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 29 April 2020
We hope that your week is going well and that our move to sending these setting updates less frequently will give you a bit of a reprieve from information overload. There is a lot to keep up to date with at the moment, including the daily news, government briefings etc, which will be even more important as and when any significant changes to restrictions are announced. We will of course ensure that any time critical information is sent out to you regardless of whether an update is planned for that day or not.
Reminder
The next DfE data capture for the numbers of children currently accessing early years provision is today. Please use this link to complete your return. The survey will close at midnight.
EYFS - temporary disapplications and modifications during COVID-19
From 24 April 2020, the Government temporarily disapplied and modified certain elements of the EYFS statutory framework for early years providers who remain open to vulnerable children and children of critical workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. This allows providers greater flexibility to respond to changes in workforce availability and potential fluctuations in demand, while still providing care that is high quality and safe.
The temporary changes include:
- providers are not required to meet existing learning and development requirements, but instead should use reasonable endeavours to meet them during the COVID-19 period
- providers are not required to undertake the EYFS profile assessment in 2019/20 academic year, and accordingly local authorities are not required to collect or moderate data on this
- providers are not required to undertake the 2 year progress check during the coronavirus (COVID-19) period
- exceptions are allowed to the qualifications that staff hold in order to be counted in ratio requirements
- requirements around paediatric first aid (where children aged 2-5 years old are on-site). For those caring for children aged 2-5, providers must use their ‘best endeavours’ to ensure one person with a full PFA certificate is on-site at all times when children are present. If after using best endeavours they are still unable to secure a member of staff with PFA to be on site then they must carry out a written risk assessment and ensure that someone with a current First Aid at Work or emergency PFA certification is on site at all times children are on premises.
- that there is no longer the requirement for new entrants to hold PFA certification to count in ratios during this period.
The term ‘best endeavours’ applies to the paediatric first aid requirements. This is a higher level requirement than ‘reasonable endeavours’. The guidance provides further information on this. The rest of the EYFS remains in place. Please familiarise yourselves with the changes by accessing the information here.
Pyjamarama on Friday 1 May
This Friday, 1 May, libraries and pre-schools across the country are taking part in a Pyjamarama from BookTrust and the library service will be sharing rhymes and stories on Facebook throughout the morning. You can follow the library service on Facebook @WestSussexLibraries and share with families.
Are you able to volunteer to support other settings?
If you are currently not working, but could be available to support at another setting, please complete this short online survey. The survey is due to close this coming Friday 1 May. We are grateful for those who have already volunteered to support in this way. If your setting would like to make use of the staff available to support their setting, then please contact your EYCA.
Guidance on provision through cluster and hub models
Guidance for educational settings considering, or already operating, a cluster or hub model has been published outlining the considerations which should be made. If you are considering developing this model then your EYCA can provide relevant support.
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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#29 27 April (Letter from Gavin Williamson, Parent resources, slimmed down FAQs)
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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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