm Speech and Language Toolkit training and how to access the resources.

31-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. This e-learning training is aimed at those who have already completed WellComm face to face training. Learn how to identify young children at risk of speech, language or communication difficulties and support them to improve their language skills.

31-07-2026

This E-Learning package is available upon request to access any time. The interactive course will help Public Health Nurses to learn how to identify young children at risk of speech, language or communication difficulties and support them to improve their language skills.