Early Years Stoke

17/06/2026

🌼 Baby Massage
A quiet, cosy time just for you and your little one 💛
Enjoy simple, soothing strokes that help your baby feel calm, safe and settled.
Loving touch can support better sleep, ease tension and strengthen your bond.
It’s also a lovely way to meet other parents and feel supported.
📍 Where & When
Monday: Abbey Hulton Best Start Family Hub
Tuesday: Blurton Best Start Family Hub
Thursday: Chell Heath Best Start Family Hub
Thursday: Best Start Family Hub @ Hanley Market
👉 Sign up here:
https://forms.office.com/e/BV9xd7LDcQ

17/06/2026

17/06/2026

Congratulations to Janet Cooper who has been recognised in the King’s Birthdays Honours list with a British Empire Medal for services to children and young people.

Janet recently retired as a Clinical Lead for MPFT’s Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy services in Staffordshire and will attend a special ceremony to receive her honour.

We’re delighted Janet has received this thoroughly deserved recognition for everything she has done to improve the lives of children, young people and their families. Well done!

16/06/2026

Dr Allison Gardner MP

🚸 Every child deserves the best start in life.

That's why I'm delighted Stoke-on-Trent South will benefit from Labour's new £4,500 bonus to help nurseries recruit and retain qualified teachers.

We're investing in staff, expanding childcare places, and helping more children arrive at school ready to learn and thrive.

Alongside 30 hours of funded childcare worth up to £8,000 a year for working families, this is another step towards breaking down barriers and giving every child the opportunities they deserve.

Labour is backing Stoke-on-Trent's children, families and future. ❤️ See less

16/06/2026

Last week we published the first of our annual updates to the education inspection toolkits and operating guides.

The updates reflect changes to Department for Education guidance that have already been made, or that will be made in the next academic year. They will apply to inspections from September 2026 onwards

For early years inspections, the toolkit now has more information about providers’ responsibilities to protect children from harm, and an additional standard in the children’s welfare and wellbeing evaluation area about safer sleeping, eating and weaning arrangements.

We have also published a blog explaining the changes in more detail.

Find out more 👉 https://earlyyears.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/12/how-safeguarding-and-childrens-welfare-and-wellbeing-underpin-the-september-2026-updates-to-early-years-inspections/

09/06/2026

Supporting families through potty training?

Take a look at the Government-backed Potty Training Guide, developed collaboratively with Coram PACEY and early years sector partners.

The guide is a great resource to help childminders and families work together towards this important milestone.

https://startingreception.co.uk/potty-training/