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.

Children’s mental health and well-being is a focus for us all. The impact of the pandemic has been far reaching and continues to drive the need for further support for our youngest children. It is therefore crucial that as practitioners, we further develop our knowledge and understanding as to how best to support and how to ensure that children’s mental health and wellbeing becomes central to everyday practice. 

This online session aims to empower early years practitioners to proactively contribute and support children’s mental health and well-being. Through reflective discussions and exercises, you will gain a deeper understanding of how to support and lay the foundations for children’s lifelong wellbeing in your care.

• Course code: SCMH01
• Date/Time: Friday 23 January, 10am -12pm
• Delivery method: Online via MS Teams.
• Cost: There is no charge for this session.
• Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
• Target audience: EYFS practitioners and leaders.

This training will give you the opportunity to explore how you can provide quality provision for before and after school care.  The aim of the course is to develop knowledge and understanding to enable you to deliver fun, engaging and inclusive experiences for all the children in your care. You will think about what your offer is and how you can meet all children’s needs.

Aspects that will be covered are:
•    Routines 
•    Adult role 
•    Environment 
•    Variety of activities 
•    Food and snack times 

This free training is open to anyone delivering (or thinking about delivering) before or after school care.

• Course code: WA07
• Date/Time: Monday 26 January, 9.30am – 12.30pm
• Delivery method: New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN.
• Cost: There is no charge for this session.
• Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school

This training will support providers in meeting local needs, developing inclusive and engaging approaches, making effective use of resources, and creating action plans for next steps. 

This free training is open to anyone delivering (or thinking about delivering) early years and childcare. This includes childminders, day nurseries, school providers, preschool playgroups and wraparound providers. 

This course aims to help leaders, managers and owners strengthen their business planning process while keeping, quality, sustainability and inclusion at the centre. It challenges a funding-led approach, encouraging settings to identify funding that fits their aims and to explore potential income streams. 
Participants will consider how to comply with equalities duties and hear real examples from providers nationally. The session also encourages networking and sharing of best practice. 

• Course Code: WA08
• Date/Time: Thursday 5 February 9.30am – 11.30am

or

• Course Code: WA09
• Date/Time: Thursday 26 February 6.30pm – 8.30pm
• Delivery method: Online via MS Teams 
• Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
• Delivered by: Families First 
• Cost: There is no charge for these sessions 

Please click here to book

This term’s EYFS network is a focus on the governments ‘Best Start in Life’ policy, with particular attention to improving outcomes for children, supporting readiness for school and transitions into school.

Everyone has a significant role to play in supporting this agenda, raising quality in early years and helping children to achieve their good level of development (GLD) by the end of the foundation stage, which contributes hugely to their ongoing education outcomes. The government have set Leicester an ambitious target to drive this improvement, which all services, settings and schools will need to work collectively on.

This event is an opportunity for Early years leads and practitioners to hear about the local priorities within the context of the government policy, reflect together on the role they play and begin to plan actions their school or setting will take, to make a difference to the children in Leicester.

The event will have a blend of information, professional discussion and workshop activity.

• Course code: EYN01
• Date/Time: Tuesday 10 February, 9am registration-12.30pm.
• Venue: New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN.
• Cost: There is no charge for this session
• Maximum numbers: 2 per setting

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 

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

This course will give you an opportunity to explore what a quality curriculum should include and empower settings to begin to reflect and establish a curriculum that is both high quality and that can be articulated and justified. It will also consider how the curriculum fits into the 3 III’s and the language around the EYFS that’s supports this. This deep dive into curriculum exploration will give practitioners the tools and confidence to deliver a purposeful curriculum that keeps the child at the centre. A must for those getting to grips with the EYFS.

• Course code: QC01
• Date/Time: Thursday 12 February 10am-12pm
• Delivery method: New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN.
• Cost: There is no charge for this session.
• Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
• Target audience: Leaders and practitioners responsible for planning and delivery of the early year’s curriculum. 

Ofsted introduced changes to the Early Years Inspection Framework on 10 November 2025. To help you feel prepared for these updates, we will be hosting three online Quality Forum sessions designed to support leaders and practitioners in understanding the new approach and feeling confident in applying it.

These sessions will offer key updates, practical guidance, and opportunities for discussion with colleagues across the sector.

Key discussions will include:

• Understanding the key changes to the Early Years Inspection Framework, including the revised report cards and the new five-point grading system.
• Exploring the expanded evaluation areas within the updated framework. 
• Identifying how the previous framework aligns with current early years practice.
• Reflecting on how the five-point grading scale impacts continuous improvement planning within your setting.
• Engaging in an open Q&A and sharing experiences with other practitioners.

Join us to ensure you leave feeling confident, informed, and prepared for the updated inspection approach.

• Course code: QF01
• Date/Time: Tuesday 24 February 2026 10am – 11.30am
• Delivery method: Online via MS teams
• Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
• Target audience: EYFS practitioners and leaders. 
  
  
• Course code: QF02
• Date/Time: Wednesday 25 February 2026 6.30pm – 8pm
• Delivery method: Online via MS teams
• Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
• Target audience: EYFS practitioners and leaders. 
  
  
• Course code: QF03
• Date/Time: Monday 2 March 2026 1pm – 2.30pm
• Delivery method: Online via MS teams
• Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
• Target audience: EYFS practitioners and leaders.

Are you an Early Years Practitioner looking to support children’s speech, language, and communication development?
Join us for two interactive sessions exploring the new Early Years Speech, Language and Communication Toolkit – designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to identify communication difficulties and effectively support children. 

This course is delivered in partnership with the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist team at the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

What’s Included?

• An overview of the Early Years speech, language and communication Toolkit
• Guidance on identifying and supporting children with communication needs
• Practical tips to embed speech and language support in everyday practice
• Opportunities to ask questions and share experiences
  
  
• Course code: SLCT 01
• Date/Time: Part 1 - Monday 23 February 9.30am-12.30pm and Part 2 - Tuesday 24 March 9.30am-11.30am Both must be attended.
• Delivery method: New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN.
• Cost: There is no charge for this session.
• Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
• Target audience: Early Years practitioners working in nurseries, preschools, childminding settings

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

• Do you currently or are you soon to be providing care and education for under 2's?
• Have you completed training that addresses the care of babies that is required as part of the EYFS?
• How confident are you in providing a stimulating and engaging, age-appropriate environment for the under 2's?
• Are you able to plan and deliver a meaningful quality curriculum for under 2's that is age and stage appropriate?

During the session we will be exploring what it takes to offer quality provision for our youngest children. Whether you are already working with under 2's, have moved within your existing provision to work with the younger age group, or whether you're planning to expand your provision to offer places to under 2's - this course is for you!

• Course code: CUT01
• Date/Time: Monday 9 March 6pm- 8.30pm
• Venue: Thurnby Lodge Children, Young People & Family Centre, 79 Dudley Ave, Leicester, LE5 2EG
• Cost: There is no charge for this session.
• Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
• Target audience: EYFS practitioners and leaders.

Recent Ofsted trends would indicate that there is a need for increased knowledge and understanding of child development within the sector. This echoes the information stated in the Statutory Framework for the early year’s foundation stage:

“Practitioners working with the youngest children are expected to ensure a strong foundation for children’s development in the three prime areas. (Statutory framework 2025 - 1.12)”
This course provides an opportunity to unpick what expected development would look like in each of the prime areas of the EYFS 2025. We will explore tools and resources that will aid practitioners in their observation and assessment of children; to inform planning and in seeking external support for a child as needed.
Learning intentions - Practitioners will:

• Leave with a clear understanding of holistic development and how this supports a child’s overall ability to thrive.
• Understand the interconnectedness of the 3 prime areas of learning and how this is essential for a child’s holistic development.
• Leave with the skills to use a variety of tools to support with observations and assessments.
• Have the opportunity to practice using the tools and apply their knowledge of child development to case studies.
• Be able to use a holistic approach to complete a referral to external agencies.
  
  
• Course code: HA01
• Date/Time: Friday 13 March 9.30am-12.30pm
• Venue: New Parks House, Pindar Road, Leicester, LE3 9RN.
• Cost: There is no charge for this session  
• Maximum Numbers: 2 per setting
• Target audience: EYFS practitioners and leaders

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?

If so, join us at our cluster based supporting transitions events week commencing 18 May 2026 - dates for each cluster meeting and venues will be published closer to the event. 

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