CPD opportunities

Our training service aims to support childcare settings in Leicester City with raising quality through workforce development, by offering continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities to the sectors early years practitioners.

Join us online for a summary of the safer eating and nutrition requirements for childcare providers, as part of the EYFS statutory framework (updated 2025).

The focus:

• Overview of weaning and healthy eating.
• What’s expected of childcare providers regarding allergy/intolerance/coeliac disease.
• Food safety and choking guidance.

This webinar will be useful for childcare practitioners who offer food as part of the childcare provision and would like to know what the basic requirements are for safer eating for 0-5 year olds. 

What will not be included: We will not be discussing neurodivergence, fussy eating, menu planning or be able to offer any individual question time.

The information provided will be directly aligned with the EYFS safer eating reforms and nutritional guidance. This is intended as a general overview of statutory requirements.
A summary of services which can offer further support outside the webinar will be provided. 

Host: EED team
Guest speakers: Joanne Reade (Senior Nutritionist) and Paula McKee (Specialist Public Health Dietitian) of Leicestershire Nutrition and Dietetic Service.

Date/Time: Thursday 23 April 2026 10am - 11.30am
Delivery Method: Online via MS Teams
Book your place by emailing: eedteam@leicester.gov.uk 

Save the date - To enable schools and providers to plan, below we have shared all dates for the EYFS Networks scheduled this academic year. In readiness for each event, a precise list of the topic matter will be updated, with information about the agenda, speakers and activities you can expect.

• Summer 2026 - Wednesday 6 May, 9am registration -12.30pm 
• Autumn 2026 - Tuesday 6 October 2026
• Spring 2027 - Tuesday 9 February 2027
• Summer 2027 - Tuesday 4 May 2027

Booking information can be found below under the section: How to book 

Did you know that in Leicester, more than a third of 5-year-old children have decayed, missing or filled teeth? Tooth decay is the most common reason for children aged 5-9 to be admitted to hospital.
The Healthy Teeth, Happy Smiles! team work to prevent tooth decay and promote good oral health across Leicester city.
Through this short training course:

• Gain up-to-date, evidence-based knowledge and practical advice to help support the children you care for and their families to maintain better oral health.
• Explore causes of tooth decay and learn strategies to reduce the risk.
• Understand our free Supervised Toothbrushing programme and how to participate.

Date/Time: Wednesday 13 May 2026 6.30pm – 8pm 
Delivery Method: Online via MS Teams 
Target audience: Childminders 

Book your place by emailing: eedteam@leicester.gov.uk  

The response from the sector following May 2025's Supporting Transition events was incredibly positive. We plan to build on what worked well and to keep momentum, the date has been agreed for us to host next years events. Be sure to save the date in your diary, to ensure you are able to join the providers and schools in your area, to share information and to support effective transitions.

• Do you want to develop stronger working partnerships with local schools and providers?
• Do you want the opportunity to talk to local feeder schools/providers?
• Would you find it helpful to speak face to face about the children you have transitioning to or from your provision?

Save the relevant dates in your diary!

• Central: Monday 18 May 4pm - 5.30pm St. Barnabas Primary School St Barnabas Road, Leicester, LE5 4BD – On Street parking only please allow time.
• West: Monday 18 May 4pm - 5.30pm New Parks House Pindar Road Leicester LE3 9RN
• East: Tuesday 19 May 4pm - 5.30pm The Ark Preschool, Abbots Road United Reformed Church, Abbots Road South, Leicester, LE5 1DA
• North West: Tuesday 19 May 4pm - 5.30pm Beaumont Leys CYPFC  
• South: Wednesday 20 May 4pm-5.30pm Montrose School Wigston Lane, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8TN
• North: Thursday 21 May 4pm - 5.30pm Belgrave CYPFC 

Remember to book early if you would like us to share information for each cluster about which schools and settings will be in attendance. 

To book please send an email to EEDteam@leicester.gov.uk with the course title and course code in the subject bar.

Please confirm the name of the practitioner requesting a place, the setting they are from, a contact number and email address. For online courses, be sure to detail the email address for which the meeting link needs to be sent.

Each person must make a separate booking and log into the session on a separate device due to break out activities – those that have not made a separate booking will not be permitted to partake in the training.

To enable us to meet demand, we are limiting bookings to a maximum of two practitioners per setting. Should you feel that you require more, please contact the EED team and request to be added to the waiting list.

Please make clear any additional requirements e.g. hearing impairment, accessibility requirements etc. 

• Paediatric First Aid Please use the search engine within to search for Paediatric First Aid course dates and bookings
• Local Safeguarding Children Partnership Board Training 

For information about the Safeguarding Competency framework visit the Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Safeguarding Partnership Board

Early years support team (EYST)

The early years support team's SEND training programme can be found via Booking Live

Prevent Training

Providers can utilise the eLearning for staff, find out more information. 

National: Virtual training sessions

The Regional Prevent Education Co-ordinators (RPECs) offer large, virtual training sessions that are available to anyone working within an education setting in England. They focus on the implementation of Prevent and are designed primarily for those in dedicated safeguarding or Prevent roles.

Prevent in education: training for designated safeguarding leads (DSLs)
This training package has been designed by DfE for designated safeguarding leads to understand their responsibilities and the importance of the Prevent duty. Find dates and booking information. 

Leicester Nutrition and Dietetic Services for Early Years Settings

Did you know? Leicestershire nutrition and dietetic service is commissioned to support settings in Leicester City with providing adequate nutrition. Further information about the Good nutrition for under 5 award. 

Find out more about how you can meet your statutory duties around promoting oral health within the early years by exploring the accredited Healthy teeth, Happy smiles award.

Active Together - Active Tots

Active Tots works to promote the positive impact of encouraging young children to be physically active and how it may help towards leading a healthy, active lifestyle later on as an adult. Active Tots (for professionals) provides information for childcare professionals including local events/courses and healthy tots accreditation. 

Find out more by visiting Active together - Active Tots and Active together - Active Tots for professionals. 

DfE early years child development training

The Department for Education has launched a free online Early years child development training course aimed at childminders, nursery practitioners and nursery managers. The flexible online training has been developed in consultation with early years experts and provides a greater understanding of child development.

The training: 

• gives practical advice for supporting children in early years settings
• includes opportunities to reflect on your practice
• reinforces your understanding through learning check questions and tests
• allows you to pause and restart the training at any time
• offers the chance to download certificates of achievement for each module 

Eight modules of training are available now. Find out more about the training and enrol.

Funded by the Department for Education and delivered by National Children’s Bureau and the Education Endowment Foundation, Stronger Practice Hubs aim to support early years settings and childminders to address the impact of the pandemic on young children, by sharing effective practice and building lasting local networks.

Pen Green will be working in partnership with Kingswood Community Nursery (Corby), Leona Smith (childminder in Leicestershire) and Charnwood Nursery and Pre-School (Leicestershire) to form the Stronger Practice Hub for the East Midlands.

Stronger Practice Hubs will support early years settings and childminders to improve outcomes for children in their local area across the Early Years Foundation Stage, but specifically focusing on areas of development that research informs us have been most impacted by COVID-19: personal social and emotional development (PSED); communication and language, and early literacy and maths.

To learn more about the services your stronger practice hub provides, as well as the training and development opportunities available to you, visit www.pengreen.org/stronger-practice-hubs