Barnsley Early Start and Family Services

Training and CPD

Early years is a dynamic and important sector that needs highly qualified staff to improve outcomes for children. High quality early years provision can have a big impact on children's growth. It can also improve performance at school and their future life chances. For children to benefit, the early years workforce must be professional, well trained, highly qualified, and dedicated to their role.

Our training programme offers all childcare and early years staff flexible CPD courses. Our training list is updated yearly and we add more events throughout the year. The programme includes:

  • All required training.
  • Training to support the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
  • A number of online learning courses.

Training calendar

We've got some great courses running throughout 2022.  You can find and book training courses on POD - our Personal Online Development system. 

Take a look at the training below. Simply click on the course you want to go to.  Or use the POD system for more details and booking.

January 2023

Date and time Training Tutors Training platform Cost
12 January 2023 Basic early years safeguarding QIP officers Distance learning  £20
14 January 2023 Designated safeguarding lead refresher QIP officers Distance learning  £20
21 January 2023 Paediatric first aid BMBC Adult Learning Distance learning and face to face £50
23 January  and 20 February 2023 Child development age 2 to 3 years Lisa Bosson and Richard Lazenby Face to face and distance learning  £30
24 January 2023 1 day emergency first aid Sharron O'Rourke Face to face and distance learning £30
25 and 26 January 2023 Level 3 paediatric first aid Sharron O'Rourke Face to face £65
31 January 2023 Positive adults, happy children, positive behaviour Ben Kingston Hughes - Inspired Children Face to face  £40

February 2023

Date and time Training Tutors Training platform Cost
4 February 2023 Paediatric first aid ABC Training  Distance learning and face to face £50
18 February 2023 Paediatric first aid BMBC Adult Learning Distance learning and face to face £50
20 February 2023 Emergency first aid Sharron O'Rourke Face to face  £30
21 and 22 February 2023 Level 3 Paediatric first aid  Sharron O'Rourke Face to face  £65

March 2023

Date and time Training Tutors Training platform Cost
4 March 2023 Paediatric first aid ABC Training Face to face £50
13 March 2023 Forest schools - supporting and promoting positive wellbeing Caroline Campbell and Simon Robinson  Face to face To be confirmed
15 March 2023 Designated safeguarding lead refresher QIP Team  Distance learning  £20
15 March 2023 1 day emergency first aid Sharron O'Rourke Face to face £30 
16 and 17 March 2023 Level 3 paediatric first aid  Sharron O'Rourke Face to face £65
25 March 2023 Paediatric first aid BMBC Adult Learning Distance learning and face to face £50
27 March 2023 Forest schools - game and fire lighting Caroline Campbell and Simon Robinson  Face to face To be confirmed

Help with POD

You can find and book training courses on POD - our Personal Online Development system. Before booking you should take a look at the guides below. You can choose to watch a video guide or read a manual one.

The employee guides give learners step-by-step instructions on how to book on a course, cancel a place, plus more. The guides for managers show how to approve or reject booking requests.

POD video guide for employees

POD video guide for managers

POD manual guide for employees

POD manual guide for managers 

If you have a query about using POD, see if it's answered in our frequently asked questions. If not you can email pod@barnsley.gov.uk. For more about training, contact us using our online form.

Early years teachers

The government introduced early years teachers from September 2013. This was in response to Professor Cathy Nutbrowns report: Foundations for quality published in June 2012.

Early years teachers are specialists in early childhood development. They are trained to work with babies and young children from birth to five. They are graduate leaders who organise and lead high quality practice in early years settings. The aim was to move away from the idea that teaching pre-school children is somehow less important than teaching school age children.

Early years professionals have had a positive impact on the quality of early education and care for pre-school children. The introduction of early years teachers built on the Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) programme. The aim of the EYPS programme was to raise the status of the early years workforce. The change will give one title of ‘teacher’ across early years and schools. Early years teachers are able to work in all private and voluntary sector settings.

Existing early years professionals are seen as equal to early years teachers. Early years professionals will not need to obtain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to increase their status. Routes are already available to QTS however if they wish to take them. All providers offering the Early Years Teacher Programme offer pathways since September 2013.

Entry requirements:

  • GCSE grade C or above in English, maths and science
  • competence in written and spoken English
  • the right to work and study in the UK
  • degree and experience required for the specific pathway

Training providers of relevant childcare qualifications

For more information

Call us on 0800 034 5340 or

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