Welcome to the Merton Early Years and Childcare Training and Development Programme. Developed and delivered by experienced and qualified Early Years professionals, the training programme is for staff who are currently working in Ofsted registered nurseries, preschools and out-of-school settings, and for Ofsted-registered childminders. Our training is also suitable for school Early Years staff.
The programme focuses on training for Merton Early Years and childcare providers in safeguarding and working with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). It also incorporates dedicated network meetings for Merton PVI managers, SEN Co-ordinators and childminders.
Summer 2024 Programme
Summary of the training programme for Summer 2024
Booking information
All sessions can be booked via Eventbrite. To book please follow this link:
Early years childcare training events (Eventbrite)
Click on the name of the session that you are interested in. If the session runs more than once, click on ‘Select a Date’ and select the date that you want to book for. Then click tickets, then click register and fill in your details.
You will need the Summer term booking code to book on all courses. If you do not have this code please email providers@merton.gov.uk
Universal Offer
Our Universal Offer is fully funded for all childcare providers in Merton. It includes:
- Regular training bulletins. To receive bulletins please email us at providers@merton.gov.uk
- Healthy Early Years London (HEYL) is an awards scheme which supports and recognises achievements in child health, wellbeing and development in Early Years settings. You can find out more, including how to register on the HEYL website
- The Wandle Early Years Hub Merton and Wandsworth Councils are working together with childcare providers as the Wandle Early Years Hub with an aim to increase the take up of free childcare places for 2-year-olds.
- Merton’s Family Services Directory (FSD) provides lots of information about childcare providers, local support services, parenting groups, children's centres, community groups, places to go and things to do. All Ofsted registered Merton childcare providers are offered a free profile on the FSD to advertise their service to parents looking for childcare.
- Merton Information for Families Facebook page offers an opportunity for childcare providers to advertise their vacancies every month to parents looking for childcare.
Other free support and training available includes:
Early years child development training
This free, online training provides an overview of child development and gives practical advice for supporting the development of children in your early years setting. https://child-development-training.education.gov.uk/?utm_source=hfeyp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=link
Each training module on this site covers an important area of child development and has been written by early years experts, working with the Department for Education. Modules include: Understanding child development and the EYFS; Brain development and how children learn; Supporting children's personal, social and emotional development; Supporting language development in the early years. More modules are coming soon.
The training course:
- is free for childminders and nurseries
- combines theory with practical tips and ideas to use in your setting
- includes opportunities to reflect on your practice
- reinforces your understanding through learning check questions and tests
- links to additional resources
- offers the opportunity to download certificates of completion
- has been developed by expert practitioners
Merton Safeguarding Children Partnership training programme
The Merton Safeguarding Children Partnership (MSCP) training programme https://www.mertonscp.org.uk/training/ is available to all MSCP member agencies, the voluntary sector and independent sector agencies working with children, young people and their families in Merton. The training courses aim to improve knowledge, skills and competencies within safeguarding practice in accordance with the London Competency Framework (PDF)
To book an event you must register on the online booking system. Courses are free to Merton statutory, voluntary and faith organisations. This includes childcare settings such as nurseries and childminders.
Support from the Department for Education’s Early Years Experts and Mentors programme
The Experts and Mentors Early Years Covid-19 Recovery Programme from the Department for Education is focused on supporting Early Years practitioners and leaders, to address the impact of the pandemic on the youngest children. The programme is available nationally, across England, until July 2024.
Eligible early years practitioners, leaders and whole settings will be offered bespoke support to be delivered both face-to-face and virtually. The offer to settings will include leadership support, coaching for leaders, mentoring for practitioners and whole-setting support, depending on needs. Settings that are selected will receive the support of an Expert and Mentor for a set number of days within one term, between September 2022 and July 2024.
The Experts and Mentors who will be providing support to settings are experienced early years professionals.
Find out more and register your interest https://www.pengreen.org/early-years-experts-and-mentors/
The Early Years Professional Development Programme will offer specific in-depth free training for up to 10,000 early years professionals from all participating Local Authorities in England over a 2 year period. There will be staggered start dates across the 2023/25 period with a total of four cohorts. The EYPDP offers a comprehensive package of professional development that is based on current early years pedagogy. It will help to build upon practitioners’ skills and knowledge to improve the quality of adult-child interactions.
Find out more and register your interest https://www.earlyyearspdp.com/about-the-programme/
Contact us
Early Years, Family Wellbeing and Early Help Service
10th Floor, Civic Centre
London Road
Morden
SM4 5DX
Email: providers@merton.gov.uk