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.
Wednesday 22 July 2020
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.
Early years funding for Autumn term 2020
Yesterday 21 July, the government published it's updated guidance on the use of early education entitlements for this Autumn term, confirming that we will fund childcare at a similar level we would have expected to see had there been no COVID-19 outbreak.
This means that even if providers are open, but caring for fewer children than they usually would be in the Autumn term – as a result of low demand from parents or due to public health reasons – the intention is to fund 'as if Autumn term 2020 were happening normally'. This gives another term of secure income to nurseries, pre-schools and childminders who are open and offering Free Entitlement places.
Local authorities should also continue to fund providers who have been advised to close, or left with no option but to close, due to public health reasons.
Local authorities should not fund providers who are closed, without public health reason, from the start of Autumn term (no later than 7 September). This means that any settings not open in Autumn term for any reason other than being told by Public Health that they should not be open, West Sussex County Council (WSCC) will reclaim your Autumn estimate payment where applicable. If you have indicated you will not be open from the beginning of the Autumn term you will be contacted by your ECYA.
For Autumn term only, WSCC are considering making a second reconciliation payment to settings in order to meet our obligations to fund in line with the updated guidance. Some examples of how this will be calculated will be provided in the near future. Further guidance on the Post-Headcount Exceptional Payment process for Autumn term only will also follow shortly.
As demand for childcare increases and settings re-open, we expect that providers who furloughed staff will be removing some or all of their staff from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).
The Department for Education (DfE) also expects local authorities’ funding to providers to return to the normal approach (that is, ‘funding following the child’) for all providers from 1 January 2021. The DfE will keep this under review and confirm the approach in further guidance due in Autumn.
Permanent Extension of the 2 year old Free Entitlement eligibility criteria
In March, the government temporarily extended eligibility for the free early education entitlement for the most disadvantaged two-year-old children whose parent(s) meet the following conditions for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak:
- That they are excluded from claiming public funds as a consequence of their immigration status, or their lack of immigration status; and
- They are in receipt of support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989.
The government has decided that from 1 September 2020 this extension, will be made permanent. View DfE's letter for further information.
Guidance updated
The guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was updated 21 July. The main changes are:
- included content from the planning guide so that all COVID-19 information for early years settings is in one place (the planning guide has now been removed);
- included an autumn funding update and hyperlink to updated local authority guidance;
- updated information on wraparound care;
- updated information on managing requests for site visits from parents and carers for admissions in September;
- updated information about data collection changes;
- updated information about reporting to Ofsted when there is a confirmed case of coronavirus in a setting; and
- updated information to reflect the removal of the requirement to keep children in small, consistent groups within settings but still minimising mixing where possible.
Support and Resources
Please find below a series of resources, from a range of sources, that may be helpful to settings and parents.
Support for settings:
- National Day Nurseries Association have a dedicated web area to support the early years sector through this time and are posting stories and photos from nurseries welcoming children back, and their innovative ideas to reassure children, on their Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages.
- This Early Years Alliance blog explores how settings can welcome and connect with prospective parents in these times of social distancing, staggered start times and strict guidance. Local Early Years Alliance hub teams are also running a series of online networking events to support providers to take part in discussions such as managing preparations to re-open, risk considerations and outdoor play.
- PACEY continue to develop their free CPD platform EY smart. In response to the pandemic, it now includes courses to support all practitioners to navigate the ‘new normal’. Their reopening toolkit includes a free settings risk assessment template and their series of blogs from across the sector and parents, explore the reopening of settings.
Support for parents:
- PACEY have a range of content to support parents delivering learning at home here.
- Early Years Alliance hubs are delivering a range of free virtual support direct to families with very young children, with a focus on interpersonal and enriching face-to-face support using fun, learning through play videos and webinars.
- Parents can join the free myNDNA community for blogs, activities and tips.
- Education Development Trust and Elklan have developed Family Resources, fun and friendly guides for parents to support their 2-4 year-old's communication skills.
- The BBC have launched Tiny Happy People to support parents with activity ideas for children aged 0-4 that will help parents develop their child's communication skills.
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.
-
#69 (EYFS reforms)
-
#68 (summer contact details, autumn term extended FE, 20/21 EY training brochure, Early Help summer offer)
-
#67 15 July (contact details for summer - first two weeks, updates to OOS guidance, September staggered start, children attending more than one setting, number of funded weeks in term, face coverings, planned IT upgrade, diabetes in children, EYFS Forum)
-
#66 13 July (Autumn term FE estimates, CJRS Calculator, updated FAQs, vulnerable children over the summer break)
-
#65 10 July (Government plan for jobs, updated guidance: financial support for early years, COVID secure workplaces, scams reminder)
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:
- 02 Sep - FE Actuals submissions open for Autumn term
- 17 Sep - Autumn Term headcount day (FE)
- 25 Sep - FE Actuals submissions close for Autumn term
| 
