The West Sussex approach puts the child first. We work with children, families, communities, our partners and schools in a restorative, strength based way. Strong relationships are at the heart of what we do.
Broadcast for Early Years and childcare providers in West Sussex from West Sussex County Council - Early Help Service
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Tuesday 4 May 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.
Support available to providers to engage with asymptomatic testing
We are aware that some practitioners have reservations about engaging with the asymptomatic testing programme because they are worried about the impact on their income in the event of a positive test.
The Government has made available, through the Department for Health and Social Care, a £500 test and trace support payment scheme, to support workers who are required to self-isolate or care for a child who is required to self-isolate, and are unable to work from home. Further information about the financial support available can be found on the government website. There is also information about local support available, including the Community Hub, on the West Sussex County Council website.
Free Entitlement Summer term Actuals reminder
A reminder that the Online Provider Portal is open for you to submit your Summer term Free Entitlement (FE) actuals claims.
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Headcount day is this Thursday 6 May 2021.
- Submission deadline is Friday 21 May 2021.
For help and guidance please refer to Setting Update #146. For information regarding Early Years Pupil Premium and Disability Access Fund please refer to Setting Update #149.
Extended FE claims reminder
In order for a 30 hours code to be valid for Summer term:
- Parents must have applied for, or reconfirmed their 30 hour code before 31 March 2021.
- The code ‘start date’ must be before 1 April 2021 and the ‘Grace period end date’ covers the Summer term 2021.
To check a code is valid for Summer term use the online eligibility checker and view our helpful video guide for step by step guidance.
Please note, WSCC cannot fund without a valid code.
If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the Family Information Service on 01243 777807 and ask for the Specialist Team, or e-mail free.entitlement@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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#149 (COMF update, reminder to report positive COVID-19 cases, get a PCR test if symptomatic, ventilation, DAF summer claims, EYPP summer claims, working with pregnant people and/or families with a child under 1, childminder conference - enabling environments workshop)
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#148 (data retention period for testing log, Makaton)
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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)
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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