Find out about cluster meetings, a new webinar for local authorities, regional meetings and more in this week's update.
Cluster meetings
December cluster meetings are underway, thank you to everyone who has attended so far.
Dates for the remainder of the December cluster meetings are below.
If you have not booked a place, please do so as soon as possible. If you are unable to attend your usual cluster, please sign up to attend an alternative meeting. If you are unable to attend a meeting at all, please let your adviser know as soon as possible.
Cluster Meeting | Date | Time | Links |
London Boroughs 2 (J) | Friday 5th December | 10:00am - 11:30am | |
South East (E) | Tuesday 9th December | 10:00am - 11:30am | |
South West (F) | Tuesday 9th December | 2:00pm - 3:30pm | |
Yorkshire (G) | Wednesday 10th December | 10:00am – 11:30am | |
London Boroughs (H) | Wednesday 10th December | 2:00pm - 3:30pm |
Dates for January 2026 cluster meetings can be found on the LAB events page.
NEW WEBINAR: Childminder models of wraparound provision
Childminding may present an opportunity to increase reach in areas where demand for wraparound childcare is too low to sustain group-based provision, due to rurality, parental working patterns, school size and population demographics.
Childcare Works have worked with three homebased childminders and Cambridgeshire County Council to develop new case studies and best practice guidance which includes:
- Advice from childminders setting up wraparound in non-domestic premises.
- Advice from childminders expanding home-based wrapround provision.
- Advice for local authorities on establishing wraparound with childminders.
Join us for the launch webinar of this guidance on Wednesday 17th December, 1.30pm-2.30pm where Childcare Works and Coram Pacey will explore the steps local authorities can take to develop models of delivery to support sustainability of the wraparound programme. This includes exploring opportunities to strengthen strategic links between schools, childminders, and local authorities.
Register here: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams
Regional Meetings – Bookings open
Bookings are now open for the February 2026 regional meetings. Please book your place through the links below, and we will follow up with a formal invite to confirm your place: February 2026 regional meeting booking form
Dates and locations are shown below - each meeting will run from 10.00am to 3.30pm, with arrival and registration from 9.30am. In the first instance, places are limited to two per local authority. An agenda will be shared in due course.
Location | Date | Venue |
Leeds | Tuesday 3rd February 2026 | Hilton City Centre, Leeds LS1 4BX |
Manchester | Wednesday 4th February 2026 | Radisson Park Inn, Manchester M4 4EW |
London (1) | Thursday 5th February 2026 | Coram Campus, London WC1N 1AZ |
London (2) | Tuesday 10th February 2026 | Coram Campus, London WC1N 1AZ |
Birmingham | Wednesday 11th February 2026 | Park Regis Hotel Birmingham B15 1DT |
Exeter | Thursday 12th February 2026 | Sandy Park, Exeter, EX2 7NN |
Resources
Dingley’s Promise: Inclusive Practice
New resources on inclusive practice are now available on the LAB for local authorities (Driving Early Years Inclusion) and on the HUB for providers (Inclusive Practice in the Early Years)
Early Years Business Support, Sustainability, and Funding
Bespoke resources have been added to the LAB to support local authorities when navigating sustainability of early years funding: Early Years Business Support, Sustainability and Funding
New resources are available on the HUB for providers to help move towards whole-business perspectives: Early Years Business Support, Sustainability and Funding
Top tips for Wraparound place creation
Childcare Works has pulled together top tips, ideas, and suggestions to support local authorities with continued Wraparound place creation: Place delivery top tips