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Broadcast for Early Years and childcare providers in West Sussex from West Sussex County Council - Early Help Service
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Tuesday 15 June 2021
DfE data capture
Please note this data is now collected fortnightly. Therefore the next collection will be on week commencing 21 June 2021.
Changes to the Planned Ending of COVID-19 Restrictions and Transition Days in Schools
Following the announcement from the government yesterday, Step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown will be delayed until 19 July. Early years and childcare settings will need to review any plans they had made based on the anticipated changes, to ensure that they are in line with the current restrictions.
We are aware that some schools and early years settings had planned to take part in a Transition Day on 7 July where children due to start in the Reception year in September would all visit their new school. These events are unlikely to be able to go ahead and a communication about this will go out to schools shortly. Please do not assume that these events are still happening and speak to your local schools about the upcoming transition events planned to ensure you are aware of any changes.
Reminder: Early Years Funding to Support Health and Physical Development
Early Years providers who offer Free Entitlement (FE) places can apply for funding to support Health and Physical Development which was promoted in the broadcast on 8 June. Please read the information carefully to ensure your project will meet the funding criteria. Applications must only be from providers that have children attending who are in receipt of Early Years Pupil Premium and/or 2 year old FE.
The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday 23 June 2021.
Training about changes to the EYFS and Development Matters:
- Understanding EYFS Essentials (half day webinar) for new or returning staff, will develop your knowledge and understanding of the key elements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, including the changes due for implementation in September 2021. Cost is £25 per place.
- Wednesday 23 June 2021 - 9:30am to 12:30pm - EYT 21/1746
- Getting to Grips with the EYFS Changes from September 2021 Webinar for Childminders will outline the main changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage and Development Matters. You will reflect on effective practice in light of the updated Statutory Framework, considered alongside the new Development Matters and Birth to Five Matters and the implications for provision and practice in Childminder settings.
- Saturday 26 June 2021 - 9:30am to 12.00pm - EYT 21/1627
- Wednesday 08 September 2021 - 7.00pm to 9:30pm - EYT 21/1628
- Understanding The Changes: The EYFS and Development Matters from September 2021 outlines the changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Development Matters. You will consider the key features of effective practice as outlined in the updated versions of the EYFS Statutory Framework and Development Matters and implications of these changes for provision and practice.
- Wednesday 23 June 2021 - 9:45am to 12:30pm - EYT 21/1938
- Wednesday 23 June 2021 - 1:15pm to 4.00pm - EYT 21/1939
- Thursday 01 July 2021 - 9:45am to 12:30pm - EYT 21/1941
- Thursday 01 July 2021 - 1:15pm to 4.00pm - EYT 21/1942
To book any of these courses, 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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#161 (Reminder - HAF programme, early years transition webinars, newly published courses suitable for all staff)
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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 (New course - ready, willing and able)
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#157 (Celebration of Inclusion month, new courses for practitioners working with under 2's)
- 21 Jun - Autumn term Estimate submissions open (FE providers)
- w/c 21 Jun - Summer term Actuals payments expected (FE providers)
- 23 Jun - EY Funding to Support Health and Physical Development - deadline for expressions of interest
- 2 Jul - Autumn term Estimate submissions close (FE providers)
- w/c 12 Jul - Autumn term Estimate payments expected (FE providers)
- 1 Sep - Autumn term Actuals submissions open (FE providers)
- 1 Sep - New EYFS framework effective
- 16 Sep - Autumn term headcount day (FE providers)
- 24 Sep - Autumn term Actuals submissions close (FE providers)
- w/c 18 Oct - Autumn term Actuals payments expected (FE providers)
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