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 12 May 2020

COVID-19 setting update 37 (new government guidance and COVID-19 recovery strategy)

Following on from yesterday's broadcast (11 May), and previous government announcement, nurseries and other early years providers, including childminders, are being asked to begin welcoming back children from 1 June. Existing arrangements for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers in all settings will continue, and we encourage all eligible children in these priority groups to attend. Guidance below sets out the actions required to prepare for wider opening from 1 June as well as overarching aims and principles of this next phase of lifting COVID-19 restrictions.

We had hoped to provide you with any updates yesterday afternoon. Whilst the recovery strategy was published yesterday afternoon much of the supporting guidance, containing the detail you require, was not released until after 8:00pm. We are therefore now able to provide you with the following key documents for you to read fully and begin to consider how you may implement this within your setting: 

• Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government's COVID-19 recovery strategy
• Frequently asked questions on what you can and can’t do during the coronavirus outbreak - this document contains information relating to childcare which can be found in section 6.
• Actions for education and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June - the government have stated they will work with the sector to produce further guidance ahead of 1 June. We will of course provide this to you via these setting updates, as soon as it becomes available. 
• Implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings - this guidance covers the implementation of protective measures in education and childcare settings. There are important actions that can be taken to open settings to more children in the safest way possible, focusing on protective measures that can be put in place to limit the risk of the virus spreading.
• Guidance for parents and carers as schools and other education settings in England open to more children and young people - this guidance is for parents and carers on the opening of schools and other education settings to more children. It provides information on when and how education settings will open to more children but you may also find the content useful for yourselves and when liaising with parents.

West Sussex County Council will be reviewing all of the above guidance and we will provide you with any further information or specific instructions as soon as we are able. In the meantime, please continue to operate in-line with the existing guidance.

We appreciate that you may have many more questions  which we hope you will be able to answer from the above guidance documents. In the coming days we will be producing more information to help support you with your planning. Whilst we appreciate that you will be eager to receive this as quickly as possible it is important for us to get the content right.

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 COVID-19 guidance on GovUK

• Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak (formerly called Early years and childcare closures)
• Financial support for education, early years and children’s social care
• Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
• Find coronavirus financial support for your business (Support Finder tool)
• Implementing protective measures in education and childcare settings UPDATED
• What parents and carers need to know about schools and education during the coronavirus outbreak UPDATED
• Supporting vulnerable children and young people during the coronavirus outbreak
• SEND risk assessment guidance
• List of online education resources for home education
• Apply for a key worker coronavirus test
• EYFS: coronavirus disapplications
• Using clusters and hubs to maintain educational provision
• EHCP: guidance on temporary legislative changes
• Frequently asked questions on what you can and can’t do during the coronavirus outbreak NEW
• The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy NEW
• Actions for educational and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020 NEW

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

• COVID-19 FAQs for West Sussex EY settings (Updated 1 May)

Support for vulnerable families

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.

Links to our most recent setting updates

• #36 11 May (eligibility for childcare offers, government financial support)
• #35 6 May (Cyber security; EHCP form; testing; furloughing links; VE Day)
• #34 4 May (FE Actuals reminder; amended regulations for EHCP timescales)
• #33 1 May (Celebrating your work pt3; Libraries; Bookstart)
• #32 30 April (Briefing re the use of Free Entitlement funding)

Upcoming key dates

• 22 May - Summer Term FE Actuals submissions close
• 25 May - Bank Holiday
• 15 Jun - Summer Term FE Actuals payments released (week commencing)

Please do NOT reply to this broadcast.

If you have any queries with the broadcast email EarlyHelpCentral@westsussex.gov.uk

Please note that it is the setting's responsibility to forward this broadcast to all staff working within your organisation.

Central Operations Team

Early Help Service | Children's Services | People Services

First Floor, The Grange, County Hall, Chichester, PO19 1RG
www.westsussex.gov.uk/earlyyearsandchildcare

01243 777807  |  family.info.service@westsussex.gov.uk