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 16 April 2020
Vulnerable children and children of critical workers survey
The next DfE data capture for the numbers of children currently accessing early years provision is tomorrow. Please use this link to complete your return - the survey will open for 24 hours on Friday 17 April.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – newly hired staff cut-off date changed
The scheme, which covers 80% of workers' pay, was initially announced to support those already employed on 28 February. Please note that the Government have now changed this to 19 March. The scheme is expected to open for applications on Monday 20 April. Read more about the change on Gov.UK.
Clap for Carers
The Clap for Carers campaign will yet again see people across the UK clap at 8pm to thank the NHS and other key workers. We shall certainly be clapping for all of our amazing West Sussex Early Years and Childcare workforce who are doing a fantastic job supporting children of critical workers and those most vulnerable. THANK YOU! You are all amazing!
Starting School Offers
Starting school offers will be sent out today:
- Applications received before 11.59pm on 15 January 2020
If parents applied online they will receive an email on the outcome of their application today (Thursday 16 April 2020). Emails will be sent throughout the day so we can't give you an exact time.
If parents applied using the paper form, they will be emailed a copy of the letter on Thursday 16 April 2020. If the parents didn't provide an email address on their application, they should have been contacted by the Pupil Admissions Team and the email will be sent to the email address provided. Any parents who the team were unable to contact, or who were unable to provide an email address will not receive an email with a school offer and the parent should contact the Pupil Admissions Team on 033 301 42903 after 16 April 2020.
- Applications received after 11.59pm on 15 January 2020
If an application was submitted between 16 January and 14 February 2020 it is considered "out of time", and preferences are only considered after all the applications received on time have been processed. These parents will be sent an email with the outcome on Thursday 16 April 2020.
Applications submitted after Friday 14 February 2020 are late and outside the normal admissions round. They will not be processed until after 15 May 2020. Parents will be updated after this date.
If you become aware of any family with a child due to start school in September 2020 who have not applied for a school place, please ask them to contact the Pupil Admissions Team on 033 301 42903 as soon as possible to apply for a place.
The Starting School Questionnaire is open until 1 May 2020 and can be accessed here.
As it is not currently clear when schools and early years provision will re-open, we cannot provide more information about what the transition processes will look like for September 2020, however this is being planned for and further information will follow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - including links to Gov.UK information
Please note: This week we are reviewing our FAQs and streamlining the document to make it easier for you to use, and will publish the new document when ready. We may update existing FAQs but will not be adding new ones. You can still submit any new questions you have for us by email family.info.service@westsussex.gov.uk, adding COVID-19 setting query to the subject line.
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:
15/4 Update 21 (update on keeping staff safe, employment and furloughing)
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)
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