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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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Wednesday 18 August 2021
Updated COVID-19 Guidance
On 17 August, the government updated the following COVID-19 guidance documents for early years and childcare providers:
Managing coronavirus (COVID-19) in education and childcare settings
The updated guidance includes an updated contingency framework ahead of the autumn term, in line with wider government guidelines. This includes the new thresholds at which settings might consider seeking public health advice and taking further action to reinforce measures already in place, updates to the circumstances in which local health protection teams or directors of public health might recommend you introduce some additional measures, and annexed guidance for managing cases in settings from 23 August.
Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
The updates include removal of guidance on routine vaccines and teething. Information on local outbreaks, mixing, tracing close contacts, self-isolation and face coverings sections have also been updated.
Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
This guidance contains an added section on 'tracing and self-isolation' to explain that children under 18 and fully vaccinated adults do not need to self-isolate if they're identified by NHS Track and Trace as a contact.
Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
This guidance contains an added section on 'tracing and self-isolation' to explain that children under 18 do not need to self-isolate if they're identified by NHS Track and Trace as a contact.
What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during COVID-19
This guidance contains updated information about tracing and isolation and travelling to boarding schools.
COVID-19 Testing for Children and Young People
Following the changes to the government guidance on Monday 16 August, children and young people, including under the age of 5, who are close contacts of a positive case will be advised by Track and Trace that they should take a PCR test. If the PCR test is positive, they will need to self-isolate, as any other positive case.
Children who are aged under 5 years old who are identified as close contacts would only be advised to take a PCR test if the positive case is in their own household.
The COVID-19 testing: step-by-step guide (adults and children) states that an adult should carry out the test for a child under the age of 11. The adult should not do this test if they do not feel confident or if the child has any pain or asks to stop.
COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
Public Health England have produced a library of online resources on the COVID-19 vaccine. These resources can help you support staff in early years settings to access official information about the COVID-19 vaccine. They include:
- Posters
- Social media assets
- Video content
- Factsheets and an FAQ document
You can find the resources on the Public Health England website.
New Frequently Asked Questions
In addition to the last set of FAQs released on 16 July, the Department for Education (DfE) have developed a new FAQs document to answer any outstanding questions from the early years sector following the move to Step 4. The FAQs cover content including:
- Outbreak management
- Information for childminders
- Soft furnishings
You can remind yourself of the official guidance on the move to Step 4, watch the webinar on what it means for early years settings and read the earlier FAQs here.
If you have any further questions on the changes at Step 4, please send them to foundationyears@ncb.org.uk.
The DfE has also created a document with additional FAQS for childminders.
Maths Champions Project
Maths Champions aims to improve the maths skills of children in early years settings. This project will evaluate the impact of training Maths Champions within nurseries and for building the confidence and skills of the practitioners working with children. Maths Champions are supported to audit current practice and create and implement an action plan for supporting colleagues to improve maths practice throughout the year.
The programme has been developed by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), who support the Maths Champion with online CPD, including e-modules on early mathematical development, resources, and one-to-one advice. If you are interested in being involved in this project, please visit the Education Endowment Foundation website.
New wellbeing course booking now
Prioritising children’s wellbeing (half day webinar) explores the importance high levels of wellbeing in the early years and different strategies which impact it positively. The courses aims are linked with the Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) in the revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Suitable for all staff the cost is £25 per place. All times are 9.30am to 12.30pm.
- Thursday 23 September - EYT 21/1894
- Friday 15 October - EYT 21/2005
- Friday 19 November - EYT 21/1895
- Thursday 10 February - EYT 22/179
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.
Build your child development knowledge
Did you know that a reoccurring theme in recent Ofsted reports is a poor understanding of child development? Don’t let that happen to you! We have taster webinars developed to provide a basic underpinning knowledge of child development for each of the three key phases, ensuring practitioners know how to respond appropriately to children in each age range. You can attend individually or as a full day course. Each course costs £15.
What it means to be me - Infant (0-2 years) (taster webinar)
- Monday 27 September - 9.30am to 11.00am - EYT 21/2009
- Saturday 13 November - 9.30am to 11.00am - EYT 21/1870
- Tuesday 08 February - 7.00pm to 8.30pm - EYT 22/160
What it means to be me - Toddler (2-3 years) (taster webinar)
- Monday 27 September - 11.00am to 12.30pm - EYT 21/2008
- Saturday 13 November - 11.00am to 12.30pm - EYT 21/1871
- Tuesday 15 February - 7.00pm to 8.30pm - EYT 22/161
What it means to be me - Pre-schooler (3-4 years) (taster webinar)
- Monday 27 September - 1.30pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/2010
- Saturday 13 November - 1.30pm to 3.00pm - EYT 21/1872
- Thursday 03 March - 7.00pm to 8.30pm - EYT 22/162
To book, search for the course code on the Learning and Development Gateway. If you have any questions, please email
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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#176 (EYC providers survey, LADO awareness raising workshops, fire safety training, new or returning staff in starting in September, safeguarding training dates for the autumn term)
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#175 (Amendments to Development Matters, vodcast on implementing the revised EYFS, pan Sussex safeguarding conference, autumn learning and development networks, learn about changes to EYFS and Development Matters)
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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)
- 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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