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

Difficulty viewing this bulletin? Click here to view in your browser.

Tuesday 26 May 2020

COVID-19 setting update 44 (early years planning guide)

We hope you enjoyed the extended, and sunny, weekend providing some much needed recovery time, wherever that was possible. We continue to thank you for the difficult decisions you are having to make to keep children, and yourselves, as safe as possible.

Data capture

As mentioned in Friday's 22 May update the link to new online data capture survey is now live and remains open until Midnight on Wednesday 27 May.

Early years planning guide

On 10 May the Prime Minister announced a road map towards COVID-19 recovery, including plans to welcome all children back to early years settings from 1 June at the earliest and that further guidance would be provided. 

On Sunday 24 May, the government published a planning guide. Developed in consultation with early years sector bodies, a range of size and types of providers, local authorities and unions, the guide sets out protective measures you will wish to consider putting in place to limit the transmission of COVID-19 in your setting, whilst planning to open more widely. Please bear with us whilst we reach a greater understanding of how this guide may be implemented and we plan to provide you with more information shortly.

In addition, Foundation Years hosted a video podcast with the Department for Education to answer your questions and share the latest information that providers can use when planning to reopen. You can watch the video podcast and download the slides from the Foundation Years website. 

As we approach 1 June, please continue to keep the Family Information Service updated on your current operating status by emailing family.info.service@westsussex.gov.uk. Please include your setting name, Ofsted number, the date you intend to re-open, and if you are planning to make any changes to your operating hours including what these will be. Once you have informed us of your re-opening, you will be reinstated on the public list and appear on our website www.westsussex.gov.uk/fis.

Reminder - data capture survey required weekly

All providers please complete a short online survey, once a week. The link to the survey is different each time. A link will be provided in each Monday broadcast, and the survey will be open for three full days each week from Monday to Wednesday, closing at midnight on the Wednesday. The latest link to the survey is also available on our website.

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
• What parents and carers need to know about schools and education during the coronavirus outbreak
• 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
• The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy
• Actions for educational and childcare settings to prepare for wider opening from 1 June 2020
• Safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care
• Check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers
• Planning guide for early years and childcare settings (*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

• #43 22 May PM (changes to data capture, updated guidance, access to key work places for EY practitioners, staffing your provision and staff survey)
• #42 20 May (Expansion of testing with new symptom identified, SSP rebate scheme, updated guidance, transcript of speech by Gavin Williamson, EY training)
• #41 18 May (New guidance on safe working, planning to re-open)
• #40 15 May (Data capture frequency, LADO toolkit, re-opening tips, DfE vodcast, training brochure)
• #39 13 May (Re-opening childminders, furloughing, business recovery webinars)

Upcoming key dates

• 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