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.
Course Code: FSHE01
Date/Time: Thursday 23 April 2026 10am - 11.30am
Delivery Method: Online via MS Teams
Target audience: All

We are pleased to be able to offer this course from the Out of School Alliance  for free.

This course will unlock the power of your play environment as your secret weapon! By situating the environment as central to the experience of children, we will demonstrate how if we get this bit right, the rest will follow – better behaviour, better engagement, better inclusion, better experience for all. Blending theory, practical knowledge and easy to implement ideas, this course will leave you with lots of lightbulb moments to take away and put into practice.

Course Highlights:

• Understand how your environment might be holding you back and why.
• Learn how to create an environment that children want to come and play in and won’t want to leave.
• Explore how the environment can be a major influence on behaviour.
• Discover low cost ways of resourcing your environment to support positive play behaviours. 

Course code: WA11
Date/Time: Tuesday 28 April 2026 10am – 1pm
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: This free training is open to anyone delivering school age childcare.

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: Tuesday 28 April 10am-12pm
Delivery method: Online via MS Teams

Course code: QC02
Date/Time: Monday 15 June 1pm-3pm
Delivery method: Online via MS Teams
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. 

For all early years leads from settings and schools, this termly network is an opportunity to build connections, which supports children’s transitions, as well as creates opportunities for sharing good practice. Come along to network and receive updates.

Following on from the spring network’s theme of the governments ‘Best Start in Life’ policy, we will have opportunity to hear from colleagues within Leicester’s family hubs about the interventions and support for children’s readiness for school.

There will be information available from key partner organisations and services, general updates from the local authority and workshop sessions to enable professional discussion and reflecting on action you can take to help make a difference to the children in Leicester

Course code: EYN01
Date/Time: Wednesday 6 May, 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
Target audience: Early Years practitioners working in nurseries, preschools and schools.

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. 

• 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 

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 02
Date/Time: Part 1 - Monday 11 May 2026 9.30 am-12.30 pm and Part 2 – Wednesday 20 May 2026 1.30pm-3.30pm Both must be attended to receive certification
Delivery method: Eyres Monsell Children Centre, Hillsborough Road, Leicester. LE2 9PT.
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 

We are pleased to be able to offer this bespoke course from the Out of School Alliance  for settings providing school age childcare in Leicester for free.

This course will enable you to increase your safeguarding knowledge and understanding in school age childcare provision. Training will link with the new LSCP Safeguarding Children competency framework 2026 plus statutory guidance, enabling you to know, understand and uphold your safeguarding responsibilities with confidence. You will have the opportunity to apply this to practical scenarios to consider what this means in practice.

Aspects covered will be:

• More conversation time can mean more disclosures, gain clarity on how to respond appropriately
• Safe transitions for a higher number of children leaving and entering at different times
• Working with mixed age groups
• Belonging and what this means from a safeguarding perspective

Course code: WA12
Date/Time: Tuesday 12 May 2026 9.30am-12.30pm
Delivery method: Online
Cost: There is no charge for this session.
Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
Target audience: All childcare practitioners working with school aged children

What happens on an inspection? Aimed at daycare staff or childminders who have limited or no experience of inspection. Come and find out what an inspector does on inspection day and how you can be involved

Course code: OFLS01
Date/Time: Wednesday 3 June 2026 6pm-7.30pm
Delivery method: Online via MS Teams
Cost: There is no charge for this session.
Maximum numbers: Open event
Target audience: Early Years practitioners working in nurseries, preschools, childminding settings

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?

Please book the relevant date by emailing eedteam@leicester.gov.uk using the information below: 

• Central: Monday 18 May 2026 4pm - 5.30pm St. Barnabas Primary School St Barnabas Road, Leicester, LE5 4BD – On Street parking only please allow time.
• West: Monday 18 May 2026 4pm - 5.30pm New Parks House Pindar Road Leicester LE3 9RN
• East: Tuesday 19 May 2026 4pm - 5.30pm The Ark Preschool, Abbots Road United Reformed Church, Abbots Road South, Leicester, LE5 1DA
• North West: Tuesday 19 May 2026 4pm - 5.30pm Beaumont Leys CYPFC  
• South: Wednesday 20 May 2026 4pm-5.30pm Montrose School, Wigston Lane, Aylestone, Leicester LE2 8TN
• North: Thursday 21 May 20264pm - 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. 

The Out of School Alliance are running this highly valuable course to develop your business knowledge to establish quality, sustainable before and after school care. With the growing focus on school age childcare, attending this course will help you to prepare for this and gain a practical understanding of how to implement proven strategies, face challenges and build your school age childcare business.  A must for all those running their own childcare business!

Areas covered will be:  

• Marketing: Values and impact
• Vision and offer – what do you really do?
• Viability and numbers – cost to deliver
• Resilience and systems – repeatable processes that leave you able to do what you aim to do
• Leadership – reflect on yourself as a leader

This free training is open to anyone delivering school age childcare: childminders, schools, PVIs. 

We are offering a choice of two sessions for this course.

Date/Time: Friday 5 June 2026 10am–12pm
Course code: WA13
OR 
Date/Time: Thursday 18 June 2026 6.30pm–8.30pm
Course code: WA14 
Delivery method: Online via MS Teams
Cost: There is no charge for this session.
Maximum numbers: 2 places per setting/school
Target audience: All childcare practitioners working with school aged children

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