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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Tuesday 21 April 2020
Good morning to you all and welcome to another beautiful spring day. We hope you, your families, and children you are caring for, are able to take advantage of this lovely sunny weather when you can. Apart from topping up the Vitamin D a bit of sunshine is great for lifting everybody's spirits, providing a much needed boost in these strange and challenging times. However you are able to enjoy the weather we hope that you are all staying safe.
Free Entitlement Summer Term Actuals - Advance Notice
The Online Provider Portal is due to open on Wednesday 22 April for you to submit your Summer Term Free Entitlement claims.
Please note, we have needed to make a minor change to the submission process in order for you to identify any children of key workers or vulnerable children currently in attendance. There will be an online form for you to let us know which children are temporarily attending your setting as a result of the child's usual provider being closed for COVID-19 reasons.
Full details and guidance on how to claim will be included in tomorrow's (22/04/20) broadcast.
Inclusion Funding Panel
Due to the current situation with partial closure for early years providers, the scheduled Funding Panel meeting on Monday 18 May has been postponed until the settings have reopened. If you have a child currently attending your setting with SEND for whom you feel you need additional support at this time, please discuss this with your EYCA.
Once life begins to return to some level of normality, and the current restrictions are lifted/eased, we will review our plans for any Inclusion Funding applications for the remainder of the term. Any actions that may be required by settings will be communicated via these updates.
Disability Access Fund (DAF)
Where settings are open, have collected relevant evidence of eligibility and the child is currently accessing early years provision with their usual FE provider, DAF payments will be made towards the end of the summer term. Settings that are currently temporarily closed will be able to apply once they re-open.
For children eligible for a second DAF payment, in line with government guidelines, providers can apply for a second payment one year later (three terms after they first received the DAF). For children eligible for DAF who are not currently attending their normal provider, this payment will be made once the child returns to their nominated setting as it can only be paid to a setting where the child is registered to access their Free Entitlement funding. An amendment has been made to the Free Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 Year Old Funding Provider Declaration April 2020-March 2021, section 1.22 to reflect this update. For more information please visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/ecsfreeentitlement.
SEND Champions Programme
Congratulations to Early Explorers in Worthing for successfully completing the SEND Champions Programme run by NDNA and funded by West Sussex.
Emma from the setting said "This is testament to a whole team approach who were fully engaged with this programme of learning, developing and implementing to ensure the best possible outcomes for all of the children in our care. From early identification, policy reviews, inclusive practice, behaviour management strategies, communication and language skills, supporting families, environment audits and action plans, we stand proud of what we have achieved this past year and will ensure this continues to evolve and develop over future months and years. I am very proud to have such a dedicated, passionate and caring team of professionals."
The setting has also started rolling out the programme to their other settings and this will continue once the COVID19 restrictions have been lifted.
We look forward to hearing, and sharing with you all, about what they have learnt and the impact this has had for their staff as well as the children and families that attend their provision.
Thank you to Early Explorers for taking part in this programme and congratulations on your successful completion.
Reminder for tomorrow
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 Wednesday 22 April.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - including links to Gov.UK information
Please note: 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. Whilst we are reviewing the current FAQs, we will make any necessary updates to existing answers. 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:
20/4 Update 24 (CJRS; business rates; EYC closures guidance)
17/4 Update 23 (Lockdown extension, Friday survey open, celebrating work)
16/4 Update 22 (Starting school offers, furlough eligibility change)
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)
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