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 4 May 2020
Welcome to the start of a brand new week. We hope that you managed a bit of down time over the weekend ready to take on whatever new challenges come your way. Last week the government announced we are over the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and they plan to announce this coming Sunday, 10 May, the beginnings of how restrictions may be lifted. As with any of the other government announcements we will consider any guidance, how it may apply to the early years and childcare sector and provide you with information via these settings updates. The reopening of the sector is likely to bring a fresh set of issues to consider and we will continue to support you with information as quickly as we can.
Summer term Free Entitlement actuals reminder
Here is a reminder that The Online Provider Portal (OPP) is open for Summer term Free Entitlement (FE) actuals claims. To ensure you submit your claims correctly please refer to the updated Actuals help guide. This is particularly important for the settings which have remained open as there is a small additional step which has been added.
Your actuals should only contain claims for the following children:
- Any children who are now of eligible age
- Any children who have moved providers on a permanent basis
- Any planned increases or decreases of hours for individual children
Please do not include any children who are in attendance on a temporary basis due to their usual setting being closed due to the pandemic. Please record these children on the ‘Summer Term 2020 – COVID-19 Headcount’ form, which is available in the ‘Forms’ section of the portal. The help guide also covers how to submit Disability Access Fund (DAF) and Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) claims. Please refer to 21 April broadcast regarding the update to claiming DAF.
Extended FE claims:
- Parents must have applied for their 30 hour code before 31 March in order to claim Extended FE in Summer term.
- Codes are valid for Summer term if the code ‘start date’ is before 1 April 2020 and the ‘Grace period end date’ covers the Summer term (31 August 2020).
- You can carry out an instant 30 hour code check using the ‘Online eligibility checker’ on the OPP. Watch our YouTube help guide which shows you how to instantly check if a 30 hour code is valid.
Important dates:
- Headcount day: Thursday 7 May 2020
- Final deadline for return: Friday 22 May 2020
For further information please read the document entitled ‘Claims process’ under ‘How and when to claim’ on our website. If you have any queries please email free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk
Amended regulations for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) timescales
You may be aware that the DfE issued updated guidance associated with EHC needs assessments and EHCPs on 30 April which came into force on 1 May:
Given the detail in this guidance we need you to assist us in the collation of information associated with the amended duty to use reasonable endeavours to deliver provision specified in an EHCP.
We need you to review the provision details in each pupil’s EHCP and complete the attached proforma to show where reasonable endeavours are being used to deliver a different provision offer to that specified in the child/young person’s EHCP. Please complete one for each child with a finalised EHCP. If a child with an EHCP is attending your setting who usually accesses at another provider, please liaise with the previous provider to complete the form.
You must ensure parents/carers and, as appropriate, the child themselves are part of this analysis and that the family receives a copy of this completed form. Should there be any concern or worry about the proposed provision delivery this should be recorded on this form for us to consider/act upon.
We are sorry to provide you with an extra task during this complex time, however it is imperative that our settings assist us in delivering to this new requirement as you are delivering the provision to these learners.
Please return the form to your EYCA to be passed on to the SEN Assessment Team. Your EYCA will contact you to ensure that you understand the requirements and are able to complete and return the form. As the duty is in place now we do require an urgent response to this request and will ideally receive the completed forms by the end of this week - Thursday 7 May.
If you have concerns about meeting this deadline we would ask that you prioritise this process by starting with the forms where there may be some level of worry or concern so that we can endeavour to resolve these concerns without delay. Please return each form as it is ready.
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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#33 1 May (Celebrating your work pt3; Libraries; Bookstart)
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#32 30 April (Briefing re the use of Free Entitlement funding)
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#31 29 April (PM) (updated guidance on use of entitlements funding)
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#30 29 April (AM) (EYFS temporary disapplications; cluster/hub models)
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#29 27 April (Letter Gavin Williamson, Parent resources, slimmed down FAQs)
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