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 29 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.
Updated guidance
The guidance Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was updated on 27 July to to reflect changes in legislation to the 30 hours free entitlement (section 10) and information on the validity of Paediatric First-Aid certificates (section 7.10).
Holiday and leave during the pandemic
As widely publicised in the press this week, some people returning to the UK must self-isolate (or 'quarantine') for 14 days, depending on the country they’ve travelled from.
ACAS have some helpful information to help you navigate these situations, including what to do if an employee cannot do their job from home. For example, they may need to take extra annual leave to cover the 14 days of self-isolation. In some cases, this might mean their annual leave request is refused. Employees and workers are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they are self-isolating after returning to the UK and cannot work from home.
You will also need to ensure children returning to the setting after visiting any of the countries listed on the government pages are aware of and following the latest COVID-19 travel advice. You should be clear with parents on what charges they will expect during any period of isolation.
Competitions and Marketing Authority: Open letter to the early years sector
The UK’s markets and competition watchdog have stated that they will not take any enforcement action against childcare providers following a probe into alleged unfair treatment of consumers during lockdown, the Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) has said.
In an open letter to the Early Years sector about the investigation, Gordon Ashworth, director of the CMA consumer group, found that “whilst the vast majority of providers were striving to reach fair arrangements with consumers in very challenging circumstances, there remained concerns that some were treating consumers unfairly.”
The purpose of the letter is to help early years and childcare providers understand how consumer protection law applies to the arrangements they have with consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis has highlighted the importance of providers ensuring their contracts meet the requirements of consumer law and that they recognise consumers’ rights in the current situation.
Ashworth states that providers of early years services should examine their agreements with parents and ensure they comply with consumer law. The CMA is not announcing any enforcement action at this stage but will continue to monitor the sector.
Early Years Alliance
The Early Years Alliance have written two blogs to help you develop new ways of working that are COVID safe.
These are:
New grant announced for under 3s with bulky medical equipment who cannot access Disability Living Allowance mobility
Motability have launched a scheme to provide specialist vehicles to children in the UK under the age of 3 who must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment and/or need to be near a motor vehicle in case they require treatment for their condition. All families of children who meet these criteria are eligible. The application process is now open and you can apply via the Family Fund grant scheme.
Advance Notice of Planned IT Upgrades
Please be advised that the Online Provider Portal (OPP) will be undergoing maintenace between Thursday 6 August and Tuesday 11 August 2020 whilst we upgrade our technology. All FORMS will be unavailable during this period. 30 hours (extended FE) eligibility checks, and funding summaries will be unavailable on Tuesday 11 August only. Please note that parents and carers will not be able to submit 2 year old Free Entitlement applications on Tuesday 11 August, and our FIS childcare website will also be unavailable to the public on that day.
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 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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#72 (DfE data reminder, local outbreak control plan)
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#71 (Informing public health of cases, updated guidance on PPE, summer term applications for 30 hours, Hungry Little Minds, research survey, Best Beginnings report)
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#70 (FE funding for Autumn, 2YO FE extended eligibility, updated guidance, support and resources)
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#69 (EYFS reforms)
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#68 (summer contact details, autumn term extended FE, 20/21 EY training brochure, Early Help summer offer)
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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