Experts and Mentors Programme
This programme offers bespoke staff and setting support, including leadership, coaching, mentoring and whole-setting support. The programme will run until Summer Term 2024 and in addition to the LA being asked to nominate providers for participation for each term, providers can also refer themselves directly.
Participating providers will receive free support from an Expert and Mentor for 1 academic term, who will be supported in turn by an Area Lead. All roles will focus on helping children recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including narrowing the gap between disadvantaged children and others.
A dedicated Expert will be allocated to participating providers and will offer face-to-face support over the term and undertake jointly-agreed activities that focus on supporting children to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A dedicated Mentor will be allocated to participating providers and will offer remote/virtual support over the term, providing advice and guidance, identifying strengths and areas for development in their own practice and support to complete the new online early years child development training package.
All Experts and Mentors have at least 3 years’ experience, are currently working in an early years setting Ofsted rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, in early years roles within local authorities or universities, have a minimum of a Level 6 early years qualification and have undertaken training organised by DfE and training partner, Hempsalls, prior to supporting settings. Experts and Mentors will be matched to meet provider's specific needs.
The Early Years Team will continue to support participating providers, linking support to the Provider Support Framework to avoid duplication, maintaining communication with various parties throughout the programme, providing additional information where needed and raising any concerns or issues with the DfE.
Participating providers are required to engage with the Experts and Mentors Programme in the allocated term, undertaking the Online Early Years Child Development Training and meeting with the allocated Expert and Mentor as agreed. Providers will need to provide additional information as requested and undertake any evaluations as requested by Ecorys, the DfE Evaluation Partner.
By taking part, providers will receive free support for;
- Identifying strengths and areas for development and receive guidance in action planning
- Building confidence in their provision and their leadership, following uncertainties of the pandemic
- Implementing the EYFS Framework 2021
- Helping leaders plan, deliver and refine an effective curriculum
- Assisting staff with Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Receiving advice for supporting children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or English as an Additional Language (EAL)
- Building strong relationships with parents and carers
Participating providers will have the opportunity to develop working relationships, network with and receive support from other fellow early years professionals, who are passionate about supporting others to improve practice and outcomes for children.
To be eligible for the programme, settings need to meet 1 or more of the following criteria; Judged as Requires Improvement or Inadequate in the last 3 years, has a high number of children in receipt of EYPP funding, has a high number of children with SEND and/or has a high number of children taking up the disadvantaged 2 year old offer. The LA will map all settings across this criteria and triangulate this with information from the Provider Support Framework to identify which settings to approach for termly nomination.
In addition to the LA nominated settings, settings are also able to self-refer to request support through this programme directly with Pen Green, who are the Delivery Partner. Whether nominated or self-referred, settings will need to complete the 'Request for Support Form' on Pen Green's website by the deadline date given to apply for support for the following term. This form can be found here - Applying for support from the Early Years Experts and Mentors programme | Pen Green Children's Centre
Applications for support from all settings, identified or self-referred, does not guarantee participation onto the programme and there is no financial support for settings taking part.
This Programme will offer bespoke support by trained early years professionals, acting as Area Leads and Mentors, to childminders across the country, focusing on helping children recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, including narrowing the gap between disadvantaged children and others.
Area Leads and Mentors will have at least 3 years’ experience in the childminder sector, with a focus on children under 5. If they are a current childminder they must be rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding. Other Leads and Mentors may be former childminders currently working in a different type of early years setting or staff members from local authorities, childminder agencies or similar organisations with evidenced experience of the childminder sector.
In addition to the LA nominated childminders, other childminders can self-refer to request support through this programme directly with Hempsall's, who are the Delivery Partner. Childminders can apply as an individual, or with other childminders as part of a small group. Support is free, and mostly online, and applicants must currently be providing childcare to children between 0-5 years to be eligible. Information on eligibility, support, the benefits of the programme and the time commitments required can all be found here and further information on applications, including the link to apply, is on the Hempsall's webpage.
Please contact Catherine Smith, EYFS Programmes Manager & Project Lead for the Programme, at catherine.smith@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or Katherine Crossley, Project Officer and Project Support for this Programme at katherine.crossley@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
