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 24 June 2020
Whilst some people love the warmer weather, not everyone does, and the heat can be quite tiring. Therefore, we hope that you are able to look after yourselves in a way that is best for you, whilst staying safe and well.
Reminder
This week's DfE data capture for the numbers of children currently accessing early years provision closes at midnight. Please use this link to complete your return, if you have not already done so. The capture changed this week, so please ensure you read Monday's update for information about what has changed.
Updated Free Entitlement (FE) Briefing Note
To compliment the updated information around claiming FE for temporary changes (see setting update #55 Friday 19 June), we are now able to issue an updated FE Briefing note to cover the remainder of the summer term. This now includes some specific FAQs relating to the wider re-opening:
Updated guidance
The guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was updated yesterday 23 June and the main changes are as follows:
- amended wording throughout guidance to reflect that early years providers have been able to open for all children
- updated content on funding, including the maximum earnings threshold for critical workers to be able to remain eligible for 30 hours free childcare (section 3.4), flexibility for parents who have missed the deadline for 30 hours codes (section 3.6) and on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (section 3.8)
- new paragraph on Public Health England’s review of the disparities in the risk and outcomes from coronavirus and revised wording on testing (section 4)
- updated wording on vulnerable children and the need for settings, local authorities and social workers to work together (section 5.1)
- further detail added on managing school pick-ups and drop-offs for childminders (section 5.5)
- updated content on considerations for settings, including on wraparound care, taking groups of children on outings to outdoor public places and the Reception Baseline Assessment (section 6)
- new content on childminder agencies and carrying out quality assurance visits (section 10.4)
We will review these changes to understand potential implications and any new or revised instructions required will be provided as soon as possible via these updates.
Update from Local Government Association (LGA) on Holiday Playschemes
The LGA provided the following statement on Monday 22 June:
The Government’s ambition is that all providers running holiday clubs and activities for children over the summer holiday will be able to open, if the science allows. The time anticipated for holiday clubs to open is no earlier than 4 July, as part of Step 3 of the Government’s recovery strategy. Guidance will be provided to the sector soon on how to implement the protective measures necessary to open safely, and to parents on how to minimise the spread of the virus if they choose to attend.
In addition to this, it was also included within the Prime Minister's speech yesterday 23 June, that "wrap-around care for school age children and formal childcare will restart over the summer". Please also see information in the updated guidance article above.
As soon as any guidance is published, we will review the content and consider how we can support you further. This will be shared via these setting updates.
Update on Out Of School provision
The Local Government Association has provided an updated position on wraparound care from the Department for Education on 22 June:
- With the exception of childminders who may continue to look after children in their care, providers that offer indoor breakfast and after-school clubs for children over 5 and who are registered with Ofsted (either on the compulsory or voluntary part of the General childcare register), may only open for children in the eligible year groups or those in priority groups; and provided they are on the same premises as a school.
- In doing so, they should be following the same protective measures as schools and early years providers (depending on the age of the children attending); and, as far as possible, ensuring they are only caring for children from one school or early years provider, and keeping children in the same small consistent groups that they would otherwise be in throughout the day.
- Where registered wraparound childcare providers do not operate on the same premises as the school or early years setting that children attend during the day, they may only offer provision outside, provided they can do so safely in line with the Government’s Staying alert and safe (social distancing) guidance, which allows up to six people from different households to meet outdoors. In doing so, providers should ensure they can keep children a minimum of 2 metres apart and in groups of no more than 6, including staff members.
- Subject to the parliamentary process, providers who do not operate on the same premises as the school or early years setting that children attend during the day, would be expected to ensure as far as possible they follow the protective measures set out in government guidance; which would also include ensuring that, as far as possible, they are only caring for children from one school or early years provider, and that they are working closely with the school or early years providers that their children attend, to ensure as far as possible they are keeping children in the same small consistent groups that they are in throughout the day; and otherwise appropriately socially distanced.
Since receiving this information on the 22 June, there has been a subsequent government announcement that the two metre distancing guidance will change from 4 July to be 'one metre plus'. Once we have more guidance on how this will impact on wrap around provision, we will share this with you as soon as possible.
Inclusion Funding
As you are aware, previously awarded inclusion funding is still being provided to early years settings whether or not the child for whom the funding is awarded is still attending the setting. Where a child in receipt of inclusion funding is attending another setting, we are encouraging the setting to transfer inclusion funding if possible. If the child is not currently attending, you may be able to use this funding to give additional support to the child at home.
Some children may need additional support at this time when more children are returning to their setting. If you have any concerns around the inclusion of a child, please speak to your EYCA.
We will be holding an Inclusion Funding Panel meeting on 19 October. Please speak to your EYCA if you are considering applying for funding. Funding awarded in October will be agreed for one term only as we are planning to introduce a new process in January 2021 and will be consulting on this shortly.
Safeguarding is everyone's business
Right now, vulnerable children and adults may be particularly isolated, meaning that the family, community and professional networks they usually rely on may be unavailable or hard to access. At the same time, living under the current COVID-19 restrictions may increase the pressures that can contribute to abuse and neglect, or allow it to go unseen. Neighbours, volunteers and professionals can play a vital role in keeping adults and children safe.
The Home Office, in collaboration with a number of other government departments, has produced information and guidance for those who are operating in communities and may not be trained to recognise the signs of abuse or neglect. The guidance covers signs to spot and what to do if there is a concern.
You can download leaflets and posters to use within your setting or share with your wider community.
Please inform the Family Information Service if your current operating status changes. Email family.info.service@westsussex.gov.uk and include your setting name, Ofsted URN, the date you intend to close/open, and any changes to your operating hours. If you inform us of re-opening, you will be reinstated on the public list and appear on our website www.westsussex.gov.uk/fis.
If you are have not been able to open at this time, you should already have submitted a COVID-19 Recovery Plan and sent a copy by email to the FIS. This is so that we can look at the barriers you have identified and support you to re-open as soon as practicable. If we have not received your plan, you will be contacted by your EYCA to support you further.
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.
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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#56 22 June (changes to data capture, FE estimates open, Paediatric First Aid)
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#55 19 June (Transitions, funding temporary children, updated Gov.UK guidance, termly update process, FAQs updated)
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#54 17 June (Free Entitlement Summer term payments, updated Safe Working guidance, Change4Life shake ups)
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#53 15 June (Numbers currently accessing, ICON, recovery plans, CJRS)
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#52 12 June (Maternity/Paternity furlough, HPS, notifying DfE, Business recovery webinar, PFA)
We have a range of online training available for you to access for your staff to ensure they have the most up to date information to support them in their role:
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