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 27 April 2021
Reminder - this week's DfE data capture
This week's Department for Education 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.
All schools, colleges and nurseries COVID-19 Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test kit log: change of retention period
All schools, colleges and nurseries keeping an LFD test kit log should not keep the data in the log for longer than 12 months from the date on which it is collected. Please note that the Department of Health and Social Care may request data from the test kit log at any time within the 12 month period.
Further information can be found in the terms and conditions for COVID-19 testing located on the primary schools document sharing platform and the schools and colleges document sharing platform. (You may need to update your internet browser or use Google Chrome browser to view these folders.)
Makaton
Makaton is a visual way to support communication development. It is a great system for children with language delays, SEND and English as a second language. It scaffolds the path to spoken language by giving an extra visual cue to communication. We have Makaton Taster sessions for you to try it, as well as Level 1 and Level 2 of the Makaton Foundation. Once you have completed Foundation Level 1, you can take a Makaton Safeguarding Taster course. All courses include a certificate of completion and a course manual.
The dates are available on the Learning and Development Gateway. Use Makaton in the Keyword box and EYT in the Event code box to find courses. If you have any questions, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
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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#147 (updating your Local Offer information, EYFS update, Ofsted update, Foundation Stage Forum subscription and Tapestry discount, Tools for Schools and Settings, Paediatric First Aid)
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#146 (final chance to apply for COMF, COVID-19 last public health webinar, FE summer term actuals, extended FE claims, school transitions Sept'21, CM conference - superhero play)
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#145 (COMF, updated EY guidance, updated OOS guidance, new Parent Declaration form, paediatric first aid)
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#144 (twice-weekly rapid testing, childminder virtual conference)
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#143 (COMF reminder, final EYFS published, recovery and renewal survey reminder, summer term childminder network, online learning)
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:
- 6 May - Free Entitlement Summer term 'headcount day'
- 15 May - Childminder Virtual Conference
- 21 May - Summer term Actuals submissions close (FE providers)
- 16 Jun - Autumn term Estimate submissions open (FE providers)
- w/c 21 Jun - Summer term Actuals payments expected (FE providers)
- 2 Jul - Autumn term Estimate submissions close (FE providers)
- w/c 12 Jul - Autumn term Estimate payments expected (FE providers)
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