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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Tuesday 8 September 2020
Reminder - this week's DfE data capture
This week's DfE data capture for the numbers of children currently accessing early years provision is open now, and will close at the end of Wednesday (midnight). Please use this link to complete your return.
Suspected Cases guidance updated, and PHE resource pack
As mentioned in setting update #84 (Thursday 3 September), here is the revised flowchart outlining key actions to take for suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in your setting. Please ensure you read the new flowchart where you will find that advice is given for managing these cases.
Please also see a resource pack from Public Health England to be used by early years and childcare settings and schools. Contents of the resource pack include key national guidance and resources, key messages relating to COVID-19 in educational settings, definitions used by Health Protection Teams, instructions for settings to manage cases, frequently asked questions and additional resources for mental health and wellbeing. In the appendices of the pack you will find a template letter that can be sent to parents/carers in the event of a suspected case of COVID-19, to reassure that the correct guidance is being followed.
We really hope that these are helpful resources for childcare and educational settings.
What to do if a child is displaying symptoms of COVID-19
On 7 September 2020, the government published What to do if a child is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) providing a clear list of actions for early years settings to complete.
School Readiness Integrated Review
Following the information in setting update #83 (Tuesday 1 September) about the School Readiness Integrated Review, updated guidance is now available on our website.
Important changes to Early Years Training and Network events 2020
Our Early Years Training courses and Network Events for 2020 are going online - find out more.
Do you need to update your Paediatric First Aid qualification?
We have the following dates with spaces - all other dates in 2020 are full. We may schedule more this year if there is a demand, so please email us with your requirements. Each date has a six hour online portion, to be completed before the face to face date. The course cost is £60 per person and all times run from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Please log on to the Learning and Development Gateway and search for the course code below to book and pay.
Monday 14/09/2020, Horsham (venue TBC) - EYT 20/1943 (1 place)
Wednesday 07/10/2020, Broadfield Community Centre, Crawley - EYT 20/2021 (6 places)
Monday 26/10/2020, The Kings Church, Burgess Hill - EYT 20/1945 (3 places)
Monday 23/11/2020, Broadfield Community Centre, Crawley - EYT 20/2030 (10 places)
Tuesday 24/11/2020, Field Place, Worthing - EYT 20/2421 (10 places)
Revised EYFS
The revised Development Matters document was published on 3 September to accompany the previously published framework to be used by the early adopter schools. Early years settings should continue to use the current framework until the changes come into place in September 2021. The documents are currently only being used by early adopter schools and all other providers will continue to be inspected under the current guidance.
We are currently planning a programme of training for early years providers to support you in implementing the new framework and will share details with you as soon as they are available.
EYFS Disapplications Update
In April 2020, the government temporarily disapplied and modified certain elements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework to support early years providers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The current disapplications will be lifted on 25 September 2020 and we will enter a two month transitional period for disapplications around staffing levels and Paediatric First Aid. This is in recognition that some providers may need time to get back to full staffing levels once the disapplications are lifted.
Further restrictions or requirements related to COVID-19 due to a local or national lockdown may affect a provider’s ability to comply with the EYFS. Therefore, government have laid out new regulations which will come into force on 26 September 2020 and, with the exception of the EYFS Profile disapplication, will allow the disapplications to reapply where a provider is prevented from complying with the EYFS due to COVID-19 related restrictions or requirements which have been imposed by government.
Full details can be found in the updated EYFS disapplications guidance.
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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#84 (Suspected cases update, early outbreak management, DAF autumn claims, EYPP autumn claims, EYCA setting visits, autumn additional payments reminder, EYC representatives reminder, Gigabit broadband voucher scheme)
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#83 (Updated Local lockdown guidance, FE autumn term actuals, suspected COVID-19 cases, school readiness integrated review, inclusion funding for autumn)
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#82 (Next week's DfE data capture)
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#81 (FE actuals, autumn term additional payments, changes to parent guidance, changes to protective measures for OOS provision, statement from Chief Medical Officer, COVID-19 testing)
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#80 (Supervised Tooth brushing, Autumn Term Funding, Business rates)
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:
- NOW - FE Actuals submissions open for Autumn term (opened 2 Sep)
- 17 Sep - Autumn Term headcount day (FE)
- 25 Sep - FE Actuals submissions close for Autumn term
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