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Broadcast for Early Years and childcare providers in West Sussex from West Sussex County Council
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Wednesday 19 January 2022
Self-isolation for those with COVID-19 can end after five full days following two negative LFD tests
As of Monday 17 January, people with COVID-19 in England can end their self-isolation after five full days, as long as they test negative on day five and day six, using lateral flow tests. For more information, please see the government update.
COVID-19 Guidance for Childminders
On 13 January, the government updated additional actions for childminders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic outlining what childminders should do when someone they live with has COVID-19 symptoms, tested positive, or is self-isolating as a close contact.
Information for all education and childcare settings on good ventilation
Good ventilation is important in reducing transmission of COVID-19, but it does not mean that children or pupils need to be cold. When CO2 monitors indicate good ventilation, there is no need to keep windows fully open at all times. Opening windows regularly for 10 minutes, or keeping them open just by a small amount, can still reduce the airborne risk from COVID-19 substantially compared to spaces with no fresh air.
The Department for Education has recently published a blog on the importance of ventilation that you may find useful. For more tips on keeping inside spaces warm, see the latest blog on the Education Hub.
Reminder on the temporary suspension of confirmatory PCR tests in education and childcare settings
As a reminder, you are only asked to take a follow up PCR test after a positive Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test if you:
- wish to claim the Test and Trace Support Payment,
- have been advised to take a PCR test because you are in a clinically vulnerable group,
- have been advised to do so as part of a research or surveillance programme,
- have received a positive day two LFD test after arriving in to the UK.
If anyone has any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, they are strongly advised to take a PCR test, not an LFD test. If someone with symptoms has already taken an LFD test for any reason and the result is positive, they do not need to take a follow-up PCR test.
Early Years Representative for the Schools Forum
Following many years of service, the Early Years Private Voluntary and Independent (PVI) representative, Helen Fletcher-Reilly has tendered her resignation. As such, we are looking to all Registered Providers of the Free Entitlement to early years provision, to seek a replacement representative plus a substitute to serve on the Schools Forum as from 1 March 2022.
Representation from Early Years is important to ensure the views of the sector are taken into account in decision making. This includes discussions around Early Years funding and support from the Local Authority.
Further information is included in this letter. We thank you in advance for your interest.
Reminder of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) flexibilities for early years settings
The government considers COVID-19 to be an exceptional circumstance in which the staff-to-child ratios set out in the EYFS can temporarily be changed, if necessary, for example to respond to COVID-related workforce absences. In all circumstances, settings remain responsible for maintaining the quality of care, safety and security of the children in your setting.
When making decisions about how to respond to staff absences, settings should consider the impact on staff, children and families. Settings should also consider the impact that previous COVID-19 measures have had on children's access to care and education when considering changes to staff ratios. Where settings choose to reduce the number of children attending rather than changing ratios, they should consider the guidance for which children should be considered vulnerable as well as the criteria for those considered critical workers.
Settings should consider the steps they will take if they have cases of COVID-19 in their setting and be clear and transparent on the measures so that parents and staff understand the actions you plan to take. Where reducing the number of places for children impacts on their access to their Free Entitlement hours, or where you are considering closure of your setting, you must contact the Family Information Service. If you are temporarily unable to offer a child their usual Free Entitlement hours, you should offer parents those hours at another point wherever possible (please see section 4.33 of the FE Provider Declaration).
Important reminder: Mandatory Early Years Census 2022 and Free Entitlement Spring term Actuals (FE providers only)
A reminder that the Online Provider Portal (OPP) is open for you to complete the following tasks:
- Your annual Early Years Census form
- Submit your Spring Term FE actuals claim
Please note, the annual Early Years Census form is mandatory for all Free Entitlement (FE) providers claiming funding for at least one child in Spring Term 2022. 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. However, all FE providers must submit Spring term actuals data. Please read this Important information - Census 2022 letter for further information.
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Headcount day: Thursday 20 January 2022.
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Deadline for submission: Friday 28 January 2022.
Help and Guidance:
Extended FE claims:
In order for a 30 hours code to be valid for Spring term:
- Parents must have applied for, or reconfirmed their 30 hour code before 31 December 2021.
- The code ‘start date’ must be before 1 January 2022 and the ‘Grace period end date’ covers the Spring term 2022.
To check a code is valid for Spring term use the online eligibility checker and view our helpful video guide for step by step guidance. Please note, WSCC cannot fund without a valid code. If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the Family Information Service on 01243 777807 and ask for the Specialist Team, or e-mail free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk.
Early Years Pupil Premium:
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) claims must be submitted at the same time as your Free Entitlement actuals data via the OPP. In order for a child’s EYPP eligibility to be checked, you must submit the following information as part of your actuals claim:
- enter Parent/Carer details,
- and tick the consent box under the ‘Parent/Carer details’ section of the funding claim.
Please follow the FE actuals guidance which covers how to claim EYPP. For further information regarding EYPP and identifying eligible children, refer to the document 'Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)' on our Free Entitlement web page.
Children who are eligible for EYPP will automatically also qualify for the deprivation supplement.
Disability Access Fund:
You can claim the Disability Access Fund (DAF) for 3 and 4 year old children who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), if they are receiving Free Entitlement funding. The DAF is a one off payment of £615 per year for each eligible child. Please note, providers can claim for a second DAF payment three terms after the initial DAF payment was received. The DAF payment will increase to £800 from 1 April 2022.
You must e-mail a copy of the DLA award letter and signed Parent Declaration form to free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk and follow the FE actuals guidance which covers how to submit a DAF claim: www.westsussex.gov.uk/ecsportal. For further information refer to the document 'Disability Access Fund (DAF)' on our Free Entitlement web page.
Early Years Single Funding Formula:
As per Setting Update #195 (22 December) we are working hard to finalise the funding formula which will allow us to confirm the funding rates for the next financial year. This follows the publication of the 2022/23 Local Authority allocations on 16 December. The funding formula will need to be agreed by the Schools Forum on 3 February 2022 and will subsequently feed into your indicative budgets which will be sent out following that. We will continue to keep you updated through this broadcast.
New government resource to help keep children safe from sexual abuse
It is estimated that one in ten children in England and Wales will experience sexual abuse before they turn 16. That is equivalent to three in every classroom.
Most children won’t tell anyone at the time of their abuse. That is why it is important for everyone to know how to spot the potential signs of child sexual abuse and where to go for support if concerned. The government’s new Stop Abuse Together website can help you learn to spot the signs, and know when it’s right to reach out for more support.
If you feel something is not right, you can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. No matter what has happened, there is always someone who will listen to you and take what you say seriously. All children have a right to be safe from sexual abuse, and we all have a role to play in keeping them safe. Let’s stop abuse together.
A Look at Springtime Crafts – Embedding genuine creativity
This engaging and motivating two hour webinar will provide you with a refreshing array of spring time resource ideas and pedagogical approaches which ensure that children’s individuality and developmental needs are central to planning and provision.
Spring festivals from a range of cultures will be briefly outlined and you will look at why and how children engage in making cards and other items to mark these occasions. Professional responses to pressures and expectations from parents will be explored as part of this training. The cost is £15 per place.
- Tuesday 25 January 2022 – 7.00pm to 9.00pm – EYT22/319
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.
- NOW - Spring term Actuals submissions open (FE providers)
- NOW - Annual Early Years Census submissions open (FE providers)
- 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)
- 31 Mar - Spring term Sufficiency deadline (all providers)
Planned maintenance of Online Provider Portal (OPP) and websites:
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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Special Broadcast (14 Jan): New guidance for the Early Years Census 2022 (Information for Free Entitlement providers)
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#197 (Update from DfE - EYFS flexibility, update to COVID-19 guidance, temporary suspension of confirmatory PCR tests, UKHSA change in opening hours, additional relief grants, DfE pulse survey, school admissions deadline this weekend, half-term activities extended deadline, meeting the needs of every child - free webinar)
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#196 (Updated guidance, mandatory early years census 2022 and FE spring term actuals, starting school applications - 10 days to go, welcome to Grace Fairbourn)
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#195 (2021 re-cap, Updated guidance for childminders, Fire Safety for Early Years providers)
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#194 (EY Census, DfE data capture, COVID-19 guidance update, length of spring term, starting school applications - one month to go, February half- term activities, SEND and inclusion newsletter, exploring theory of mind)
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