Early Years teacher-mentors delivered a set of training sessions to staff from the nurseries, who were also supported with a set of resources to assist with literacy, language and numeracy developments.

The sessions looked at current practice in implementing the national Early Learning Goals for maths and writing; identified how children extend their skills (e.g. learning to write); identified how stories support children’s learning and how children can be supported to become storytellers; developed the use of books to promote speaking and listening; and identified effective ways of engaging parents in their children’s learning.

The settings invited to get this support were those who were to have an early follow up after an OFSTED inspection, or who were coming up to their first inspection. The support was very well received. This locks into place one of the structural pieces of work to get literacy and numeracy enhancements into all work with Under Fives in Birmingham.