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Wednesday 19 July 2017
1. Free Entitlement Autumn term actuals now open
and 30 hours online form now available (FE PROVIDERS ONLY)
The
Online Provider Portal will open on Friday 21 July for Autumn Term Free Entitlement (FE)
actuals claims.
Please see attached the interim
process for submitting 30 hours/Extended FE eligibility codes and how to
claim.
It is
important to read the “Free Entitlement – additional information for
providers” on www.westsussex.gov.uk/ecsfreeentitlement
and follow the updated guidance entitled “How to claim child-level funding”
available here before submitting any information. The
updated guidance now includes how to claim Disability Access Fund (DAF) and
Extended FE for eligible 3 and 4 year olds.
Headcount
day: Thursday 21 September 2017.
The
deadline for return of your FE actuals data is Thursday 28 September 2017.
If you
have any queries please contact the Family Information Service on 01243 777807
or email free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk
Attachments:
2. URGENT: Eligibility Codes for 30 hours (FE PROVIDERS ONLY)
- Please
direct all enquiries around eligibility directly to the Childcare Choices
(HMRC) helpline number: 0300 1234 097.
- Parents
who are being told to wait until September to apply (when they should be
eligible from September) must re-contact
the helpline and query this.
- We
recommend that parents write down the time, date and outcome of all telephone
calls with HMRC.
- The
deadline for parents to apply, if
eligible from September, remains 31
August 2017.
- Parents
do not have to provide term-time
only settings with the code before term breaks up. The parent however must be assigned the code before 31
August 2017. Settings can validate codes
with us prior to the September headcount, dependent on spaces and your
admissions policies.
- For
this autumn term only, parents who may lose eligibility before 1 September 2017
(but already has a code awarded) will
still receive the Extended FE. This has been guaranteed by Government. Grace
periods of 31 December will be applied if relevant.
- Parents
who have applied, and meet all eligibility criteria, but are struggling to get
their codes due to technical difficulties with the Childcare Choices website,
should keep evidence of all attempts and contact with the HMRC.
WSCC
is sharing all concerns parents/settings are raising over the eligibility
checking directly with the DfE and HMRC so please email any queries you have
around what parents are being told to free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk
including the time, date and outcome of the call.
3. Updated Operational Guidance (FE PROVIDERS ONLY)
The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated Operational Guidance (July 2017) on how local authorities
(LAs) and early years settings should provide the early years Free Entitlement.
The guide sets out:
- what
LAs should do to fulfil their statutory responsibilities,
- what early years
settings should do to fulfil their agreement with the LA,
- how LAs and
early years settings can support parents and children.
Please ensure you read the updated
guidance. If you have any queries please contact the Family Information Service
on 01243 777807 or email free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk
4. Free
Entitlement (FE) – Frequently Asked Questions
Please find
the updated Frequently Asked Questions for settings delivering Free Entitlement
here.
These explain
why things such as artificial breaks should be avoided in patterns of delivery
and that additional services (such as lunch, nappies and snacks) need to be
optional, itemised and clearly shown on invoices, in line with the Statutory
Guidance.
Also
please note that Settings can only claim FE when the child is in attendance.
Settings can’t claim ‘empty hours’ over the holidays. For example if you have a
model of stretched funding but a child attends term time only (TTO).
5. Advanced notice of peak demand in the Contact
Centre on Monday 24 July
On Monday 24 July the WSCC Contact Centre (01243
777807) are expecting a very busy day with end of term enquiries from Schools
and systems upgrade and downtime.
As such we ask that any non-urgent queries,
where possible, be conducted by email or if you need to speak to us by phone to
call us later in the week. However if your query is urgent, then please do
call.
The Contact Centre will do its best to ensure all
customers queries are dealt with during this busy time.
 6. Baby Buddy - Raise the Awareness!
Do you know a new parent, or parent-to-be? Why not try out the Baby Buddy app from Best Beginnings, a multi-award winning free app.
It’s a personal baby expert who will guide you through your pregnancy and the first six months of your baby’s life. Track services and groups near you, find out useful facts and information specific to your child each day, keep track of your appointments and keep photo memories of your baby growing up... and much more!
If you are a professional, you can download the app and see what information is on there. Make sure you share this with families you are working with and give us their feedback.
Download the app today. I have, have you? Find out more.
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7. Let’s get moving shall we?
Let’s Get Moving Shall
We?
Physical activity helps
children grow strong bones, maintain a healthy weight and discover the world
around them. Best of all, it's great fun!
Did you know?
- Parents, carers, grandparents and siblings can be
important role models and when families are active together everyone benefits
- Physical activity is central to a baby’s normal
growth and development. This continues through school and into adulthood and
older years
- Physical inactivity remains one of
the top ten causes of disease and disability.
Key messages to share with
parents -
- Physical activity should be encouraged from birth,
particularly through floor based play and water based activities in safe
environments
- Children who can
walk on their own should be physically active every day for at least three
hours, spread throughout the day
- Babies and children shouldn't stay sitting or
lying down for long periods, except when they're asleep.
See
attached document for links to resources and more information.
Attachments: Physical Activity Campaign 2017
8. Please
help improve our Stay Well this Winter advice
In
preparation for helping vulnerable residents during the colder months, the West
Sussex Fuel Poverty Team are assessing what information needs to be updated or
refreshed.
One of the
resources you may have helped share with your families during recent winters is
the free ‘Stay Well this Winter’ advice guide (prior to 2016 this was known as
‘Keep Warm Keep Well’). The West Sussex Fuel Poverty team are planning a
few changes to the advice for this winter, such as incorporating a room
thermometer within the guide, and would value your thoughts on the following
questions.
- Is
the guide providing the right information to your service users?
- Is
the information delivered in the right way?
- How
else could we ensure that your service users receive this advice and are able
to act on it?
A short survey has been created that should take
no longer than 5-10 minutes to complete and will be open until Monday
24 July. The survey can be completed on a mobile device
(eg iPad or phone) and you do not need to answer every question.
Your
feedback will help identify what is most important and useful to your families,
and ensure that it is accessible and available to as many people as
possible. Please do share this with any of your colleagues who may have
also used the information in the guide to help a family.
You can
find the current ‘Stay Well This Winter’ leaflet as well as further information
about the scheme here.
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Children, Young People and Families newsletter |
Upcoming Key Dates
Date What's Happening?
WC 17 July Autumn estimate payments due to setting
21/07/17 Autumn term actuals open
Previously on the Weekly Broadcast
Forgotten to action a broadcast item? You can’t remember which Broadcast the information was in? Below is a list of headlines from the previous 4 weeks' Weekly Broadcasts. If you would like a copy of a previous broadcast please click on the hyperlinks below.
Wednesday 10 July 2017
- Deadline Today - Free Entitlement Autumn Term Estimates reminder (FE Providers Only)
- 30 hours Promotional Materials
- Supervised Contact Vacancies
- Childcare Providers Survey
- Autumn Term Training Schedule
- Makaton Foundation Workshop for Professionals
Wednesday 5 July 2017
- (FE PROVIDERS ONLY) Provider Declaration 2017/2019 – existing FE providers only
- (FE PROVIDERS ONLY) Free Entitlement Autumn Term Estimates reminder
- (FE PROVIDERS ONLY) Free Entitlement for 2 Year Olds
- Guidance on effective child dental health interventions
- SEND Newsletter
Wednesday 28 June 2017
- Free Entitlement Autumn Term Estimates reminder
- IPEH Stakeholder Newsletter
Wednesday 21 June 2017
- Free Entitlement Autumn Term Estimates - now open
- Free Entitlement Summer term actuals payments - advance notice
- Crawley Hub Integrated Prevention and Earliest Help (IPEH) Partnership drop-in events
- Online Portal Workshop
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