Barnsley Early Start and Family Services

Who we are

We're a team of specialist Quality Improvement Officers and Early Years Consultants.

Between us, we have a breadth of knowledge and experience in supporting schools, childminders and group settings to deliver high quality and comprehensive early years, education and childcare provision.

We can offer tailored support to make sure your delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) meets the standards set out in the government's statutory framework. With our support, you can be assured that every child in your care gets the best start to their lifelong learning.

Meet the team

What we do

We’re committed to ensuring that all children in Barnsley receive the best early years experience we can provide.

We offer you support to improve the quality of your provision and therefore the outcomes for all children in Barnsley.

We provide advice and guidance in a wide variety of areas, including best practice in relation to the EYFS, support with setting up, updates on new or revised legislation and putting this into practice, as well as support in preparing your early years provision for its Ofsted inspection.

Call us on 0800 034 5340 or

Safeguarding in early years settings

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility.

Find support, guidance and documentation to help you ensure safeguarding is as effective as possible.

More about safeguarding in early years settings

Leadership and management

High quality childcare requires high quality leadership and management covering a variety of priorities, whilst making good use of a variety of tools.

EYFS Reforms

Find out more information, advice and guidance on how to prepare for the EYFS reforms.

Starting up

Are you interested in setting up as a childminder or childcare business in Barnsley? We can provide support, advice and guidance on Ofsted registration requirements, and business know how.

Business support

Practical guidance, information and tools to help you ensure that you're focused on business and your sustainability. Whether you're starting out, growing, or maintaining your services in the childcare market, we can support you.

Statutory assessments

Assessments play an important part in helping parents, carers and practitioners to recognise children’s progress, understand their needs, and to plan activities and support.

Supporting inclusion

We can offer support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and English as an additional language, through funding, resources, toolkits and professional advice.

Funding and early years entitlements

There are a number of funding and entitlement opportunities available to support professionals and parents to access early education for their children.

Useful information and documents

Quick access to useful information and documents for the early years and childcare sector. You can also register for our email bulletin, find childcare news, plus more.

Health and safety

Care for your children, staff and yourself is always high on the agenda. Risk management, along with a holistic consideration of health and safety in your childcare setting, is of the upmost importance.

Training and CPD

Our training programme offers all childcare and early years staff flexible continuous professional development courses.

Ofsted

Ofsted inspect and regulate services that care for children and young people. We can help support you with a variety of tools to meet the Welfare Requirements, preparing for visits, and by supporting you with complaints and compliance action.

Working with children

This section includes:

How to become a childminder
Working in a nurseries, out of school clubs and family hubs
Apprenticeships and courses
How we can help you

Working with parents