With you, with the child. Every step of the way.
Broadcast for Early Years and childcare providers in West Sussex from West Sussex County Council - Early Help Service
Difficulty viewing this bulletin? Click here to view in your browser.
Friday 3 April 2020
As we come to the end of another challenging week we would like to thank you for all the work and effort being put into ensuring children are being cared for safely and families supported. We hope you are able to take the weekend to relax and enjoy time with your loved ones. Time spent with family and loved ones has never been more important.
As the amount of updates in these broadcasts begins to reduce there may not be such a need to send these every day. Please rest assured that for any urgent/critical information we will always share information with you as quickly as we are able to.
Updated 'Early years and childcare closures' guidance from Department for Education
The DfE have updated their guidance for Ofsted-registered childcare providers for children of all ages, including childminders, nurseries and wraparound childcare and clubs (before- and after- school and holiday care). You can access the guidance here: Coronavirus (COVID-19): early years and childcare closures – Gov.UK
The updates in this revised guidance include:
1 - Information about the Self-employment Income Support Scheme
The Self-employment Income Support Scheme for those who are self-employed or members of a partnership and have lost income due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The scheme allows individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for three months. You cannot apply for this scheme yet. HMRC will contact individuals who are eligible and invite them to apply online.
For the self-employed (including childminders), the minimum income floor will also be temporarily relaxed, meaning Universal Credit can be accessed at a rate to match statutory sick pay (SSP).
Eligibility for the scheme is based on employment structures and not professions. You can apply if you are self-employed or a member of a partnership and have lost income due to coronavirus (COVID-19), as well as meeting further eligibility criteria. HMRC will contact individuals who are eligible and invite them to apply online.
2 - Clarification on whether settings are still covered by their public liability insurance
If settings are following government guidance, they should still be covered by their public liability insurance; however to be certain, settings should check with their insurance companies.
3 - A new section clarifying the expectation on early years settings remaining open over Easter for vulnerable children and children of critical workers
Where possible, we would encourage early years and childcare settings and schools to continue to look after critical workers’ children and vulnerable children throughout the Easter holidays.
If you are having difficulty opening over the Easter holidays, please contact the FIS if your setting needs support in making these arrangements.
We understand that this is a very difficult time for early years and childcare staff, and we are asking a lot of them to help the country fight this virus. We know that settings will make sensible decisions on staffing and what breaks will be needed, but we are asking settings, wherever possible, to maintain provision for children of workers critical to the COVID-19 response and vulnerable children over the Easter holidays.
4 - A new section on hub provision
With significantly reduced numbers of children attending, and risks of under-staffing due to illness, we understand that shared provision through early years hubs and clusters is an option being considered in some areas, and in some cases, arrangements are already in place.
There are issues to balance when making choices about provision at this time. First and foremost is public health, which remains the priority. Any arrangements should enable staff and children to limit risks relating to the spread of the virus.
Alongside this, issues such as safeguarding and consistency of provision for all children, particularly those with additional needs, should also be considered.
Additionally, in the current circumstances there will be practicalities to consider, including how children and staff access settings while limiting travel.
We want to ensure the system is sustainable and are working through these points with early years settings, local authorities, and stakeholders, via the Department for Education’s central and regional teams.
Further guidance will be published after Easter.
5 - Clarification on whether someone with a paediatric first aid certificate still needs to be on site
The requirements in the EYFS on paediatric first aid certification remain in place to ensure children are kept safe. Paragraph 3.25 and Annex A of the EYFS set out the requirements, including that ‘at least one person who has a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when children are present...’
If paediatric first aid certificate requalification training is prevented for reasons associated directly with coronavirus (COVID-19), or by complying with related government advice, the validity of current certificates can be extended by up to three months. This applies to certificates expiring on or after 16 March 2020.
6 - Clarification of DBS requirements
The requirements set out at paragraph 3.11 of the EYFS remain in place:
Settings must obtain criminal records checks for new members of staff including volunteers. If an application has been made but the DBS disclosure has not arrived, new staff and volunteers can still care for children as long they are supervised by someone who has a DBS check. Under no circumstances can an unchecked member of staff be left alone with children.
Where members of the early years and childcare workforce are already engaging in regulated activity and already have the appropriate DBS check, there is no expectation that a new DBS check should be obtained for them to temporarily move to another setting to support the care of children.
The onus remains on the receiving setting to satisfy themselves that someone in their setting has had the required checks, including by seeking assurance from the current employer rather than requiring new checks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - including links to Gov.UK information
Note: All our FAQs for West Sussex settings are in one document. You will always be opening the latest version by clicking the link below in this, and future broadcasts.
Please ensure that you additionally refer to the latest Government FAQs on Gov.UK
Links to our most recent COVID-19 setting updates:
2/4 Update 13 (FAQs now on the web, and alert for scams)
1/4 Update 12 (contact with vulnerable children, Ofsted updates and supporting children’s mental health)
31/3 Update 11 (childcare hubs; vulnerable children, furloughing staff; updates from FIS)
30/3 Update 10 (supporting business wage costs)
27/3 Update 9 (self employed; Letter from Vicky Ford MP)
| 
