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 6 July 2021
Reminder - DfE data capture required this week
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.
Get ready for the changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in September 2021 with the Department for Education's new service, packed with resources and practical support for childminders, nursery leaders and pre-school practitioners
The service, developed with sector experts and extensively tested with PVI staff and childminders, features information and resources all in one place to support you to understand and implement the changes to the EYFS, including a summary of the changes, links to key documents, and ideas for activities.
Each of the seven areas of learning have been broken down into three sections with bite-sized information, engaging videos and ideas for activities to support your understanding of the educational programmes.
In response to sector feedback, additional support on curriculum planning, reducing paperwork, oral health, working in partnership with parents and carers, and English as an additional language is also available.
The new service is currently in a testing phase and is subject to change following user feedback. Further content, including additional videos, are planned to be added to the website over time with additional content to be decided based on user feedback.
You can provide feedback by completing this survey.
Last chance to book courses
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Working with Children who have English as an Additional Language (EAL) (half day webinar) supports individual language development through the use of resources and activities. Explore best practice working with parents and carers. Course times are 9.30am to 12.30pm. The cost is £25 per place.
- Thursday 8 July - EYT 21/1956
- Thursday 18 November - EYT 21/1957
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Babies - Books, Baskets and Bonding (taster webinar) is suitable for anyone working with the under two’s. Foster a love of books and explore the impact this has on later learning outcomes. Understand the benefits, practicalities and role of the adult in creating and using treasure baskets. Recognise the key priority of bonded relationships and how to promote them. This is a revised and updated version of ‘Grasping My World, a look at Treasure Baskets.’ The cost is £15 per place.
- Thursday 8 July – 10.00am to 11.30am - EYT 21/1922
To book, 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.
The West Sussex Learning Journal materials have been updated to reflect the changes to the EYFS from September 2021 and are available on our website.
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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#167 (DfE data capture, changes to furlough, FE deadline tomorrow, early years project for schools and settings, revised learning journal, SEND newsletter, last paediatric first aid this term)
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#166 (DfE data capture, clarification on testing and self-isolation, EYFS disapplications, free SENCO training, supporting children's creativity, confidence and progress)
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#165 (PCR tests for close contacts, COVID-19 contingency framework, HAF funding may still be available, SEND under 5's, enhance your nurturing techniques)
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#164 (DfE data capture, large group activities during the summer term, final reminder - EY funding to support health and physical development, FE autumn term estimates now open, FE summer term payments, communication courses, supporting children in EY settings who may have experienced trauma)
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#163 (DfE data capture, transition day, large group activities during the summer term, EYFS reforms, INCO/SENCO training, meeting the needs of every child)
- 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)
- 8 Nov - Spring term Estimate submissions open (FE providers)
- 22 Nov - Spring term Estimate submissions close (FE providers)
- w/c 6 Dec - Spring term Estimate payments expected (FE providers)
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