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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Monday 27 April 2020
We hope you all managed to find some time to relax over the weekend and are now recharged and rested ready for the week ahead. The way so many of you have responded to the challenge arising from the COVID-19 pandemic is hugely impressive and we continue to thank you for all your hard work on the front-line.
Letter from Gavin Williamson
On 23 April 2020, the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, sent a letter to everyone helping keep early years settings, schools and colleges open. If you have not already seen or read it you can access the letter here. In the letter it states that there is refreshed guidance on Vulnerable Children and Young People and on Risk Assessments for Children and Young People with an EHC Plan which set out clear expectations on attendance and the judgements as to whether pupils with an EHC plan are safer at home.
New resource from University of Chichester
Last week the University of Chichester launched a free resource which you may want to share with your families. You can download it as a PDF 'A Parent's Guide to Promoting Early Learning and Development at Home (0-5 years) Supporting Families During the Coronavirus Pandemic'. It also contains lots of activity ideas and links which you may want to make use of within your setting.
Updated and reduced FAQs
Many thanks to everyone who has been emailing in their questions which we have done our best to answer via our FAQs document. However, we are now reaching the point that a lot of questions sent in have already been answered or answers can be found in the numerous government guidance documents. With this in mind we have now reduced the content of the FAQs making them easier to navigate whilst also focusing on information that is specific to West Sussex, or where we are not aware an answer having been provided elsewhere. The FAQs contain links to key government guidance for the early years and childcare sector but links can also be found towards the end of all of our setting updates. You can access the new slimmed down FAQs via the usual link in the broadcast below, or on our website.
Alert
We have heard that in some parts of the UK, journalists have been telephoning services posing as a Care Inspectorate employee in order to obtain information about your service. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be an Ofsted employee and you don’t already know them, you may wish to ask the caller to email you so you can verify who they are.
Frequency of Updates
From today, Monday 27 April 2020, we are reducing the frequency of these setting updates which will be sent out on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please rest assured that should a priority communication be required, this will be sent out on the days in between so as not to delay any time critical information.
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.
If a family you know are struggling to ensure they have food for their family, collect medication, or are in need of any additional support, contact West Sussex County Council Community hub.
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#28 24 April (Testing, Letter from Secretary of State for Education, Support Finder)
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#27 23 April (Updated guidance; FE distribution; home learning; time capsules)
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#26 22 April (Summer Term FE Actuals, and celebrating your fantastic work)
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#25 21 April (FE Actuals, DAF, Inclusion Funding applications, SEND Champions)
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#24 20 April (CJRS; business rates; EYC closures guidance)
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