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
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Thursday 9 April 2020
Even though this week is shorter than normal for many, due to Good Friday, it has still been extremely busy and seems to have flown by. We hope that you are able to relax and enjoy the Easter Weekend with your family. Hopefully the Easter Eggs will be actual chocolate rather than just virtual!
Thank you to those settings who completed yesterday's online survey about vulnerable children and children of critical workers. We will be submitting these twice weekly returns to the Department for Education. Also, a thank you to settings who have shared the Staffing Survey with their staff for completion. The survey will be open for future use so there is still time for you to share this with your staff. The survey was also sent direct to childcare practitioners who have an account on West Sussex County Council's Learning and Development Gateway. Please see additional information below.
Using childminders to support your delivery of childcare
In Tuesday’s broadcast we included a link to a survey for staff not currently working but able to work to support the COVID-19 response. This is one of a range of options you could use to provide additional staffing if your setting is currently open. Another option you may wish to use is working with local childminders. As childminders are self-employed and not eligible for the furlough scheme, you would need to make your own arrangement for this but it could reduce the cost of employing agency staff and provide you with a source of new bank staff.
Any childminders who are able to be involved in this way, please complete the staff survey and include your current setting as childminder so we are aware that you have different circumstances and this will be communicated to the providers looking for support.
Support for Vulnerable Families
If you, or a family you know, are struggling to ensure they have food for their family, collect medication or are in need of any additional support please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the West Sussex County Council Community hub. This could include families with children who have SEND, parents with additional needs or a family member with serious health issues.
There may be families who would usually be attending your setting who may not be able to get out to access the resources they need. When you are checking in with them, please check that they have all that they need, can get out to the shops and refer for support if needed. Please also remember that services already involved with the family are still available to provide support.
Updated Government guidance
There are a number of guidance documents which have been updated which may be useful to you. These are as follows:
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
Reminder: Data capture survey required every Wednesday and Friday
All providers please complete this short online survey, twice a week, every Wednesday and Friday:
Links to our most recent COVID-19 setting updates:
8/4 Update 18 (Furloughing of staff and updating FIS)
7/4 Update 17 (Staffing questionnaire)
6/4 PM Update 16 (About the 'data capture survey')
6/4 AM Update 15 (FE estimate payments)
3/4 Update 14 (updated 'EY and childcare closures' guidance on Gov.UK)
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