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
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Wednesday 15 December 2021
As we approach Christmas, there are still many uncertainties on how COVID-19 will impact us in the next few months. The work, effort and commitment from yourselves and your staff through this period has been outstanding, placing children at the centre of your decision-making.
For those who are able, we hope that you can spend time with your own families and friends and take a break. It is not always easy to do this, however your health and wellbeing is important, as is the time you need to spend with your own families.
We appreciate how incredibly tough this year has been on children, families, staff and managers. We also know that winter, Christmas and the festive holidays can be a really difficult time for some and you can find lots of information, support and links to further help online at www.westsussex.gov.uk/YourMindMatters.
From all within the Family Information Service and Early Years and Childcare team, we wish you a restful and relaxing Christmas and thank all the early years and childcare providers for the significant work you have been doing over the last year. There will be a final broadcast for 2021 next week, on Wednesday 22 December, with a break between Christmas and New Year.
Important: Early Years Census 2022 - advance notice (FE providers only)
As you may know, every year we carry out the Early Years Census for the Department for Education (DfE). The Early Years Census is crucial because it is used to calculate the amount of funding West Sussex County Council receives for free early education.
The Early Years Census is mandatory for all Free Entitlement (FE) providers claiming funding for at least one child in Spring Term 2022.
Providers will need to do the following tasks via the Online Provider Portal between 4-28 January 2022:
For your information: Headcount day is Thursday 20 January 2022.
Please note, if you are registered to provide FE but are not claiming for any children in Spring Term, you do not need to complete the Early Years Census.
Further information will be communicated via the weekly broadcast email in January 2022.
DfE Data Capture
The Department for Education (DfE) have been considering the impact of ending the Early Years (EY) attendance data collection after December due to the time and resource pressures on Local Authorities and providers, attendance levels stabilising, and the quality of data provided.
We appreciate the amount of work it has taken for you to keep completing the attendance data collection to date and we would like to thank you all for your support since collection began in April 2020.
On the 14 December, the DfE published the data collected on Thursday 9 December along with a statement confirming that they are now ending this EY data collection and publication.
However, in the event that the COVID-19 pandemic results in substantial changes to guidance for the education sector, for example if schools close but EY settings remain open, or if EY settings close, then the data collection may have to be resumed.
COVID-19 Guidance update
The government guidance has been updated to reflect that daily rapid testing is now recommended for contacts of COVID-19.
From 14 December 2021, adults who are fully vaccinated and all children and young people aged between 5 and 18 years and 6 months identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 are strongly advised to take a lateral flow test every day for seven days and continue to attend their setting as normal, unless they have a positive test result. Daily testing of close contacts applies to all contacts who are:
- Fully vaccinated adults – people who have had two doses of an approved vaccine.
- All children and young people aged 5 to 18 years and 6 months, regardless of their vaccination status.
- People who are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons.
- People taking part, or have taken part, in an approved clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you test positive using a lateral flow test, you should self-isolate and get a PCR test. Children under 5 years are exempt from self-isolation and do not need to take part in daily testing of close contacts. The full guidance can be found here.
Reminder - Length of Spring Term
As set out in the WSCC FE Provider Declaration 1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022, providers who offer FE over term time only (38 weeks), Spring Term 2022 will be funded for the usual 12 weeks.
Due to Easter falling later this year, the school term is 13 weeks long. However, this does not mean that you are missing a week's worth of funding as the school year is 39 weeks long, which is then reduced to 38 weeks after the five INSET days are taken across the year. FE is based on 38 weeks of funding, with any INSET days to fall outside of your FE offer.
This 'additional' week in the school term usually falls in the Summer Term, and so the standard advice applies that as this week is not included in your FE offer you can do the following:
- Choose to remain open for the additional week. You are able to charge parents your standard rates for their child to attend during this week, however you would not charge if the parent did not want their child to attend during this time.
- Choose to only open for the 12 weeks you will be funded for. Most settings would choose to close early for Easter, so that they have a 3 week break, but you can choose which week you decide to close. However, you must be open during headcount/census week which is w/c 17/01/22 in order to be able to claim at Headcount.
Starting School Applications - one month to go
The deadline for applying for a school place is Saturday 15 January. Please make sure that the families who should be applying for a school place for their child, are aware of the deadline and complete their application on time. Please also check that families are aware that completing the Starting School Questionnaire is not the same as applying for a school place and that they have also completed their school application before the deadline.
To apply for a school place, or for more information on applying, please signpost parents to www.westsussex.gov.uk/admissions and read the Starting School Leaflet and the application checklist.
February 2022 Half Term Activities – Expressions of Interest now open
Childcare providers are invited to submit Expressions of Interest to support and be part of the February Half-Term Activities programme. This will focus on linking Half-Term activities with catch-up learning programmes, for children eligible for pupil-premium, giving extra opportunities to children of school age. The aim is to offer:
- A varied range of opportunities that bring learning to life in new ways.
- Enriching activities showing clear links to age-appropriate subjects and set curriculum.
- Links to the core subjects Writing; Maths; Reading and are incorporated into activities.
- Clear methods to define learning goals for children and demonstrate progress within the duration of the programme.
- Inclusive programme that provides for children of all abilities including those with SEND.
To submit an Expression of Interest please complete the online questionnaire. The closing date is midnight 6 January 2022. If you have any questions please email HAF@westsussex.gov.uk.
SEND and Inclusion Newsletter
The SEND and Inclusion newsletter for December 2021 can be found here.
Exploring Theory of Mind (Online)
Tamsin Grimmer is an experienced Early Years Consultant. She has improved outcomes for children as an Early Years Consultant for two local authorities and worked as an Area SENCo, teacher, lecturer, and childminder. Tamsin will be delivering Exploring Theory on Mind training during the Spring Term.
This half day course will explore Theory of Mind and the practitioner’s role in supporting children to develop it. This course is linked with the new Early Years Foundation Stage Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED) aims, SEND practice and self-regulation. The Learning Objectives of this training are:
- Understand how children develop Theory of Mind in the context of their social and emotional development.
- Consider how to support children in this development through positive relationships and enabling environments.
- Link Theory of Mind with the prime area of PESD.
The cost is £25 per place.
- Tuesday 25 January 2022 – 7.00pm to 8:30pm – EYT22/177
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.
Network meetings in Spring 2022 are running as online webinars. Follow a link to book a place via the Learning and Development Gateway:
Early Years Learning and Development Network
- Tuesday 25 January 2022 - 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 22/224
- Wednesday 2 February 2022 - 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 22/227
- Thursday 3 February 2022 - 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 22/550
INCO SENCO Network
- Tuesday 8 March 2022 - 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 22/221
- Wednesday 9 March 2022 - 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 22/222
- Thursday 10 March 2022 - 1.00pm to 3.00pm - EYT 22/556
Childminder Event
To allow our Early Years and Childcare Advisors to focus their support to where it is most needed, we ask that you check for information online before you contact us.
COVID-19 guidance
Other information and guidance (WSCC)
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Practice support (EYFS, Diversity and Inclusion, health and wellbeing, transitions, legislation, regulation and safeguarding)
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Supporting families in your childcare setting (includes CLaWBA, integrated reviews)
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Tools for schools and settings (supporting the inclusion of all children in early years)
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Business support (Free Entitlement, marketing, finance, recruitment, advertising)
- Training and qualifications
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Network meetings/events (Learning and development, INCO SENCO, business and welfare)
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Online Provider Portal (submission dates, help guides)
For help to access information
To request additional support for your setting
All early years providers must follow a new reformed EYFS framework from September 2021. View the new framework to see how the changes affect you, and access updated Learning Journal materials online.
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 ' What happens if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in an educational setting' flowchart, and inform Ofsted.
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.
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#193 (DfE data capture, fake NHS emails, EYPDP, FE spring term estimate payments, 30 hour codes reminder, spring term networks, food safety: choking prevention, HAF for Christmas, learn - explore - debate, save the date - EY annual conference, calling all superheroes)
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#192 (DfE Data capture, new measures in response to Omicron variant, arrangements for COVID-19 testing over the Christmas break, reminder about CO2 monitors, school readiness integrated review)
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#191 (COVID-19 - Christmas Activities, FE - Spring Term Estimates, Safeguarding Poster, Holiday Activities and Food Programme, Early Years Professional Development Programme, Fire Safety training, Early Years Special Interest Group, Working with children with EAL, Calling All Superheroes)
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#190 (DfE data capture, new online provider portal guidance web pages, ministerial letter to parent and carers of children and young people with SEND, safer recruitment, EYPDP, a look at springtime crafts)
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#189 (DfE data capture, change of time for these emails, FE spring term estimates open, transition dates, area inclusion and improvement dates)
- 4 Jan - Spring term Actuals submissions open (FE providers)
- 4 Jan - Annual Early Years Census submissions open (FE providers)
- 15 Jan - Applications close for starting school places (Primary, infant, junior)
- 20 Jan - Free Entitlement headcount day for Spring Term
- 28 Jan - Spring term Actuals submissions close (FE providers)
- 28 Jan - Annual Early Years Census submissions close (FE providers)
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