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.
Newsletter for out of school childcare providers in West Sussex from West Sussex County Council
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Thursday 15 December 2022
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. 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.
With the cost of living crisis, 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.
Sufficiency updates - deadline approaching
This is a reminder to submit sufficiency information for your setting. The final deadline for submission for the autumn term is 31 December 2022.
Sufficiency information refers to information on the number of places your setting can offer and information on current vacancies. This supports us in our planning to ensure that families in West Sussex can access the childcare that they need and to identify where there may be gaps in provision so we can work to address these as needed.
Sufficiency information is required from all types of providers including out of school care provision, breakfast clubs and holiday playschemes once per term. Step by step guidance on submitting your Sufficiency information on the Online Provider Portal can be found here. We have also created a guidance video which you can view if you require further guidance on how to submit.
Please note that the termly submission of Sufficiency information is a requirement for all providers and is needed to allow us to display your setting’s information on the Family Information Service website. Failure to submit can lead to your setting’s removal from the publicly available list.
Reminder: Expression of Interest to offer Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) places for 2023
The Expression of Interest is now open and will close on 8 January 2023. For more information and to place an expression of interest please click here. If you would like to discuss your bid before you submit, or if you have any general enquiries, you can email haf@westsussex.gov.uk.
Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme - benefits of Ofsted registration
If you are a HAF provider, considering offering HAF places, or if you are not currently required to register with Ofsted, you will find a useful video which will explain how to register with Ofsted as well as the benefits to your business and the families using your setting.
HAF bitesize: Ofsted registration benefits and considerations
Safe to play launch
As part of our safe clubs for children campaign West Sussex County Council is becoming a ‘safe to play’ local authority. Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and this also applies in the world of sport. This campaign has been designed specifically for the sports sector to help raise awareness of how abuse can occur through sport.
The ‘safe to play’ campaign is run by the National Working Group (NWG) who are a national charity based in Derby. They have recently been funded by Sport England to help raise awareness of how children can be abused through sport and other physical activities such as dance and drama. You can visit the NWG safeguarding in sport website to find out more.
The Safe to Play campaign has been developed in partnership with safeguarding colleagues at the Lawn Tennis Association, and the NWG have utilised augmented reality technology to embed short safeguarding videos into a small credit card sized resource that is aimed at parents, children and sports coaches. The videos give vital information to all about how to keep children safe whilst playing or participating in their chosen activities. You can visit the tackling CSE in sports website for more information.
Supporting families with childcare costs
One of the main challenges highlighted by families in West Sussex around accessing childcare is affordability. We are of course aware that finances for providers are also incredibly difficult in these tough economic times. West Sussex County Council will continue to share the very real challenges our providers are facing with the Department for Education.
However, one way you could support families is by ensuring your setting is signed up to offer Tax-Free Childcare and ensuring that parents are made aware of the benefits of utilising this, if they are eligible. If you haven't already, you can register here to help families save money on their childcare costs.
Signposting families to Childcare Choices can also help families see if they are eligible for any other funding to support them with childcare costs. Being able to confidently have these conversations with families can help with the take up of places as parents can see the overall cost to them once the government support is included.
Providers can use the Childcare Choices Partner toolkit for resources to help communicate details of this scheme to parents.
Safeguarding Reminders
If you are worried about your safety, or the safety of a child it’s important that you tell someone. If a child is in immediate danger - dial 999.
The links below will take you to information that will tell you who to get in touch with and how.
- If you are worried about a child or young person and you would like to refer a child or young person visit our professionals page.
- If you are worried about the safety of an adult, see the Raise a Concern page on the West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board website.
- If you have a concern about a member of staff, then please contact the Local Area Designated Officer: Email: LADO@westsussex.gov.uk or phone: 0330 222 6450
Please remember that you must not commence an internal investigation before consulting with the LADO.
- 31 DEC - Sufficiency for Autumn term deadline
- 8 JAN 2023 - HAF expression of interest deadline
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
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#1 (Welcome to the first edition of our Out of School Newsletter - Introducing the team; Family Information Service; Early Years and Childcare Advisors; Holiday Activity and Food programme; HAF funding and providers; expression of interest for 2023)
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