Welcome to the EYPS Forum!

The EYPS forum was launched in April 2008 to support EYPs and EYPS candidates. If your local authority subscribes to the EYPSf subscription scheme, you have full access to the website's facilities. To access the list of participating LAs, click here. If your LA isn't a member of the EYPSf you can now join by registering and subscribing as an individual (annual subscription is £42 including VAT).

children playing picture

EYPS forum EYP of the Year 2012 competition

In May 2011, Jess Purser became our very first EYP of the Year. Her manager, Selina Baylis, nominated her for the title, and Jess impressed us with her dedication to driving improvement in her setting, using the Reggio Emilia approach as inspiration. Second prize was awarded to Kate Milne who told us about developing a productive garden area in her setting. Third prize was won by Hayley Murphy who described how she created a stimulating and enticing role play area. You can read their case histories here.

Today, we are launching our competition for the EYPS forum EYP of the Year 2012!

Now is your opportunity to tell us about something you have introduced into your setting, or something you have developed and adapted to improve outcomes for children. We would like to know about:

* How you identified the need for improvement: why did you want to make this change?

* How you made plans and prepared for the change

* How you got your colleagues on board and led from the front

* What you did

* What the impact has been on your children

Just PM Helen (find her in the members' list) with your entry of around 1000-2000 words.

First prize: £150 to spend in your setting and a gorgeous box of goodies from Lush!

Second prize: £100 to spend in your setting and a delicious box of handmade chocolates

Third prize: £50 to spend in your setting and any early years book of your choice

Closing date for entries is Friday 15th June 2012.



Our Local Authority Membership scheme ;

Welcome Leicestershire as our newest members!  Brent, Manchester, Ealing, Warrington  local authorities have just renewed for a second year. A special welcome back to RB of Kingston upon Thames, Cornwall, Kent and Surrey who have now renewed for a third year. Norfolk, Suffolk, LB of Richmond, Wigan, Worcestershire, Portsmouth City, Cumbria, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Essex, Southampton, Herefordshire, Hampshire, Darlington and Portsmouth City are back for a 4th year!  Special welcome back to Oxfordshire, Northumberland,  East Sussex, Derbyshire and Wandsworth, renewing for a 5th Year.....some of our very first LAs to join the EYPS forum.  Current members from these authorities need do nothing: their account subscriptions will automatically be renewed.


Latest Articles

Do Early Years Professionals make a difference to practice?

May 3rd, 2012
Can it really be six years ago that Early Years Professionals (EYPs) emerged? Through policy change in the UK in 2006, the government introduced major changes to the early years’ workforce, with the introduction of Early Years Professional Status (EYPS). This was an opportunity for graduate leaders to emerge within the early years’ workforce. Those from within the workforce, and those outside it, could undertake a period of education and training to become one of these graduate leaders in early years. Dr. Geraldine Davis, from Anglia Ruskin Unversity, was invited to investigate the impact of EYPS in Essex. The study is ongoing to 2013 and is part funded by Essex County Council. So far, Dr. Davis has undertaken research using questionnaires, interviews and focus groups, within a case study design. It is the initial findings from this research that she is keen to share with you here.

Exploring practitioners’ perspectives on ‘quality’ in early years services

April 27th, 2012
Michelle Cottle is a senior lecturer in early childhood studies at the University of Roehampton. Her article discusses some of the issues that may shape early years practitioners’ understandings of ‘quality’ within the context of their particular settings. It draws on data from a project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (2009). Michelle discusses the two distinct ways of understanding 'quality': as a locally-determined, changing and dynamic process for each individual setting, or as a static 'target', externally defined and imposed by statutory frameworks and regulations.

Parents' leaflet on the use of Persona Dolls

March 1st, 2012
A leaflet for you to share with your parents, explaining your use of persona dolls in your setting and how they benefit the development of children's PSED.

Practitioner Resources for Communities (KUW)

December 2nd, 2011
The final set of posters to support you and your staff in providing babies, toddlers and young children with stimulating experiences within the knowledge and understanding of the world area of learning. Here, we look at the aspect of communities.

Practitioner Resources for Time and Place (KUW)

December 2nd, 2011
A further set of posters for you to share with colleagues and display in your setting to support staff in providing effective learning experiences for knowledge and understanding of the world (time and place).

Parents' leaflet on supporting children's independence

November 16th, 2011
This leaflet gives parents some ideas on how to help their child be more independent.

Practitioner Resources for Designing and Making (KUW)

November 16th, 2011
Continuing our series of posters for you to share with your colleagues and to display in the appropriate areas of your setting.

Encouraging Independence

October 10th, 2011
As infants and children move through the early years the aim is for them to become more independent. This article looks at the different areas in which children can become more self-sufficient and how practitioners can support their blossoming independence.

Practitioner Resources for Exploration and Investigation (KUW)

October 10th, 2011
Beginning a new series of posters to share with your colleagues and to display in your baby, toddler and young children areas. This month, Juliet Mickelburgh begins with exploring and investigating materials with the three different age groups.

How do young children learn to make decisions?

September 8th, 2011
Being able to make a decision is an important life skill. We begin to learn how to do it as infants, and continue to learn through childhood and even as adults, when some of the decisions can be bigger and more complicated. Whether an adult or a child, the decisions we make say something about who we are. We are showing a preference and taking control of a situation. Children who learn that their decisions are listened to and respected will gain confidence in their own abilities. They will be more self-aware, develop their own style, and experience trust and responsibility.