Thriving Through Change: Business resilience for early years providers

Recruitment can be challenging for any business, but particularly for those in the early years sector, where many owners and managers see it as one of their biggest issues.

This webinar will provide practical guidance and advice on compliant and safe recruitment in the early years sector, identifying positive and practical steps you can take at each stage of the onboarding process to ensure effective and compliant recruitment, giving you peace of mind.

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Delivered by:

Stephen Woodhouse is a Senior Associate Solicitor at Stephensons, specialising in employment law. Since joining the firm in 2012, he has advised on a wide range of issues, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, and unpaid wages. Stephen supports both employees and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering guidance on disciplinary procedures, settlement agreements, and HR matters. He also works with clients through legal expenses insurance and flexible funding options, including damages-based agreements.

Adam Pennington is a Partner in the employment law team at Stephensons. Joining in 2010, he has advised employees on a wide range of matters, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, TUPE transfers, and wage disputes. Adam also provides HR support to businesses and regularly advises on settlement agreements. He frequently appears in the media commenting on employment law, with recent contributions to Sky News, BBC Radio Manchester, and leading HR publications.

This engaging 1 hour session is designed for Nursery Owners, Directors, and Managers to explore the practical and strategic benefits of AI in Early Years settings. We'll demonstrate how tools like ChatGPT can streamline lesson planning, enhance delivery, and reduce administrative burdens, all while aligning with EYFS and Development Matters guidance.

Attendees will see live examples of AI generating EYFS-aligned activities. The session will also show how AI can improve parent communications, develop staff training materials, and support marketing efforts. Whether you're curious about AI or ready to integrate it into your daily practice, this session offers practical ideas, templates, and inspiration.

Expect real-world examples, demonstrations, and time-saving use cases tailored to Early Years leadership. You'll gain insights into enhancing planning, supporting differentiated learning, and saving staff time. We'll explore AI use cases across learning areas, from communication and language development to inclusive practice and sensory planning. You'll leave with practical prompts, ready-to-use strategies, and a clearer understanding of how to confidently introduce AI into your setting.

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Delivered by: Jo Whitehead, Business Advisor – Growth at GM Business Growth Hub

This session will explore Ofsted’s powers when responding to safeguarding incidents or allegations in early years and childcare settings. It will cover how to manage these situations and offer practical tips to reduce the risks involved.

We will look at the range of enforcement powers available to Ofsted—from issuing actions to cancelling registration—and how these powers may be used following a serious safeguarding incident or allegation. The session will include working examples to illustrate how these powers are applied in practice.

There will be a particular focus on suspension of registration, including the legal tests considered by Ofsted, the procedures followed, trends observed in these cases, and how providers can reduce the risk of suspension.

The session will also provide general insights into common issues that arise in regulatory enforcement cases brought by Ofsted.

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Delivered by: Chloe Parish

Partner, Regulatory Team, Stephensons

Chloe assists and represents professionals and providers before their regulators, including Ofsted. She regularly advises early years and childcare providers on enforcement action, registration issues, inspections, and criminal investigations and frequently appears before the First-tier Tribunal. Chloe is recommended in the Legal 500 (2022 and 2023), acts as a judge at the Children and Young People Awards, and regularly attends nursery sector events.