Welcome to our Summer Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub Newsletter. This issue features the National Stronger Practice Hub Summer Programme, Bristol & Beyond's summer sessions, our new online resources and the recently added Early Years Spotlight - focused on potty training.
Whether you're looking to deepen your knowledge, connect with fellow practitioners, or find fresh strategies to support the children in your care, there's something here for you.
This year, Stronger Practice Hubs from across the UK have put together a joint summer programme. Every session is fully funded and open to early years practitioners and childminders wherever you are in the country.
There are more than twenty sessions running from late July through to the end of August, covering babies, communication and language, maths, SEND, nutrition, leadership and childminding. Most are short online webinars you can join from your setting or from home, and a few run twice so you can pick the time that suits you.
This online session will help you support children and young people in understanding the different emotions they experience, why they occur, and how to handle them.
14th August 9:30am - 4:00pm - Behaviour CPD Day for PVI Nurseries and ChildmindersJoin Bristol PSED experts as we discuss all things behaviour, in-person at St Paul’s Nursery School & Children’s Centre. We will support practitioners on their journey in behaviour & wellbeing, equipping you with evidence-based, practical tools & knowledge to take back to your settings.
23rd September 10:00am - 12:00pm - Autumn Outdoor Learning Morning for Childminders & Children at Blaise CastleDo you love exploring wild spaces with your children but sometimes feel a bit stuck for ideas or to know what most benefits the children you work with? Come and connect with us for our seasonal outdoor learning sessions.
In this recorded session, Catherine Jeans joins our SEND Network to explore sensory food challenges and restrictive eating, from understanding ARFID and what else might be going on for restrictive eaters to practical strategies like graduated exposure and food chaining that help broaden children's diets gently, without pressure or judgement.
Reflective Practice Lead & DSL at Archfield House, Leila Garau Taylor explores what the updated EYFS safeguarding requirements around privacy during nappy changing and toileting really mean in practice.
Leila encourages us to think about privacy not just as a question of whether a space is too public, but as something deeper: are we considering each child's feelings and dignity before deciding where and how we support them? She reflects on what dignity looks like during intimate care, how these everyday routines teach children about consent, body autonomy and respectful relationships, and shares practical ideas for getting the balance right in your setting.
Amber, from St Pauls Nursery and Children's Centre, shares how the Emotion Coaching programme has impacted her practice and what difference it has made to children, families and the staff team.
EARLY YEARS SPOTLIGHT
In this Early Years Spotlight, we’re looking at resources around potty training. There are 40 different skills a child needs to pull together to become potty trained – and a consistent approach between home and setting makes all the difference. Explore policy templates, practical guides, top tips, and support for children with additional needs.
The Department for Education is launching a consultation in Shaping the Future of Early Years Teaching to reform how early years teachers are trained and supported. Closes 24th September 2026.
Have you attended one of our CPD or Network sessions this year and implemented strategies or made changes to your day to day practice based on what you learnt? If so, we would love to hear from you. We are growing our collection of Case Studies and are always looking for new contributors. We have resource bags to giveaway as a thank you to our case study authors. Get in touch at - sph@beyth.co.uk
NEW SPH PROGRAMME PARTNER: AMBITION INSTITUTE
From April 2026, Ambition Institute has taken over from the National Children's Bureau (NCB) as the Department for Education's delivery partner for the Stronger Practice Hubs programme nationally.
This doesn't change anything about how you engage with us, but it does mean that programme information we previously shared with NCB, such as data used to report on the reach and impact of the programme, will now be shared with Ambition Institute instead. The Department for Education remains the data controller for the programme, and you can read more about how your information is used in our privacy statement and the DfE's privacy notice for the Stronger Practice Hubs programme.
As always, you can unsubscribe from our communications at any time using the link at the bottom of our emails, and if you have any questions about your data, please email us at sph@beyth.co.uk.
OUR NETWORKS AND NEWSLETTERS
The Bristol & Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub is funded by the DFE and is providing evidence-based CPD and network opportunities, for those working and caring for early years children.
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