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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Thursday 6 August 2020
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.
Planned IT Upgrade
As previously announced, please be advised that the Online Provider Portal (OPP) will be undergoing maintenance from today 6 August until 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.
Update - Online Provider Portal (OPP) error when accessing using Chrome now resolved
Further to our article on 4 August (setting update #75) we are pleased to update you that the security warning some users were experiencing when using the Google Chrome browser to access the OPP has now been fixed. Families should also be able to apply for the 2YO Free Entitlement without getting a security warning.
Visitors to Early Years Settings
Government guidance for early years providers is that, wherever possible, settings are encouraged to avoid visitors entering their premises while children are attending to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19. Where it is essential that any professionals make visits to the setting in person, then they should adhere to the setting's protective measures. We would advise you to prepare a risk assessment to support you in managing visitors to your setting. This could include:
- how you will decide when it is appropriate for a visitor to attend your setting,
- how you will minimise the risk of infection being spread between visitors and those within the setting, and
- any additional paperwork that will be completed.
You may decide that it is more appropriate for some professionals to use on-line tools to enable virtual visits. For example, a speech and language therapist may be able to carry out an observation of a child using a video link rather than attending the setting in person. If you are using this option, you will need to consider information security and parental permissions for the child being observed as well as any other children that might be seen in the video. We recommend that all videos are viewed live with no recordings made.
Subject to changing advice and circumstances, Early Years and Childcare Advisers will begin to make some visits to early years settings from September. These will be discussed with you beforehand to ensure that risk to any staff and children is minimised and that your setting procedures are adhered to on the visit. Where it is possible to provide the support needed without making a visit, then this will continue at the present time.
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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#75 (OPP error, consumer information, parental guidance for autumn)
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#74 (timings for DfE data capture, self-isolation period change, parent and toddler groups)
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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)
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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