Leading your setting

The Early Years Quality Improvement Team offer a range of support to help you lead your setting and provide the highest quality provision for children in Lancashire. You can also purchase a Membership Package for your setting which will provide you with many additional benefits to help you in your leadership role.

Our exciting training programme includes courses that will help you build and hone your leadership skills whatever type of setting you lead. These include:

The Recruiting and Managing Staff , Business Tools and Information and Safeguarding sections of our website have a wealth of information on these important aspects of your leadership role.

We have a New Manager's Academy offering a little more support for nursery managers who are new to their role.

The Help for Early Years Providers website, from the Department for Education, provides information, guidance and practical support for delivering the EYFS framework.

Childcare Works Hub for providers includes the Early Years Toolkit and the Wraparound Toolkit which contain a range of free carefully chosen resources.

Training specifically designed to support you lead your setting: Preparing for your Ofsted Inspection for Childminders  and Evaluating your Practice using the Ofsted Grade Descriptors Toolkit

Publications that will help you run your business include the:

  • Childminder Documentation Pack to take the strain out of keeping those essential records
  • Home from home - Engaging enabling environments in Lancashire Childminder Settings to inspire you
  • Flip, Think and Plan flip book to help you reflect on your practice

These and many other publications are available in the Publications area.

Continuous professional development journey maps

We’re excited to introduce our new Childminder and Childminder Assistant Journey Maps! These resources have been created to make your role easier by bringing together everything you need in one place, from lists of essential training and key documents to tips for networking and professional development.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refresh your knowledge, these journey maps will guide you step by step, helping you feel confident and supported in providing the best care for children and confidently navigate your role and continue to grow in knowledge and expertise.

Training Leadership and Management - getting it right in the Early Years will support you to lead your team.

The Record of self-evaluation and preparation for Ofsted training will support you to evaluate the quality of your setting and identify areas to build on.

The Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements webinar will help you meet your responsibilities with these legal requirements.

You might like to complete the Leading a Successful Team Quality Award to hone and recognise your leadership skills.

Publications for nursery leaders include:

  • Manager's Handbook
  • Manager's Toolkit
  • Personal Reflective Induction Journal
  • Promoting Staff Wellbeing
  • Record of Self-evaluation and Improvement Plan for the EYFS
  • Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements in Action - Staff Meeting Prompt Cards
  • Supervision for Leaders of Early Years Settings

These and many other publications are available in the Publications area.

Continuous professional development journey maps

We’re excited to introduce our new CPD journey maps for early years settings! These resources have been designed to support you in finding your feet in your journey in the early years. They can also be used to understand different roles in your setting to support progression.

They include links to essential and recommended training, key documents, professional development and networking:

Manager's journey (PDF 220KB) – Tips for leading your setting, meeting statutory requirements and supporting your team effectively.

Room leader's journey (PDF 293KB) – Practical tools and links to training to help you manage your room, plan learning, and lead staff confidently.

Practitioner's journey (PDF 190KB) – Essential information and links to training to understand the foundations of your role and strengthen your knowledge of child development.

Publications for the maintained sector include EYFS Principles into Practice Head Teacher Audit Tool and the Pocket Sized Professional Development to support EYFS in Schools.  

These and many other publications are available in the Publications area.

Training specifically designed for out of school club leaders include Leading a team for Out of Schools Clubs to boost your confidence and knowledge in your leadership role.