Sheffield City Council Early Years CPD Programme
This webpage brings together the training, professional development and support opportunities available to Sheffield's early years workforce through the Early Years Quality Team and a range of partner organisations. Our aim is to make it easier for practitioners, leaders, childminders and home-based early years practitioners to find and access high-quality development opportunities in one place.
The offer is organised into key areas of practice, including Curriculum, Teaching and Learning; Communication, Language, Literacy and School Readiness; Leadership and Professional Development; and Safeguarding, Inclusion and Children's Wellbeing. Alongside the city-wide training programme, the Early Years Quality Team also provides a range of bespoke support for settings and providers. This can include coaching, mentoring, quality improvement support and tailored training, designed around local priorities and individual needs.
This joined-up approach supports the ambitions of both the Sheffield Early Years Strategy and the Best Start in Life Strategy, recognising that a skilled, confident and well-supported workforce is fundamental to improving outcomes for children and reducing inequalities. Through professional development, networks, collaboration and communities of practice, we aim to strengthen professional knowledge, build leadership capacity and support continuous improvement across the sector.
By working together and sharing expertise, we can continue to nurture and develop the strong practice that exists across Sheffield, supporting providers to reflect, innovate and enhance outcomes for children and families. This collective approach helps ensure more children experience a positive start in life and are equipped with the foundations they need to thrive in learning and beyond.
For any queries or feedback about this new approach, please contact EarlyYearsBusinessSupport@sheffield.gov.uk or Vicky Carr, EYFS Quality, Access and Moderation Manager Vicky.Carr@sheffield.gov.uk / 07971 376801
A Unique Child
| The Unique Child – “Nurturing Our Youngest” Project |
Nurturing Our Youngest is a year-long project which aims to develop practitioner knowledge and understanding of babies and young children under 2 years.
Our interactive sessions focus on how our youngest children develop and learn, and how we can support their individual care, routines, and learning and development needs.
Practitioners will explore ways to create quality, nurturing, sensory and language-rich environments that promote effective early learning. Throughout the project, there is a strong emphasis on creating environments where babies feel safe, secure, and valued. Practitioners will deepen their understanding of how to support positive emotional wellbeing, and co-regulation, through consistent, responsive care and nurturing interactions.
The project will explore the importance of attachment, attunement, positive relationships, and professional love. Practitioners will reflect on how they support babies’ confidence, independence, and emotional development, ensuring each child is recognised as a unique individual.
There will be an opportunity to visit another setting, to develop aspects of practice specific to your own setting, supporting continuous improvement and reflective practice.
Audience: Early Years Practitioners working with babies and children under 2 years, max 10 attendees
Cohort 1 **Please note all sessions must be attended**
Date/s and time, location:
| Date/Time |
Venue |
|
Friday 9th October 2026
10.00-11.30am
|
Online |
Email to Book |
Friday 16th October 2026
9.30-3.30pm
Session 1 of 7
|
First Start Family Hub, S5 6HH |
Friday 27th November 2026
9.30-3.30pm
Session 2 of 7
|
Friday 15th January 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 3 of 7
|
Friday 26th February 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 4 of 7
|
Friday 16th April 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 5 of 7
|
Friday 11th June 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 6 of 7
|
Friday 9th July 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 7 of 7
|
Location: First Start Family Hub, 441 Firth Park Road, Sheffield S5 6HH
Cohort 2 **Please note all sessions must be attended**
Date/s and time, location:
| Date/Time |
Venue |
|
Thursday 6th April 2027
10.00-11.30am
|
Online |
Email to Book |
Thursday 22nd April 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 1 of 7
|
The Meadow Family Hub, Zinnia Room 349 Shirecliffe Road, Sheffield, S5 8XJ |
Thursday 27th May 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 2 of 7
|
Thursday 15th July 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 3 of 7
|
Thursday 16th September 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 4 of 7
|
Thursday 11th November 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 5 of 7
|
Thursday 13th January 2028
9.30-3.30pm
Session 6 of 7
|
Thursday 10th February 2028
9.30-3.30pm
Session 7 of 7
|
Location: The Meadow Family Hub, Zinnia Room 349 Shirecliffe Road, Sheffield, S5 8XJ
Cost: 3 Tokens or Pay as you go price £125.00
Training Team: Early Years Quality Improvement Team
How to book: Email EarlyYearsBusinessSupport@sheffield.gov.uk
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| The Unique Child – “The Wonder of Two-Year Olds” Project |
The Unique Child “The Wonder of Two-Year-Olds” is a comprehensive, year-long professional development project designed to deepen understanding of caring for and supporting the development of young children aged two. Interactive sessions focus on the unique child and the prime areas of learning. The programme fully supports the Ofsted Early Years Inspection Framework by placing the unique child at the centre of practice, strengthening curriculum knowledge rooted in child development, promoting enabling environments and communication-rich provision, supporting early identification, inclusion and safeguarding and embedding reflective, collaborative professional development.
Drawing on foundational knowledge of child developmental milestones, we will discover how creating sensory and language rich environments ensures that we are following children’s interests and unique learning styles, tailoring their care and learning experiences whilst considering their emotional wellbeing. Caring adults support children’s increasing independence and developing self-regulation as children assert their autonomy during this crucial period of rapid growth, and holistic development.
Through working together with parents and professionals we also explore the importance of supporting early identification and examine how providing support and intervention at the earliest opportunity and at this critical and sensitive age, can ensure solid foundations for future, lifelong learning.
Peer Coaching, Reflective Practice, Developing and Sharing Resources
An integral part of the project is the opportunity for practitioners to engage in peer coaching. Working alongside others, practitioners can reflect on their practices, share insights, and implement improvements tailored to their specific settings. Throughout the year, participants will contribute to a shared resource portfolio fostering a community of practice. The final session will be a celebration of practitioners’ valuable contributions and achievements in recognition of their professional development.
Audience: Early Years Practitioners working with young children aged 2 years, max 10 places
Cohort 1 **Please note all sessions must be attended**
Date/s and time, location:
| Date/Time |
Venue |
|
Wednesday 30th September 2026
10.00-11.30am
Introduction
|
Online |
Book Now |
Wednesday 7th October 2026
9.30-3.30pm
Session 1 of 7
|
Mansel Primary School |
Wednesday 18th November 2026
9.30-3.30pm
Session 2 of 7
|
Wednesday 13th January 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 3 of 7
|
Wednesday 24th February 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 4 of 7
|
Wednesday 14th April 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 5 of 7
|
Wednesday 9th June 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 6 of 7
|
Wednesday 7th July 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 7 of 7
|
Location: Mansel Primary School, 157 Chaucer Road, Parson Cross, Sheffield S5 9QN
Cohort 2 **Please note all sessions must be attended**
Date/s and time, location:
| Date/Time |
Venue |
|
Thursday 15th April 2027
10.00-11.30am
Introduction
|
Online |
Book Now |
Thursday 22nd April 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 1 of 7
|
Burngreave Family Hub |
Thursday 27th May 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 2 of 7
|
Thursday 15th July 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 3 of 7
|
Thursday 16th September 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 4 of 7
|
Thursday 11th November 2027
9.30-3.30pm
Session 5 of 7
|
Thursday 13th January 2028
9.30-3.30pm
Session 6 of 7
|
Thursday 10th February 2028
9.30-3.30pm
Session 7 of 7
|
Location: Burngreave Family Hub, 19 Spital Street, Sheffield S3 9LB
Cost: 3 Tokens or Pay as you go price £125.00
Training Team: Early Years Quality Improvement Team
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| Statutory Progress check at age 2 and Integrated Review |
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements state that practitioners must review children’s progress between the ages of 2–3 years and provide parents with a short-written summary of their development in the prime areas.
Health visiting services are also required to complete a Healthy Child Programme development review at 2 to 2 and a half years, working with parents to look at similar areas of development.
In this session, facilitated by Early Years Quality Improvement and Health colleagues, we look at how to carry out an effective Statutory 2-year Progress Check, how assessment supports early identification of need, and how we ensure we provide the right support at the earliest opportunity.
We explore further, how this can be achieved by encouraging parents, early years providers, local authorities, and health visiting services to work together, combining the EYFS Progress check at age 2 and the 2-year Healthy Child development review and discussing how a child’s needs can be best met through an ‘Integrated Review’ process.
Feedback from providers:
- “I learned to make 2-year checks more personal to the child and having more of a discussion with parents to make sure they understand and feel confident to share their thoughts”
- “I learned more about what to do if have concerns and who I can contact for advice”
Audience: EYFS practitioners to contribute to the 2 year progress check
Date/s and time, location:
| Date/Time |
Venue |
|
Friday 18th September 2026
1.00pm-4.00pm
|
Firth Park Family Hub, S5 6HH |
Book Now |
Friday 5th February 2027
1.00pm-4.00pm
|
Firth Park Family Hub, S5 6HH |
Book Now |
Friday 14th May 2027
1.00pm-4.00pm
|
Firth Park Family Hub, S5 6HH |
Book Now |
Location: Firth Park Family Hub, 441 Firth Park Road, S5 6HH
Cost: Free to Sheffield schools and settings
Training Team: Early Years Quality Improvement Team
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| Noticing and supporting the learning behaviours of our Early Years children: Establishing and maintaining an inclusive ethos |
This training explores how to recognise, understand and support the learning behaviours that underpin young children’s development. Focusing on the characteristics of effective learning, practitioners will consider how to notice and respond to children’s engagement, motivation and thinking in meaningful ways.
Rooted in an inclusive ethos, the session will highlight how environments, interactions and provision can be adapted to ensure all children feel valued, supported and able to succeed. Participants will gain practical strategies to nurture positive learning behaviours, enabling every child to develop confidence, resilience and a lifelong love of learning.
Audience: All early years practitioners, managers, teachers, teaching assistants, year 1 teachers, SENCo’s
Date/s and time, location:
| Date/Time |
Venue |
|
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
9.30-4.00pm
|
The Hope Centre, Bernard Rd, Sheffield, S2 5BQ |
Book Now |
Tuesday 19th January 2027
9.30-4.00pm
|
St Mary’s Church, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S2 4QZ |
Book Now |
Thursday 29th April 2027
9.30-4.00pm
|
The Quadrant, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, S9 4WG |
Book Now |
Locations: The Hope Centre, Bernard Rd, Sheffield, S2 5BQ
St Mary’s Church, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S2 4QZ
The Quadrant, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, S9 4WG
Cost: 2 Tokens or Pay as you go price on request from EarlyYearsBusinessSupport@sheffield.gov.uk
Training Team: Early Years Quality and Access Team
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