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 28 January 2021
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.
Updated resources and arrangements for managing COVID-19 cases and situations in educational settings
Please find links to a range of resources from Public Health England South East Health Protection Team (HPT), which provide an update on obtaining advice and support with risk assessments for COVID-19 cases and situations in educational settings, including early years and childcare.
The updated flowchart, resource pack and HPT referral form from Public Health England are linked below and replace previous versions. We are aware that since these resources have been published there have been some changes, for example in regard to lateral flow devices (LFDs), however this is the latest version and we will send on any further updates as we receive them.
We also attach a covering letter from PHE South East which sets out what is included in the resource pack and when settings should contact the South East HPT.
The updated flowchart can help you to identify the correct steps to take when cases occur. As indicated on the flowchart, there is no routine requirement to report all COVID-19 cases or COVID-19 situations to either the DfE or your local HPT. However, the DfE helpline is available if settings require assistance with undertaking risk assessments or additional support. In more complex circumstances (detailed in the escalation criteria on the flowcharts), you are advised to contact the HPT.
Our West Sussex Public Health Team have been requested by schools to support educational settings with contact tracing, therefore they have developed these templates locally. Whilst their use is optional, some settings may find them helpful. In early years settings, we would anticipate that these records would only be needed for additional visitors to the settings or additional contact between practitioners rather than being used to record regular contact within the setting between staff and children. We are not asking early years providers to use this unless they think it would support them with contact tracing.
Letters from Tony Hill (Public Health)
This letter from Tony Hill, Interim Director of Public Health, outlines the current position and advice around testing and protective measures in early years settings. We will provide a further update as soon as we are able. This second letter from Tony Hill is for you to share with the families of children attending your setting outlining the measures that families should all be taking to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Final Reminder - Spring Term Free Entitlement Tasks
If you are claiming Free Entitlement (FE) for 2, 3 or 4 year olds this spring term, providers must login to the Online Provider Portal and do the following:
- Complete your annual Early Years Census return.
- Submit your Spring Term FE actuals claim.
The deadline for both of these tasks is 11.59pm Friday 29 January. Failure to complete this tasks may result in a delay to your headcount payment being released.
For further information and guidance please refer to Broadcast 121.
If you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Family Information Service on 01243 777807 and ask for the Specialist Team, or e-mail free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk
Childcare providers: telling Ofsted about significant events
From today, 28 January 2021, childminders, nurseries and all other childcare providers must use the online notification form to notify Ofsted of significant events. Providers should no longer notify Ofsted by phone or email. The form is accessible and can be used on mobiles and tablets, so that you are able to submit information swiftly and easily.
When notifying Ofsted using this form, you will need to have to hand:
- your unique reference number (URN)
- the childcare address
- details of the incident and details of those involved
Ofsted will confirm receipt of the information and you can also download a copy for your records. They may contact you for further information. You should notify Ofsted as soon as practical, and in any case within 14 days of a notifiable event happening. For full guidance on what is classed as a notifiable event or serious incident, you should refer to our early years and childcare compliance handbook.
Ofsted understand that some people may have different needs and may not be able to use a form. You can find further information about accessibility for this service.
The EYFS Statutory Framework states that "providers must notify local child protection agencies of any serious accident or injury to, or the death of, any child while in their care, and must act on any advice from those agencies." In these circumstances, please notify the Family Information Service (FIS) via family.info.service@westsussex.gov.uk or on 01243 777807, as well as Ofsted. The FIS will then pass the information to the correct department within the local authority.
NEW single telephone number and email address for concerns about children and young people
Work has been underway to design and implement a single telephone number and email address for use by professionals and the public for all concerns relating to children, regardless of risk and complexity.
This will simplify the process for the public and professionals and has been designed to ensure that children’s needs are reviewed quickly by a joined up Early Help and Social Care team. This is a positive change in how we ensure that children come first and that we improve the journey of the child in everything we do.
The new contact details which go live on 29 January 2021 are as follows:
Telephone number: 01403 229900
Email address: WSChildrenservices@westsussex.gov.uk
The current telephone numbers we have for our different access points are still in place and from 29 January 2021 these will all be redirected to the telephone number listed above.
Attachment and Trauma in Early Years Webinar
Led by Juliette Francis from In-Trac training, who you may have met during a Safeguarding or Autism Awareness course, this interactive session will discuss attachment and its relevance in Early Years. You will explore how childhood trauma impacts behaviour in later years and review Relationship-Based Approaches that support healing and build resilience now. Cost is £50 per place. Log onto the Learning and Development Gateway and search for the course code to find out more, book and pay by card.
- Wednesday 24 February - 09.30am to 12.30pm - EYT 21/339.
Please inform the Family Information Service if your setting needs to close or is re-opening. 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 closing due to COVID-19 please ensure you read and follow all the steps in the PHE South East Health Protection Team ' Managing Suspected and Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Early Years and Childcare settings' flowchart.
In the event of your setting having a confirmed COVID-19 case, if Public Health or the Department for Education 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.
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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#122 (Settings not currently open to all children, Local Offer revised link, stories and songs in libraries, Compass card, a look at treasure baskets for babies)
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#121 (Updated funding letter for parents, reminder for mandatory EY Census, FE spring term actuals reminder, Local Offer, understanding parental conflict webinar, Recover and Rise business workshops, every mind matters)
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20 JAN Special broadcast - COVID-19 testing within early years and childcare settings
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#120 (Furloughing staff, update on EYFSP, Paediatric First Aid requalification, updated action cards, supporting children with self-regulation)
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#119 (New EY Census guidance, DfE data capture, Urgent - FE funding consultation closing soon, COVID-19 testing kits, update on Ofsted inspections, ELIM training, EY networks dates)
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:
- 29 Jan - Annual EY Census submissions close (mandatory for FE providers)
- 29 Jan - Spring term FE Actuals submissions close
- w/c 22 Feb - Spring term Actuals payments expected
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