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Bulletin 257

9 January 2023

Welcome to our Early Years and Childcare bulletin. Previous bulletins are available at: Cheshire East Early years and Childcare Bulletin

Covid-19

Information and advice on managing illnesses

Scarlet Fever and Streptococcus A infections
Updated documents from UKHSA have been emailed to all providers. These include:
1. Updated letter to schools and settings from the Interim Regional Deputy Director
2. School and Settings Resource Pack which contains:
• Signs and symptoms of Scarlet Fever including outbreak definition
• Updated guidance about when to contact UKHSA
• Outbreak Action Card describing actions for schools and settings to take
• Flowchart of actions (summarised below)
• Letter to parents/carers in the event of an outbreak. 

Acute Respiratory Infections including COVID19 and Flu
Covid19 and other respiratory infections are still circulating and may have an impact in school/setting. Those with symptoms are advised to stay away from school/setting until well. For anyone with a positive COVID19 test, the advice remains that adult should stay away for 5 full days and children for 3 full days following a positive test.

The Cheshire East Winter Toolkit which was issued last term and gives advice on managing different scenarios has been emailed to all providers.

Cheshire East advice
Please use the school and setting reporting form on the link below to report all cases of scarlet fever and Strep A and any outbreaks of acute respiratory infections including COVID19.

Latest Covid Figures for Cheshire East

The Covid figures are now being updated on a less frequent basis - for the latest figures see the link below.

Business Support

Early Years Entitlement Funding for 2023/24

The Department for Education have increased the early years entitlement funding for 2023/24. It is proposed that the hourly rates paid to providers will rise by the same percentage increase as the increased funding from the DfE (3 & 4 year old funding = 4.5% increase and 2 year old funding = 1.1% increase).

Subject to Children and Families Committee approval in February, the funding formula from 1 April 2023 will be:

The DfE have also announced that Early Years Pupil Premium will increase from 60p to 62p per hour and the Disability Access Fund (DAF), to support disabled children’s access to the entitlements for 3 and 4-year-olds, will increase to £828 per eligible child per year.

Once the funding formula has received Committee approval, individual provider indicative budgets and funding agreements for April 2023 to March 2024 will be issued in March.

Annual DfE Early Years Census of Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) Providers and Children

The annual DfE early years census of private, voluntary and independent (PVI) providers and children takes place on Thursday 19 January 2023. The census collects data on all children taking up free provision during census week (week commencing 16 January 2023).

In addition to the spring term data already submitted for children taking up a free place, PVI providers are required to complete the Early Years Census form which can be found on the ‘Forms’ tab of the Provider Portal. The census form will be available from Monday 16 January.

Any PVI provider that has no funded children at the time of the census does not need to complete the form. Guidance notes for completing Section 3 of the form (numbers of staff and their qualifications) are available on our webpage.

A Privacy Notice for parents explaining how information about their child is used in early years providers is also available on our webpage. Please amend the form as appropriate and make your parents aware of the document.

The census form must be submitted by Friday 27 January 2023.

Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

Flu vaccine for 2 and 3 year olds

The Cheshire and Merseyside Screening and Immunisation Team are aware that uptake of the flu vaccine in 2 and 3 year olds is low this year. The UKHSA issued a press release on the latest evidence indicating that the children’s nasal flu vaccine may help reduce cases of Group A Strep - see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nasal-flu-vaccine-may-help-reduce-cases-of-group-a-strep

Parents and guardians of children aged 2 and 3 and children in a high-risk group can make an appointment through their GP surgery.

Department for Education reminder for all education, childcare and children’s social care settings to review their emergency and contingency plans

Each setting should have contingency plans in place for foreseeable risks, detailing what you would do and how you would respond if you needed to take any temporary actions in the event of an emergency.

As we are entering winter months, emergency plans should be reviewed and include robust contingency plans for a wide range of winter scenarios, such as disruption caused by severe weather (including where this may impact transport or food), power outages or high levels of seasonal illness.

The Department for Education's emergency planning guidance provides further guidance and support.

Ofsted

EYFS Learning and Development

Apply for support from the Department for Education Childminder Mentor programme

The Department for Education (DfE) is offering a programme of support for childminders across England, from May 2023 until July 2024. The Childminder mentor programme is focused on supporting childminders to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the youngest and most disadvantaged children.

By joining this programme, you will receive support from experienced early years practitioners who have at least three years' experience as a childminder or supporting childminders, in the roles of Area Lead and Mentor.

The support is free and available across England.

You will also have the opportunity to network with other childminders in your area who are part of the programme and also the Department for education, local authorities and other early years providers.

To be eligible to receive support from the DfE Childminder Mentor programme, childminders must currently be providing childcare to children aged between 0-5 (to at least one child).

If you are interested in receiving support, please see the link below and register by 17 February 2023.

SEND

Parenting Journey

Catch app available to Cheshire East families

Continuous Professional Development

Launching the Cheshire East Hub for Early Years   

This month we are launching our new training courses and consultations online shop – the Cheshire East Hub for Early Years – which is replacing the existing Early Years online shop. By the end of February 2023 every Cheshire East childcare provider will have received an invitation to register on the new shop. Training courses and consultations being delivered in January and February 2023 will be available to book on the current shop however training courses and consultations being delivered from 1^st March 2023 onwards will be available only on the new shop and so it is imperative that you complete the simple registration process as soon as possible in order to be able to book places on any sessions you are interested in.

Please keep a look out in your inbox for your invitation to sign up. Email us at earlyyearsandchildcareteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk if you have any queries, need any help with registering or do not receive your invitation to register by 28^th February 2023.

Spring Term Training

Please keep checking the Online Shop as new training and CPD opportunities for the Spring term are being advertised all the time covering a range of topics including Communication and Language, SEND, Safeguarding, 2 year old provision, Early Literacy, Behaviour, Emotional Wellbeing. Our January CPD offer includes:

New to the Role of the DSL, 20-Jan-23, 9.30am - 4pm, Oakenclough Children Centre

This 1 day training course includes safer recruitment and induction of new staff members, liaising with staff members and other agencies, recording of safeguarding information, escalation of concerns, online safety, allegations against staff and the role of the LADO and policy and procedure development.

Session 4 of our Leadership and Management Programme. 25-Jan-23 1.30-3.30pm or 6.30-8.30pm - Teams

During this session for PSED Champions Dr Julian Grenier will discuss embedding the 7 key features of effective practice, recognising the importance of PSE development, attachment and the role of the key person, self-regulation and the importance of leading by example.

Standing in the shoes of a two year old, 25^th Jan and 1^st Feb 23, 9am to 11am -Teams

This two part training is suitable for all practitioners who work with two year olds and will provide them with the skills and knowledge needed to work with this age group.  Session 1 ‘Getting to know me’ will cover attachments, supporting separations, keyperson and how I like to learn.  Session 2 ‘Building an environment that is right for me’, looks closely at the physical and emotional environment for twos.

WellComm, 26-Jan-23, 9.30am - 3pm - Oak Tree Children Centre, Crewe

During this full day session there will be opportunities to discuss communication and examine the rationale behind using WellComm to screen, track and monitor individual children. You will receive practical support on how to use and how to integrate WellComm activities into daily best practice within the setting and to discuss the practicalities of setting up targeted groups.

Understanding the EIF, 26-Jan-23, 3.30pm to 5.30pm - Teams

This two hour session will give an opportunity to consider Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework. The curriculum is discussed and consideration is given to how to integrate Intent, Implementation and Impact in to your setting. The Learning Walk is unpicked and Ofsted’s ‘Golden Thread’ is looked at in more detail and is made relatable to you and your provision.

Delivering Small Groups Language Interventions, 31-Jan-23, 9.30am-12pm – Teams

An opportunity to explore ways to set up small groups focussing on the development of attention and listening skills as well as language skills and vocabulary. You will also learn more about how to identify children for the groups as well as sharing thoughts and ideas around using a total communication approach to support children to engage with the activities.

Don't Forget!

FEEE – Afghan and Ukrainian children

Afghan and Ukrainian children aged 2, 3 and 4 years old living in Cheshire East are entitled to 15 hours early education irrespective of the immigration status of the child or their parent(s). To claim FEEE funding for children from Afghanistan or Ukraine, please add their details to the Provider Portal in the usual way. Should the Provider Portal be closed, please email the FEEE Team (FEEE@cheshireeast.gov.uk) who will update your funding claim.

In addition, please also complete the short form (link below), enabling the authority to monitor take-up of the free entitlement.  Please complete this form each time an Afghan or Ukrainian child starts or leaves your setting. If any Afghan or Ukrainian children currently attend your setting, please retrospectively complete this form and continue to use the form as you have any new starters or leavers.

https://forms.office.com/r/RN5KbkKrzL