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 29 October 2020
It does not seem possible that this is now our 100th COVID-19 setting update. Whilst not necessarily something to celebrate it is certainly worthy of note, and like yourselves, we certainly did not envisage back in March that seven months on, we would still be under such challenging COVID-19 restrictions. Thank you for everything that you continue to do, supporting children and families, enabling their lives to be as normal as they can be in these difficult times. We hope that you continue to find these broadcasts a useful source of information.
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.
Heating and Ventilation
Following queries from providers around balancing the need for increased ventilation while maintaining a comfortable temperature, the DfE Coronavirus helpline confirmed the following measures should be used as appropriate:
- opening high level windows in preference to low level to reduce draughts
- increasing the ventilation while spaces are unoccupied
- providing flexibility to allow additional, suitable indoor clothing
- rearranging furniture where possible to avoid direct drafts
Heating should be used as necessary to ensure comfort levels are maintained particularly in occupied spaces.
Although, at the time of writing this, the Early Years and Childcare guidance does not include this, the DfE have updated the guidance on full opening: schools to include information on heating and ventilation in schools which you may find useful to refer to.
The World Health Organisation and Health and Safety Executive also recommend that you should speak to your heating/ventilation engineer specialists if you have any concerns.
Last chance to book - Pedagogical Leadership Webinar - cost £10
This webinar will help you assess your educational principles, professional identity and leadership style, and look at ways to support change in the setting. It is a good refresher for those who have been leaders for a while and also suitable for those new to the role.
- Saturday 07 November 10.00am to 11.30am EYT 20/2333
- Tuesday 17 November 7.30pm to 9.00pm EYT 20/2334
Please log onto the Learning and Development Gateway and search for the course code to find out more, book and pay by card.
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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#99 (EYPARM Outcomes, supporting children with self-regulation, WSSCP newsletter)
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EYC Special Broadcast 23/10 - 'Managing Confirmed Cases of COVID-19' Update
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#98 (updated outbreak action cards and guidance, upcoming changes to collection of sufficiency data, updated early help offer, track and trace, understanding positive, pro-active and effective leadership)
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#97 (DfE data capture - key questions, FE autumn term payments, Flu immunisation, Foundation Years newsletter, writing readiness and pencil grip webinar)
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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)
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:
- 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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