Dear Free Entitlement Provider,

Please find below a programme of events to support you in getting ready for the third and final phase of the childcare expansion in Sept 2025. As you are already aware, from 1^st September, Under 2s and 2 year olds from working families will be able to claim their full 30 hour entitlement (24 hours if all year round). We are busy preparing updates to the portal, but wanted to set time aside to focus on 3 x key areas, covering business and education support:

1. General preparation (planning for the ‘doubling’, ratios & staffing, portal changes, etc.)
2. Business Finance with BAND (income and expenditure, breaking even, etc.)
3. Quality Improvement support (working with babies & getting ready for twos)

All providers are welcome to attend!

General preparation

This session will be presented by Deb Amphlett and team and will encompass planning ahead for Sept; thinking about how to cope with the places and spaces when the children’s hours ‘double’. We will provide checklists for you to consider and share best practices together. We will talk about headcounts, estimates, essentially everything admin! These sessions are all the same, and there is no need to book. Simply join on the day!

• Wednesday 30^th April 2-330pm Join the meeting now
• Wednesday 30^th April 6-730pm Join the meeting now
• Tuesday 6^th May 10-1130am Join the meeting now

Business Finance with BAND

This session will be presented by BAND and will focus more on the money side of the expansion; looking at how to plan ahead financially. BAND will talk through how to create a simple income and expenditure and look at ensuring providers ‘break even’. If the thought of maths makes your toes curl, then this is the session for you, as BAND always use plain English and in addition, offer 1-2-1 sessions for anyone who requests them. We want to be 100% sure that your financial planning supports your ambition to support children’s education. These sessions are all the same, and there is no need to book. Simply join on the day!

• Thursday 8^th May 2-330pm Join the meeting now
• Thursday 8^th May 6-730pm Join the meeting now
• Friday 9^th May 10-1130am Join the meeting now   

Quality Improvement support

Our QI team and Lead Teachers will be delivering a programme of online and in person events over the summer. These will support your practitioners with the expansion of childcare. Click below for further information and save the dates for the ‘Ready for Twos’ sessions in May and June 2025.

• Bristol Network for Two Year Old Practice Spotlight on Twos
• Bristol Network Working with Babies Working with Babies
• Ready for Twos Guidance All about Two’s / Ready for Two’s – Bristol Early Years
• Stronger Practice Hub offer for U3s 
• ‘Ready for Twos’ – programme of 3 sessions  – 23rd May / 6^th June / 20^th June (booking soon) 

As usual, all information created (e.g. slides) will be shared after the last session, but if you would like 1-2-1 support, please reply to this email and we will set a date to meet up. Thank you to each and everyone one of you (and your wider teams) for helping Bristol with the first two phases of the expansion. We are confident that Sept will be a great success, but know that this is down to the daily hard work from our amazing providers.

Have a well earned break over the bank holiday and see you all in April!

With thanks, Deb.

Deborah Amphlett

Free Entitlement Development Manager / EY Expansion Lead / Wrap Around Childcare Lead / Bristol Standard Strategy Lead for Finance and Promotions

Bristol City Council – Early Years Service