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 24 September 2020
Yesterday unbelievably marked six months since the start of lockdown in England! And what a journey we have all been on ever since. This is our 90th broadcast email to you during the pandemic. Again we would like to thank you all for the amazing work you all have been doing to support families in West Sussex during these difficult times.
From the weekly questionnaire that you complete, we know that in the week commencing the 9 July, over 8200 children were attending early years provision across the county. This dropped to around 3500 in the summer holidays and, as of this week's data, over 8000 children are currently in attendance.
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.
SEND Consultation
West Sussex County Council are consulting with Early Years and Childcare providers, parents and carers, professionals and other interested stakeholders, focusing on the support for children under 5 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Following a review of current support, we are pleased to be able to share with you our proposed changes, which we intend to implement from January 2021. These are outlined in a video which includes proposed new ways of working including changes to inclusion funding and EYPARM. Read a summary of the proposed changes.
After you have watched the presentation, we would really welcome your views via a short questionnaire. The consultation will remain open until midnight on Sunday 18 October 2020.
Following the consultation we will make any necessary amendments and share the final version via the INCO networks after half term. Please do take this opportunity to give us feedback so we can make sure that your views are taken into consideration and shape the plan.
Updates to government guidance 'Actions for Early Years and Childcare Providers During the COVID-19 outbreak'
On 22 September the guidance was updated. The main changes to the guidance are as follows:
- made format changes to make information easier to find
- added information on:
- the use and disposal of face coverings
- supervised toothbrushing programmes (section 3)
- process for local lockdowns (section 3)
- music, dance and drama (section 3)
- maximising use of sites and ventilation within settings (section 3)
- reopening of buildings (section 3)
- journeys, such as pickups and drop offs (section 3)
- attending more than one setting (section 3)
- a child with symptoms attending a setting (section 3)
- pregnant women (section 3)
- visitors to settings, including new admissions and settling in (section 3)
- use of outdoor private and public spaces (section 5)
- informal childcare (section 5)
- supporting children’s and staff wellbeing (section 6)
- new SEND legislation (section 6)
- EYFS disapplications ending on 25 September 2020 (section 7)
- emergency first aid (section 7)
- the Job Retention Bonus scheme (section 10)
- amended wording on:
- employer health and safety and equalities duties (section 3)
- staff who are clinically extremely vulnerable (section 3)
- children who are shielding or self-isolating (section 4)
- safeguarding (section 6)
- added an additional paragraph on managing COVID-19 cases (section 8)
- updated information on funding (section 10)
Free Entitlement Autumn term actuals – deadline tomorrow!
A final reminder that the Online Provider Portal (OPP) is open for you to submit your Autumn term Free Entitlement (FE) actuals claims until 11.59pm Friday 25 September 2020. Please refer to the broadcast sent on Tuesday 15 September (#87) for additional guidance and information.
30 hours code - reminder of issues
We are still encountering issues with submitted claims for 30 hours. For more information on how to avoid these please refer to the broadcast sent on Thursday 17 September (#88). If you are experiencing issues submitting your Extended FE claim please ensure you submit any Universal hours that you wish to claim prior to the deadline. Please use the 'notes' box to detail your 30 hour code issue.
Childminders
We have heard a lot of concern about whether childminders can continue working if they have one of their own children at home self-isolating following a positive test in their school bubble. This has been raised with the DfE and they are working with Public Health England to make sure the guidance is clear. We will update you when we have some clarity from DfE.
Don’t forget to book your Learning and Development Network Webinar
Networks provide updates, information and guidance to support and improve practice. To find the correct, local webinar to attend, check the Network Event Flyer as it shows the area, the Early Years and Childcare Advisor (EYCA) and the course code. Log onto the Learning and Development Gateway and search for the course code to book. Double check you have the correct event, by checking your EYCA is listed as a trainer.
New course - Attachment and Trauma in Early Years £60
In this focused webinar you will enhance your understanding of attachment and trauma in the Early Years and their effects on development and behaviour. You will learn strategies to support children with healing and building resilience.
Please log onto the Learning and Development Gateway and to find out more, book a place and pay.
- Monday 19 October, 09.30am to 12.30 pm, EYT 20/1962
- Tuesday 1 December, 1.30pm to 4.30pm, EYT 20/2019
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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#89 (Early years healthy development consultation)
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#88 (Reporting of positive COVID-19 cases update, Fever following immunisations, testing kits, Translations of COVID-19 parent information, Risk assessments for children with EHCPs, 30 hrs codes, Training for managers)
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#87 (FE Actuals, Hands, Space, Face campaign, Rule of Six, Responding to COVID-19 symptoms, Risk Assessments, Ofsted Inspections, Makaton Training)
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EYC Special Broadcast - New NHS number to get a test - updated flowchart
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#86 (Amendment to PHE flowchart, exemptions from 'rule of 6', new LADOs, Five to Thrive webinar, Foundation Years newsletter, business support training)
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:
- 25 Sep - FE Actuals submissions close for Autumn term
- w/c 19 Oct - FE Actuals payment expected
- 11 Nov - Spring Term FE Estimates submissions open
- 27 Nov - Spring Term FE Estimates submissions close
- 07 Dec - Spring Term FE Estimates submissions payment expected
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