Bolton Start Well

This section is designed to support practitioners to provide resources, ideas and advice to nurture quality home learning experiences.

Here you will find a combination of resources for under 3s, over 3s and children with additional needs, created in Bolton and other National, DfE and recommended resources and guidance.

In light of the current pandemic, we have included a section on Remote Access to EYFS during COVID-19 Lockdown. Here you will find a rationale for remote access, practical tips and home learning activity ideas shared by Bolton settings.

What is Remote Access to EYFS during COVID 19 Lockdown?

The Government announced that during the current national lockdown, all early years provision would continue to open. We are aware that a few parents/carers have chosen to keep their children at home and there has been lots of guidance released to help you support their ongoing learning at home. Some guidance may refer to this as remote education or remote home learning. In Bolton, this is referred to as Remote Access to EYFS during COVID-19 Lockdown.

A copy of the funding proposal for private early years providers and schools was explained in the PVI funding webinar recorded on the 7th January 2021.

You are strongly encouraged to watch this webinar as it will explain the process that will need to be followed.

Useful link

• Remote education guidance (in Contingency Framework)

How Can I Support Remote Access to the EYFS during Covid-19 Lockdown?

In January 2021, The DfE commented that they recognise that many settings have already shared resources for children who are at home and we are grateful for this.

Settings should consider how:

• to continue to support the learning of children who do not attend settings, including how these children can maintain contact with their key person and peers through the early years' setting.
• parents and carers can be supported to provide a positive learning environment at home.

Settings can also direct parents to:

• the BBC’s Tiny Happy People
• the DfE Hungry Little Minds campaign. This features tips and practical activities that parents can do at home with children to support their early learning. There are many simple ways to help children learn and it does not have to be formal. Having everyday conversations, make-believe play and reading together all make a big difference to child development. 
• the National Literacy Trust’s Family Zone for more ideas and content.

Useful link

• Gov.uk - Help children aged 2 to 4 to learn at home during coronavirus (COVID-19)

In Bolton, to support your parents and carers to make the most of their child’s learning and development opportunities you could:

• Contact parents/carers daily with suggested activities that are matched to their child’s age and stage of development.
• Offer regular personalised contact at agreed times to discuss children’s progress and engagement with the activities planned. This may be delivered virtually using apps such as Tapestry, School Drop, WhatsApp or Zoom, via telephone contact or any digital media of your choosing or that you already use with parents.
• Signpost parents/carers to suitable, high quality online resources.

A template that explains remote access to parents/carers can be found here - Parental Request for Remote Access to EYFS during COVID-19 Lockdown - (letter template).

You are strongly encouraged to watch the webinar as it will explain the process.

Top tips for practitioners

If you would like to further develop and reflect on your current approach to supporting parents/carers in the Home Learning Environment, there are two documents available to download:

• How to manage Remote Access to EYFS during Covid-19 Lockdown. 

• Advice for Parents and Carers - How to support the wellbeing and learning of your children during the coronavirus outbreak.

• Bolton Start Well at Home
• BBC Tiny Happy People
• Government guidance - help children aged 2-4 to learn at home during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Communication and Language

• Top Tips to promote communication and language development
• Hungry Little Minds
• Small Talk
• Five Golden Rules for Communication

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• NHS hand washing guide
• PACEY
• Dr Dog explains coronavirus
• Two metres apart activity
• Busy Bees - Our hand washing song
• Talking to children about COVID-19
• BookTrust - Smriti Halls' guide to introducing a new baby to their big brother or sister

Physical Development

• NHS Change of Life - lunch recipes
• Outdoor Classroom Day - ideas for things to do outside
• Mindstretchers Academy - free downloadable Nature Play Diary
• Woodland Trust - Nature Detectives - activities for nature loving children
• RSPB - nature activities for children
• Creative Star Learning - early years outdoors
• Woodland Trust - things to do outdoors

Maths

• CBeebies Numberblocks
• CBeebies puzzles - activities to support problem solving, number games and more
• White Rose Maths

Literacy

• Words for Life - reading and story time
• BookTrust - HomeTime for children aged 5 and under
• BookTrust bookfinder - Children's books for every age.
• National Literacy Trust, Family Zone
• CBeebies Alphablocks
• National Literacy Trust, suggestions for apps to support literacy, by age, stage, literacy aspect and platform
• Bolton Libraries - Click and Collect service 

Daily activities for parents

• BBC Bitesize
• Twinkl - providing aligned resources and live lessons each day alongside BBC televised content
• EYFSHome
• Pacey - tricky to teach topics
• Bolton Music Service - music resources and videos

Keeping children safe online

• Toddler and tablets: Ten First Steps
• Smart parenting in the digital age

Children's safe use of apps

• Exploring Play and creativity in Young Children's use of Apps: A Guide for Parents

Supporting your mental health

• If you are struggling, text 85258 to SHOUT to be connected to a trained, empathetic and listening Shout Volunteer

• Parents can text a healthcare professional through ChatHealth on 07507 331751. This is service provides parents, carers and young people with quick and easy access to confidential health advice from a Bolton based specialist team. with questions ranging from breastfeeding support and child development, to behavioural issues and general advice and support.

  .

In this section, we turn the spotlight on some great ideas from around our settings in Bolton, who are sharing some of their experiences - what worked and what didn't work - that you can try too.

This month's featured settings show examples of resources they have shared with parents on their Facebook pages and email communication.

Phase 1 Phonics, is being promoted in our early years settings.  Here, Kim from Bright Futures Nursery shares a short video with parents to explain the 7 aspects of phase one. How have you shared phonics messages and information with your parents?

St Gregory's RC Primary School have kindly shared their guide 'Home learning for EYFS using Seesaw', a digital app-based platform which they have been successfully using to set homework and home learning for those children who have been isolating since September 2020.  The feedback from families has been very positive.

Have you seen the BBC's Tiny Happy People's interactive Easter holiday Schedule?  This would be perfect to share with parents of children aged 0-5 years.  Parents could fill their whole week with activities! For example, 'What’s in the egg box?' for 0-12mths caught our eye.  We simply clicked on the link and found out how to play by watching a short video.  There are 15 activities for each age group, 0-12months, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5.

Did you know Pyjamarama is back for the third year running?  This year, Pyjamarama will take place on Friday 14th May 2021.  BookTrust is encouraging children and parents to get excited about reading and to make sure every child gets their bedtime story. BookTrust are offering fundraising and activity packs for nurseries and schools. Packs contain information and resources inline with the EYFS curriculum.

On the "Words for Life" website, you'll find tips and activities to support helping children to chat, read and play. The parent support tab offers ideas to support chatting to your baby, reading with your child and playing with little ones.  Plus, the parents of children aged 0-12 years can sign-up for a fortnightly newsletter which offers regular updated tips and activities to help your child learn.

We would love to see your ideas to support parents and other practitioners. Please send us your ideas by emailing StartWellBookings@bolton.gov.uk and marking your email Idea Swaps.

Don't forget to use the hashtag #earlyyearsinBolton in your Facebook and Twitter posts, so that we can see the great work you are doing and maybe feature it in this spot.