Southampton Early Years Advisory Teachers

🌟 Volunteer Early Years SENCos required! 🌟

We are now looking for level 3 SENCo volunteers to represent Southampton Early Years providers at the Early Years Panel in the autumn term.

The Early Years Panel is held on Thursday afternoons, 1 – 3 pm (term time – virtual). You would only be required to join one session during the term.

Various services and professionals are represented at Panel, and this is a great way to develop the SENCo role.

If you would like to find out more, or would like to volunteer, please get in touch!

Email: [email protected].
Thank you.

🎶 Southampton & Isle of Wight Music are offering the opportunity for settings with children aged 3-4 to participate in their new CPD and resource library offer.

🎵 By embedding music into everyday learning and play, they hope to lay strong foundations for a lifelong love of the arts, supporting happier, healthier and more expressive futures for our youngest generation.

🪇🥁🔔🪘 These sessions will inspire you with ways to grow musical skills from songs and provide you with the skills and resources to take immediately back to your setting to get singing with your children.

🎵 For more information and to complete an expression of interest, please click here:

Sounds Like Music - Early Years CPD & Resource Library Project — Southampton and IOW Music Southampton & Isle of Wight Music are offering the opportunity for settings with children aged 3-4  to participate in our new CPD and resource library offer.  Settings will be able to borrow a set of musical resources under 4 different headings (see below)  and wil

😎 Top Tips for Summer Holidays

🌞 The Southampton Neurodiversity Multidisciplinary Team have created a checklist of reminders and ideas to help parents during the summer holidays.

🌞 Please share these top tips with the families you work with.

🌞😎 It looks as though we have another heatwave coming our way!

Please keep yourselves and children safe during hot weather, both indoors and outdoors.

The following information advises those working with children on how to reduce the risks of hot weather to the health of people they provide care for:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/looking-after-children-and-those-in-early-years-settings-before-and-during-hot-weather-teachers-and-other-educational-professionals

There is also additional guidance available for supporting children with medical conditions: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3

Looking after children and those in early years settings before and during hot weather: teachers and other educational professionals This page advises those working with children on how to reduce the risks of hot weather to the health of people they provide care for. This is part of the guidance for the hazard: heat.

📚 In celebration of the National Year of Reading, Southampton Libraries are inviting families, early years settings and communities to enjoy some great stories, to vote for a favourite book and to take part in themed story and rhyme sessions at local libraries.

✅ Pick up a voting form at your local library and submit your choice. Voting closes on 22 July 2026.

🏆 The winning choice will be announced at the Mayor and Children's Mayor's Summer Reading Challenge medal presentation in September.

🌞 Summer Reading Challenge 2026 - Read to the Beat 🎵
📚 With the end of term fast approaching, please encourage children and families to keep reading throughout the summer holidays!

📖 Aimed at children from 4 to 11, with a mini challenge for under 3s, this is a great way to prepare children for starting school, or for moving into a new year group.

🫶 Reading for pleasure is great for boosting children's confidence, self esteem and imagination - and encourages a life long love of reading ❤️

🎵 Read to the Beat will launch on Saturday 4th July across all Southampton Libraries.

💜 10 Top Tips for supporting parent and carers' mental health at every contact.

💙 This extremely useful poster has been created by the Parent Carer Forum and includes hints and tips around supporting the mental health of parents and carers of children with additional needs.

💛 Every interaction can either increase stress or reduce it. Choose connection, empathy and partnership, and together we can ensure parents and carers feel supported and that their feelings are considered at every contact.

💚 Please print/share these top tips with your colleagues.

⚽⚽ As England face their first game of the men's FIFA World Cup tournament, evidence shows that incidents of domestic abuse often rise around big matches, especially when alcohol is involved and emotions are running high.

‼️️ Domestic abuse is never acceptable.

💜 If you, or someone you know needs support, confidential help is available 24 hours a day through the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

💜 If you’re concerned about someone, a simple check-in could make a difference.

💜 If you need support, or if you are worried about a parent, colleague, friend or family member, find support here: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/communities/community-safety/domestic-abuse/

📞 Call Southampton’s domestic abuse helpline PIPPA on 023 8091 7917

📞 Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247

📞 If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger, call 999

🌟🎨🖌 Shared transition to school work: Celebrating every child

⭐ To ensure every child feels valued, welcomed and recognised as they begin their school journey, please can we remind Southampton early years and childcare providers to support children to create their individual piece of work based around their identity.

⭐ This piece of work is intended to support conversations, build relationships and create a sense of belonging as children begin school.

It does not need to be a display piece. Here are some possible ideas ....
💙Collage of favourite things
💚"All about Me" page
💜Memory or treasure box of favourite things
💛Photo book or scrap book page
💚Photo
💙Drawing or painting

⭐📚📖 A book a day lights the way!

📖 We can now reveal our plans for 'A book a day lights the way'. This exciting free event celebrates the National Year of Reading 2026.

📖 All Southampton early years and childcare providers are invited to drop in to this fun, interactive exhibition, which will include information stands, storytelling activities and free books to take away 📚

🌟 Open a book ... open their world! 📖💫

📚 Thursday 10th September 2026
📚 Between 4 and 8 pm
📚 At Itchen Sixth Form College, Middle Road, Bitterne, SO19 7TB

🗓 Please save the date! Come and join the fun and chat to our exhibitors - we would love to see you 🎉

🚌🎒 Please keep a look out for school starter events at your local soft play/activity centres to share with parents.

✏️ School starter meet ups are a great way for children to familiarise themselves with future class mates in a fun environment, and are also an opportunity for parents to meet, to ask questions and build networks.

🎒 We have been made aware of these school starter party dates at Jumpin' Jax! (more details and booking link via the Jumpin' Jax website).