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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Wednesday 15 April 2020
Good morning to you all and a special thank you to all of you who are working over the Easter break. We can't thank you enough for all that you have done and continue to do for the children and families of West Sussex.
Keeping our open providers safe
At this time, we are all doing our best to respond to local need. As part of this response, we want to support providers who have remained open, and are working tirelessly to support the response to COVID-19, to receive the assistance they need. Some of these providers are reporting it difficult to source vital items to keep themselves, and the children in their care, safe. These include, but are not limited to, disposable gloves, aprons, hand sanitiser, cleaning products and wipes. If your provision is closed and you are able to donate and safely deliver any of these items to another local provider, this would be hugely appreciated. You will probably have seen from watching the news that there is currently a national shortage of PPE so any support you can give will really help.
If you are able to help, our website www.westsussex.gov.uk/FIS has the most up to date information on which providers are open so please use this to contact them directly to offer support where you can. If you have items of use that you are willing to donate/share but nowhere to donate to, please contact your EYCA who can help to identify locally where they are needed most.
Alternatively, if you know of any suppliers who are able to provide these sorts of items, please share this information with other local providers.
In these unprecedented times it has never been more important that we pull together, helping in any way we can.
Vulnerable children and children of critical workers survey
This is a reminder that the Wednesday survey is now open for you to complete today before midnight:
The survey links change each time the survey runs, so please ensure you use the correct link provided in the broadcast.
Update on employment contracts and furloughing
The government have stated that if your contract allows, you may undertake other employment from a different employer while your current employer has placed you on furlough. This will not affect the grant that they can claim under the scheme. Whilst on furlough, you must still be able to undertake any training required and be able to return to work for your original employer if they decide to stop your period of furlough. Any activities undertaken while on furlough must be in line with the latest Public Health guidance during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Makaton - COVID-19 Signs
The Makaton charity have added a video to You Tube with some useful signs to use with children in response to COVID-19:
You might also be interested in signing up to their "sign of the week" email.
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 a short online survey, twice a week, every Wednesday and Friday. The link to the survey is different each time. A link will be provided in the morning broadcast on each of the days it is required. Each survey will only be open on the day it is required, and will close at midnight.
Links to our most recent COVID-19 setting updates:
14/4 Update 20 (clarification on survey about vulnerable children and children of critical workers)
9/4 Update 19 (childminders to support delivery of childcare, and support for vulnerable families)
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')
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