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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Thursday 10 June 2021
Reminder: Holiday Activities and Food Programme
In our Special Broadcast on 26 May we announced how the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme will be implemented across West Sussex, with Out of School providers invited to submit their Expressions of Interest by midday 15 June 2021 which is a new extended deadline. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support families in West Sussex and apply to take part today.
Early Years providers who offer Free Entitlement places can apply for a separate fund to support Health and Physical Development which was promoted in the broadcast on 8 June here. The deadline for applications for Early Years providers is midnight on Wednesday 23 June 2021.
Early Years Transitions Webinars
A team of colleagues from across West Sussex have collaborated and recorded two webinars to support early years transitions and the information is now live. The first webinar focuses on the universal support for children moving into schools and the impact the COVID-19 response may have had for these children. The second webinar focuses on the supported transition process for children with additional support needs, including SEND. The webinars can be viewed anytime using this link along with lots of other useful information.
Newly published courses suitable for all staff
It's not fair! (Taster webinar) is suitable for all staff. It explores factors which contribute to unwanted behaviour and techniques to lessen occurrences and promote positive behaviour through policy and practice. Cost is £15 per place. All times are 7.30pm to 9.00pm.
- Thursday 24 June - EYT 21/1802
- Tuesday 1 February - EYT 22/173
Diversity, Identity and Culture (Half day webinar) is a new course suitable for all staff. You will develop a greater awareness of the Equality Act 2010 and the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements that directly relate to this area, with specific reference to gender identity and culture. You will learn ways to become more inclusive and develop a greater awareness of unconscious bias and discrimination and their impact on the setting. Cost is £25 per place.
- Monday 28 June - 9.30am to 12.30pm - EYT 21/1801
- Monday 18 October - 9.30am to 12.30pm - EYT 21/1892
- Tuesday 01 March - 1.00pm to 4.00pm - EYT 22/175
To book, search for the course code on the Learning and Development Gateway. If you have any questions, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
All early years providers must follow a new reformed EYFS framework from September 2021. View the new framework and how the changes affect you.
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.
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:
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#160 (DfE data capture, early years funding to support health and physical development, infant mental health awareness week, ERIC's potty training package, fostering wellbeing in the early years - two new courses)
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#159 (DfE data capture, changes to childminder testing process, survey of childcare and early years providers, new suite of child development courses)
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#158 (No DfE data capture this week, new course - ready, willing and able)
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#157 (Celebration of Inclusion month, new courses for practitioners working with under 2's)
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#156 (DfE data capture, infant mental health awareness week, a look at dynamic displays, roll out the role play)
- 21 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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