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

HEY and Commitment to Quality

The Healthy Early Years Award (HEY)

This is a quality assurance award*, accredited by the Director of Public Health. The training and award recognises and celebrates a whole setting holistic approach to healthy early years. The award covers seven key strands and promotes and supports key Public Health messages, demonstrating a commitment to supporting children, families, staff and the wider community in making informed choices supporting both physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Achieving the award demonstrates a commitment to ongoing reflective practice, aligning with Ofsted and Department for Education expectations, and supporting continuous improvement within provision.

The 7 key strands covered are:

• Food & Healthy Eating
• Leadership & Management
• Health & Safety
• EYFS Prime Areas
• Parent Partnership & Involvement
• Building Relationships & Supporting Infant Feeding
• Immunisations

To undertake the award, settings are required to:

• Attend all training sessions
• Work together as a whole team to complete a reflective toolkit
• Complete and submit the toolkit, an action plan and a Healthy Early Years communication plan

*The HEY Award is suitable for providers where practice has been positively recognised by Ofsted or following discussions with the LA Quality Team Managers.

For more information, please see Sheffield City Council Early Years Professional Development Training page or email EarlyYearsBusinessSupport@sheffield.gov.uk.

Download our Healthy Early Years Award Directory of Good Practice

Commitment to Quality Award

The Commitment to Quality (C2Q) Award is Sheffield's Early Years quality recognition programme, celebrating settings that demonstrate excellence beyond statutory requirements. Through a supportive application, assessment and sharing process, the award recognises high-quality practice, promotes professional reflection and provides opportunities for schools and settings to showcase their unique areas of expertise. Successful settings become part of a city-wide network committed to improving outcomes for children, sharing effective practice and supporting continuous improvement across the Early Years sector.

If you are a Sheffield school or early years provider, are you proud of an aspect of your Early Years provision that goes above and beyond statutory expectations? The Commitment to Quality (C2Q) Award offers an opportunity to gain recognition for high-quality practice, reflect on your strengths and share your expertise with colleagues across Sheffield. Through a supportive process involving professional dialogue, learning walks and celebration of effective practice, C2Q helps build a strong network of settings committed to delivering the very best outcomes for children.

For more information about the application process and how you and your setting could achieve this award, please email EarlyYearsBusinessSupport@sheffield.gov.uk.