With more people returning to physical workplaces on a more regular basis, the need for quality childminding has increased with more opportunities than ever to combine a rewarding career with the flexibility to manage family life.

Now is a great time to begin the journey of becoming a childminder with the launch of the new Childminder Grant Scheme; new childminders will receive a £600 grant for registering with Ofsted and a £1200 grant for registering with a childminder agency. This is available to any individual who completed their childminder registration on or after 15 March 2023 and can be applied for from Autumn 2023.

Act for Autism webinars

Act for Autism is offering three free online webinars. The webinars will cover topics such as autism in black and black mixed heritage women and helping children understand their feelings and needs.

The webinars are hosted by Act for Autism founders Tessa Morton and Jane Gurnett.

The dates of the webinars are as follows:

• Autism, Girls and Keeping it all Inside – Monday 25 September 8pm
• Autism in Black and Black Mixed Heritage Women – Monday 16 October 8pm
• Helping your Autistic Child Understand Feelings and Needs (The 3C Pathway) – Monday 20 November 8pm

Back to School: Support for Young Carers

As the new academic year approaches, young carers across Warwickshire will be preparing to return to school. For many young carers this can be a time of mixed feelings, due to leaving a parent or relative, after spending time with them over the summer holidays Some young carers may also be starting in a new school which can be both exciting and worrying.

Warwickshire County Council and, Carers Trust (Heart of England) are dedicated to supporting young carers mental health. The Young Carer Caring Together Warwickshire (CTW) service supports young carers and those with a caring role. Young carers themselves and first contact partners such as GPs and school colleagues are being urged to visit the website, www.caringtogetherwarwickshire.org.uk or phone the freephone number 0800 197 5544 for information and advice.

Support for children and young people returning to school this September

Warwickshire County Council is offering guidance and support for parents and carers to help their children and young people return to school in September.

Given that a child missing school on a regular basis can be very difficult for families, they are encouraging those concerned about their child’s attendance to use the support available to them.

Going to school on a regular basis offers children and young people plenty of benefits. It impacts positively on their educational attainment, wellbeing and wider life chances. It can also help to establish positive routines for their future and bring health and wellbeing benefits.

Let’s Talk Warwickshire Podcast: Going back to school

Useful guidelines for how parents can help their young people prepare for the step up to a new school year are featured in the latest Let’s Talk Warwickshire Podcast.

Warwickshire County Council’s podcast series promotes meaningful conversations on topics that impact Warwickshire residents and has to date featured subjects such as healthy exercise, economic help for businesses and support for young people with SEND.

The latest episode features Sarah Tregaskis, Darren Barrow and Nici Scott-Moylan from Warwickshire County Council’s Education team. They share a range of tips to help young people acclimatise to a new school, both before September and in the crucial first weeks as well as explore options available post A-Level for those not going down the route of a university.

Thousands of Warwickshire students will have celebrated last Thursday (24 August) as they received their GCSE results, the culmination of their hard work over the last two years.

This year, over 6,500 Warwickshire students have completed GCSEs or equivalent qualifications such as BTECs and other practical and applied learning qualifications, with support from their schools, further education colleges and training providers.

There’s still time for children to get involved in the ‘Ready, Set, Read!’ Summer Reading Challenge

After the Summer Reading Challenge was extended to run until Sunday 10 September, there’s still time for children aged 4-11 to visit Warwickshire libraries and join a fictional superstar team and their marvellous mascots in a challenge about the power of play, sports, games and physical activity.

Open day for all taking place at Nuneaton Fire Station this summer

Nuneaton Fire Station will be holding an event on Saturday 2 September 10 am – 4 pm, where the public is welcome to attend the fire station and meet the firefighters and other staff.

These events are open to all and are a great opportunity to meet local firefighters, learn more about the fire & rescue service and take part in fun family activities.

The open day, taking place at Nuneaton Fire Station, offers attractions including an animal and reptile experience, mini go-carts, bouncy castle, ice creams, and mini ferris wheel. Members of WFRS will be present with fire engines, alongside representatives and vehicles from the police and ambulance service, who will be at the event to speak about how they work together to keep Warwickshire safe.