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 20 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.
COVID-19 guidance for supervised tooth brushing
The government have published guidance for supervised tooth brushing programmes in early years and school settings (13 August 2020).
The purpose of this guidance is to update the infection prevention control aspects of supervised tooth brushing programmes. It seeks to manage any public health risk arising from the COVID-19 pandemic against the significant oral health improvement benefits of daily supervised tooth brushing.
Early years funding for Autumn term 2020
On 21 July, the government confirmed that from the start of the autumn 2020 local authorities should continue to fund providers which are open at broadly the levels they would have expected to see had there been no Coronavirus outbreak, including those who have been told by Public Health England that they should close. This is to take account of a potential impact on take up of places due to the COVID-19 response and to support the sustainability of the sector.
Since this announcement, West Sussex County Council have been reviewing how we manage this as quickly as possible to ensure you are able to have access to the funds as soon as possible.
In simple terms, we anticipate that in most cases we will look at your actuals at headcount for the autumn term this year and compare these to autumn 2019. You will be paid whichever figure is higher. This will include EYPP and deprivation funding, but not DAF or inclusion funding, or any additional payments you may have received in the autumn as a result of the DSG underspend.
We understand that for some providers this will cause concern, for example those that were not open in autumn 2019 or who were operating at a lower capacity for various reasons and we are looking at how this will be managed. This affects a very small number of providers but please rest assured we are considering a range of options for these cases.
Further information will follow next week, however you should submit your actuals as normal and then once this information is released we can calculate any additional payments you may be eligible for. It is our intention to make any additional payments to the usual payment schedule in November, prior to the payment for the Spring term estimates which will take place early December. All payment schedules will be confirmed as soon as possible to support your business planning.
Treasury review of business rates - call for evidence
At the 2020 Budget, the government launched a ‘fundamental’ review of the business rates system.
The Treasury has now opened a call for evidence for stakeholders to submit evidence as part of this review.
The Early Years Alliance has summarised this review and give further information on how childcare providers may like to submit their views on their website.
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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#79 (Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, Bookstart Treasure packs)
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#78 (termly setting updates, Ofsted interim visits, early years and childcare reps needed)
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#77 (PHE flowchart, Paediatric First Aid, Naval Children's Charity)
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#76 (IT upgrade, update on OPP error, visitors to settings)
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#75 (OPP error, consumer information, parental guidance for autumn)
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
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