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 20 October 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.
When completing the questions 'Were you able to meet all requests for childcare places this week?' and 'What is the total number of children you were unable to accommodate?', please only respond yes if there are children who would have started this week but you did not have any available places. Please do not include children who are on the waiting list for places in subsequent terms. If there are children unable to attend because of isolation due to COVID-19, please do not count these children as affected by lack of places.
Thank you for your continuing commitment to providing data through this challenging time.
Free Entitlement Autumn term payments
Please be advised that Autumn term payments have now been released for:
- Free Entitlement actuals where there are no outstanding queries.
- Disability Access Fund (DAF) for all approved applications where evidence was provided.
The Online Provider Portal is now closed for Autumn term submissions, but you can still log in to view your payment summary. Please refer to the actuals guidance available to show you how to check. Please note, payments can take three to five working days to show in your account.
Is my setting eligible for an additional payment?
As previously communicated, now that Actuals payments have been released, West Sussex County Council will be able to determine if your setting is eligible for an additional payment by comparing your Autumn 2020 funding to the funding you received in Autumn 2019. Read further information about how this will be calculated along with timescales. If you have any queries please email free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk.
Flu immunisation guidance
The Government has produced guidance for the early years sector to answer the most frequently asked questions on the annual flu vaccination programme for pre-school children. The guidance is for those working in the early years sector to inform them about the programme and how they can support it.
Foundation Years Newsletter
The October 2020 newsletter from Foundation Years is now available including links to useful guidance, early years blogs and other updates.
New course - A Look at Writing Readiness and Pencil Grip Webinar - only £15
You will learn the typical developmental stages and needs in children’s journey towards becoming confident and competent at writing. You will strengthen your professional knowledge and ability to provide appropriate and enjoyable mark making resources and activities.
Please log onto the Learning and Development Gateway and search for the course code to find out more, book and pay by card:
- Tuesday 17 November 10.00am to 11.30am EYT 20/246
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.
In the event of your setting having a confirmed COVID-19 case, if Public Health have stated you must close for any period of time you must inform the Family Information Service. However, if Public Heath have not explicitly stated in correspondence to you that the setting must close, we would expect you to make contact with your Early Years and Childcare Adviser (EYCA) to talk through your circumstances, where possible, before making the decision to close the setting. If you are not able to make immediate contact with your EYCA then please email your nearest Early Help Hub using the following email addresses:
Where there are not clearly evidenced reasons why the setting had no option to close, there could be implications for funding received as per the government guidance.
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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#96 (SEND consultation final reminder, closures following positive COVID-19 cases, local COVID-19 alert level posters, autism awareness, early years teacher status qualification, West Sussex affordable warmth partnership)
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#95 (New COVID alert levels, DfE data capture, WSSCP escalation process, treasure baskets, counting webinar)
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#94 (SEND consultation reminder, QR codes, self-isolation rules in a household, new EYFS webinar, WSSCP neglect training)
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#93 (School readiness integrated review, EYC reps, WSSCP website, helping children play to learn, speech and language monitoring tool, development matters vodcast plus Q and A session, COVID-19 resources, foundation stage forum)
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#92 (SEND consultation reminder, school readiness integrated review, Christmas crafts webinar)
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:
- w/c 19 Oct - FE Actuals payment released
- 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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