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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Wednesday 4 August 2021
Amendments made to Development Matters
A number of small amendments were made to the revised Development Matters on 29 July. Please note that these are minor changes and if you have already printed the version that was uploaded on 23 July, there is no need to re-print the document.
The changes made on 29 July include:
- a typo correction on page 19,
- formatting incorrect line breaks on pages 26, 33, 41 and 78, and
- removal of duplicated text on page 54.
New vodcast on implementing the revised EYFS
The Department for Education (DfE) and the National Children’s Bureau are pleased to share with you a new vodcast on implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) reforms that have been published on the Foundation Years website. The vodcast shares messages from the DfE, and early adopter schools talk about their experiences in delivering the reforms and how they have changed their approach to assessment under the new EYFS. This vodcast delivers important messages about the new EYFS Profile Assessment, including:
- Discouraging an over-reliance on data collection or the creation of tick lists to track progress against each distinct Early Learning Goal (ELG) throughout the reception year.
- The importance of professional judgement and discussion when making assessments and basing this on knowledge of each individual child’s overall development.
This vodcast will be helpful for schools as they prepare to adopt the reformed EYFS from September. Although this is aimed at schools, other early years providers may be interested in watching the vodcast to support them as they plan to implement the reforms from September. A summary document to accompany the vodcast can be found here.
Pan Sussex safeguarding conference
A Pan Sussex Safeguarding Conference will be taking place this November and will be focusing on Safeguarding the Under 5’s. This will be a virtual event and details on how to request your place will be available shortly via the West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership monthly bulletin. Once more details are available we will also look to include them in this setting broadcast.
Learn about the changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Development Matters
In these courses you will explore the main changes to the EYFS and Development Matters and the implications for provision and practice. Places cost £15 per person.
Getting to Grips with the EYFS Changes from September 2021 Webinar for Childminders - Wednesday 8 September - 7.00pm to 9.30pm - EYT 21/1628
Understanding The Changes: The EYFS and Development Matters from September 2021 (for settings)
- Tuesday 21 September - 9.45am to 12.30pm - EYT 21/2110
- Tuesday 21 September - 1.15pm to 4.00pm - EYT 21/2111
- Thursday 23 September - 9.45am to 12.30pm - EYT 21/2112
- Thursday 23 September - 1.15pm to 4.00pm - EYT 21/2113
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.
We are carrying out a survey to help identify the current strengths and challenges within the sector and areas where we can focus support in order to make the biggest impact. Your views are important to us. Responses will be used to shape the training and support, including information, advice and guidance, going forward.
Have your say now - Early Years and Childcare Provider Survey – Summer 2021
Our networks are for those who lead practice in early years settings. They provide updates, information and guidance to support and improve practice and are free to attend.
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.
- Adur - 4 October – 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2074
- Arun – 29 September – 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2071
- Arun - 5 October – 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2076
- Chichester and Petworth - 5 October – 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2077
- Crawley – 02 November – 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2070
- Horsham - 5 October – 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2075
- Horsham - 6 October – 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2078
- Mid Sussex – 29 September – 10.00am to 12.00pm - EYT 21/2072
- Mid Sussex – 29 September – 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2073
- Worthing - 7 October – 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2079
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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#174 (Setting survey reminder, request for help with HAF venues, myth-busting from Ofsted on early years inspections, taster courses, paediatric first aid - blended)
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#173 (Apology, COVID-19 Outbreak Pack, Contact Tracing, New Testing Kits, Development Matters, Ofsted Inspection Handbook, HAF - request for help, Autumn term Extended FE claims, Stretched FE claims, Hungry Little Minds, Network Meetings)
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#172 (DfE data capture, Actions guidance update, EYC survey, CHIL-led Out Olympics, EYFS courses)
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#171 (DfE data capture, changes to government COVID-19 guidance, Early Help redesign - next steps, request for HAF venues, new staff wellbeing resource, two new courses for fostering wellbeing in the early years)
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#170 (Message from Director of Public Health, provider survey, FE autumn term estimate payments, letter from Ministers, new food safety resource, enhance your practice by learning Makaton)
- 31 Aug - West Sussex EYC provider survey closes
- 31 Aug - Deadline to complete termly Sufficiency Update
- 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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