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.
Monday 13 July 2020
The summer term seems to have passed in a flash which is probably an indication of how busy the last few months have been. We hope you were able to find some time to enjoy the good weather, over the weekend, but most importantly find some time to rest and relax with loved ones where possible.
Reminder
This week's DfE data capture for the numbers of children currently accessing early years provision is now open, and will close at the end of Wednesday (midnight). Please use this link to complete your return. Please note: From next week, commencing 20 July, only settings who are remaining open throughout the summer holidays are required to complete the DfE return.
Autumn term Free Entitlement estimate payments
Thank you for submitting your Autumn term Estimate claims. For all submissions that met the deadline and there are no outstanding queries, payments have now been released. Please note, payments can take 3-5 working days to show in your account.
You can log back on to the Online Provider Portal to view your payment summary. Please refer to the Estimate Help guide for step by step guidance on how to do this: www.westsussex.gov.uk/ecsportal.
Please note that we will request your actuals data in September and further details will be in a future Setting broadcast. If you have any questions, please email free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme Updated Guidance
Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care was updated on 9 July. This guidance has been updated to reflect the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) flexibilities that the Chancellor announced on 12 May to support employers bringing employees back to work whilst still receiving support from the scheme.
This includes:
- Clarification that CJRS should continue to be proportionate to income lost
- Update on the interaction between CJRS support and the reopening of early year settings
The CJRS calculator has also been updated to allow for the flexibilities to work out how much you have to pay your furloughed employees for hours on furlough, how much you can claim for employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions and how much you can claim back here - Calculate how much you can claim using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
This will help you work out what you can claim for in a claim period ending on or before 31 August. A link has also been added to a new full example for August, and the ‘Work out how much you can claim for employer National Insurance contributions' section has been updated to make it clear what steps to take if your employee’s pay period goes beyond 30 June. Key points to be aware of are:
- You can now submit claims for periods starting on or after 1 July.
- 31 July is the last day that you can submit claims for periods ending on or before 30 June.
- The Job Retention Bonus was announced on 8 July with details included in our setting update #65 on Friday morning 10 July.
Updated FAQs
In light of recent changes to government guidance we have reviewed and updated our FAQs. Some questions have been refreshed to reflect the current/future situation with new answers provided. Any question or answer that has been revised have been highlighted to make them easy to identify.
Support for Vulnerable Children over the summer break
As a local authority we are extremely grateful for the support that many of you have been able to put in place for vulnerable children over the last few months. We have been heartened to see how many of you have been going above and beyond to make sure these children, and their families, are supported during these difficult times. As mentioned in last Wednesday's broadcast, if you are closing for the summer or the child is not accessing a place over the holidays, please inform the social worker leading the case so that they can make arrangements for contact over the summer. If you have not already done this, please make contact as soon as possible so that the you have time to liaise and that the social worker has time to put plans in place.
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.
-
#65 10 July (Government plan for jobs, updated guidance: financial support for early years, COVID secure workplaces, scams reminder)
-
#64 8 July (Ofsted update, vulnerable children over the summer, Early Years Alliance update, shielding updates, going back to school)
-
#63 6 July (data reminder, update on holiday club bubbles, WSSCP procedure on fabricated or induced illness)
-
#62 3 July (local lockdowns, staggered school starts, FE estimates deadline today, EYFS reforms - government response, information for childminders)
-
#61 2 July (removal of the requirement for 'bubbles', guidance for out of school provision)
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:
| 
