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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Friday 31 July 2020
From next week these updates will reduce to twice a week aiming to send out on Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon. We will of course get updates out in between for anything that is urgent. As we step into August over the weekend we hope you are able to make the most of the sunny weather and manage some time to relax.
Advance notice - next week's DfE data capture
Next week's DfE data capture for the numbers of children currently accessing early years provision will be open from Monday, and will close at the end of Wednesday (midnight). Please use this link to complete your return.
As we are reducing the frequency of our setting updates starting next week, we will provide the link for the following week in advance, in the Thursday setting updates. The latest survey link is always available on our website too, which may be useful to add to your diary.
Self-Isolation Period Change
From 30 July, if someone has coronavirus symptoms, or tests positive, they will need to self-isolate for 10 days and not the seven as before. This is in line with the World Health Organisation guidance. Evidence shows that people with COVID-19 have a low but real possibility of remaining infectious between seven and nine days after falling ill.
Please ensure that this change is reflected in your policies and procedures and update parents and staff accordingly. This has been covered in the press and announced by Matt Hancock yesterday 30 July, with guidance being updated as well.
Parent and Toddler Groups
The Local Government Association has confirmed that the Department for Education will not be producing specific guidance for parent and toddler groups, and other activities in which parents remain with their children. Instead, you should use MHCLG guidance for the use of community facilities (‘community facilities’ can be interpreted in its broadest sense so includes, for example, schools). You may also wish to refer to guidance on social distancing and guidance for out of school settings where necessary.
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 Thursday update for the following week, 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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#73 (updated guidance, holiday/leave, CMA open letter, EYA blogs, grant for bulky medical equipment, OPP downtime)
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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)
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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