Inclusive Playwork Practice for Wraparound Provision

NEW - Communication Hubs & Podcast Summer 2026

The Early Years Learning and Childcare team offer Communication Hubs in the following areas:

• Broadland & Norwich
• Breckland
• Gt Yarmouth & East
• King's Lynn & West
• North Norfolk
• South Norfolk.

Here is what you can expect from your local Communication Hub:

• Termly CPD-filled podcasts - Released in the first half of each term, based on the areas that providers told us they would like more support with.
• Termly in-person network meetings - Workshop-style meetings held in the second half of each term, with the aim of supporting practitioners to take the CPD from the podcast and think about its practical application within their setting.
• Opportunities to share best practice, build relationships and network with other local settings and partner agencies.
• Speech and language surgery to allow practitioners the opportunity to talk to a local speech and language therapist and ask practice-based questions.
• Opportunities to speak with your local Early Years Adviser (EYA) and Improvement & Development Worker (IDW).
• Improved access to speech and language resources via a small resource library that practitioners can browse and borrow from during in-person meetings.
• Booking is limited to four practitioners per setting for in-person meetings, and spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. If you wish to sign up more than 4 practitioners, the additional practitioners will be placed on a waiting list and contacted one week before the meeting if spaces become available.

Training provider: Early Years Learning and Childcare

Target audience: Childminders, Early years group settings, School nurseries and Reception classes, Out of school settings.

Cost: £ Fully funded

Podcast Information Summer 2026- Episode 5: 'Let's Talk... Nurturing Emotional Literacy'

The latest episode of the Norfolk Early Years Podcast - Let's Talk series, is now live! 

Join us and early years consultant and trainer Dr Sue Allingham, as we explore the vital role that early years practitioners play in creating emotionally supportive environments

In this episode, we explore:

• What we mean by the term emotional literacy 
• The importance of self-awareness, consistency and teamwork
• How the emotional and physical environment have a role in supporting children's wellbeing
• The relationship between physicality and emotional development. 

Whether you're an early years practitioner or supporting professional, this conversation offers valuable insights you won't want to miss.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple and other leading platforms, and don't forget to subscribe and share!

Listen via Apple Podcasts: The Norfolk Early Years Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Listen via Spotify: The Norfolk Early Years Podcast | Podcast on Spotify

Communication Hubs

Please see below for the follow-on in-person summer workshops. This term, we're delighted to welcome early years trainer and published author, Molly Potter, who will be joining us to explore 'Emotional Intelligence and Supporting Children's Behaviour'.

In this session we will:

• Explore what we mean by 'emotional intelligence' and consider why it's so important.
• Learn how to increase emotionally intelligence - in ourselves and the children in our care.
• Acquire some tools that support children's behaviour using emotional intelligence. 

Early years practitioners, reception teachers and nursery teachers - please book via the Portal.

All other professionals - book via email: [email protected] including your name, role, setting and chosen meeting.

Communication Champion Core Training

Learning objectives:

• To understand what Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) are and the terminology used for different elements. To be able to understand how these are represented across some key models.
• To be aware of the causes and prevalence of SLCN, with specific focus on Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
• To be able to identify children who may have SLCN and need further support.
• To appreciate the importance of vocabulary as a cornerstone of SLC development from early emerging language onwards.
• To feel confident in adapting the setting environment, and the way adults interact with children, to support SLC development.
• To have practical strategies and activities to encourage communication within the setting and personalise these to individual children.

Each session will include a resource or activity to use based on the session's content and a task to complete and feedback on at the following session.  These will be based upon Plan Do Review templates.

Training provider: Communicate

Target audience: Childminders, Early years group settings, School nurseries and Reception classes, Out of school settings

Cost: £ Fully funded

Click here to book, using the above code

PARS Playwork Training

Accredited PARS Playwork courses for wraparound childcare providers

PARS Playwork is a distinctive model of playwork practice developed by Dr. Shelly Newstead. It offers a fresh, research-based approach to working with children. It prioritises children's own interests and perspectives so that children can enjoy their free time on their own terms.

PARS Playwork courses teach playwokers how to free up time and space for children to be children using the PARS model of playwork practice.

We are currently offering fully funded places on the PARS Playwork Practice level 2 and level 3 NCFE accredited courses (PPP2 and PPP3). To find out more about these courses please visit the PARS Playwork website.

If you are working in a Norfolk wraparound setting and wish to access a course fully funded please email: [email protected] with your name and setting details to obtain the code.

Supporting Bereaved Children in Early Years

A training course offering Early Years Foundation Stage practitioners the opportunity to gain knowledge about the impact a death could have on children in their setting.

This course will offer delegates the opportunity to learn key strategies in dealing with this issue and being able to provide the appropriate support.

Death and dying is part of life, but as adults we find it difficult to talk with children about these issues, and we are often not quite sure about what support young children need and what their understanding is.

Statistics suggest that between 2% and 3% of children under five in Britain will lose a parent, main carer or sibling through death.

The aims of this session are:

• To increase your awareness of the issues surrounding bereavement in young children.
• To help you feel more confident about supporting bereaved children and their parents or carers.

Delegates need to access a microphone and camera during the course; therefore, it is recommended that the training is undertaken on a computer/laptop.

Training Provider: Cherie Pointon, Educational Psychology Support Service

Target audience: Childminders, Early years group settings, School nurseries and Reception classes

Cost: £ Fully funded

Click here to book, using the above code