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 9 February 2021
Reminder - this week's DfE data capture
This week's Department for Education (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.
We have had another increase in submissions last week, with an additional 30 providers completing the data return. This was the highest return we have had so a huge thank you for taking the time in your busy week to do this.
We hope that the grant which was announced last week for Free Entitlement providers will help with some of the comments included in the return around financial sustainability and increased cleaning costs. Please do ensure you complete your application by midnight on 28 February.
We know that access to lateral flow tests and vaccines remain high priorities, and your concerns and comments from the return are being directly used in our discussions with both Public Health and the DfE.
We would also like to take the time to acknowledge that the numbers you submit, in terms of children attending, do not reflect all the additional work you are doing to support those children and families who are at home. That support is just as valued as what you are doing in the setting and hugely appreciated by families.
Actions for Early Years Providers
This guidance was updated on 4 February. Updates include NHS advice on vaccines and fevers.
Side effects of children taking a vaccination or teething:
Vaccines may cause a mild fever in children. This is a common and expected reaction, and isolation is not required unless COVID-19 is suspected. Whilst teething can cause some known side effects such as flushed cheeks and sore gums, NHS guidelines state that fever is not a symptom of teething. Parents and carers should monitor side effects from a vaccination or teething, and if they are concerned about their child’s health, they should seek advice from their GP or NHS 111. If COVID-19 is suspected, settings should follow the advice in the system of controls.
What to do if a child or adult is displaying symptoms or is a confirmed case of COVID-19 confirms that settings should not charge parents or carers for the period when they cannot attend following a positive test for COVID-19 or for a period when they are self-isolating having been contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
Safeguarding and Child Protection for the Designated Person - new weekend date
Raise your awareness and confidence in your designated safeguarding responsibilities and be able to recognise when and how to make appropriate referrals. Learn about the new referral system and refresh your knowledge of the signs of abuse. Cost is £15. Log on to the Learning and Development Gateway and search for the course code to find out more, book and pay by card.
- Saturday 11 March - 09.30am to 12.30pm - EYT 21/1061
- Wednesday 24 March - 1.30pm to 4.30pm - EYT 21/281
West Sussex Library Service - online offer
While access to West Sussex library buildings is limited, they have developed an alternative library offer online. From children's learning at home to books supporting wellbeing, find out more about what is available.
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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#125 (Outcome of FE consultation, vulnerable children in settings, slides from Public Health webinars, planning for positive transitions)
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#124 (DfE data capture, new Foundation Years FAQs, Readiness survey, free ICAN training, working with children who have EAL)
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#123 (Updated information for managing COVID-19 cases, letter from Public Health, final reminder - FE spring term and EY Census, informing Ofsted of significant events, new single route for families and professionals to access support, attachment and trauma in early years)
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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)
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 22 Feb - Spring term Actuals payments expected (FE providers)
- 28 Feb - Contain Outbreak Management Fund application deadline (FE providers)
- 10 Mar - Summer term Estimate submissions open (FE providers)
- 26 Mar - Summer term Estimate submissions close (FE providers)
- 31 Mar - deadline for completing termly Sufficiency data (all providers)
- w/c 5 Apr - Summer term Estimate payments expected (FE providers)
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