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Broadcast for Early Years and childcare providers in West Sussex from West Sussex County Council
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Wednesday 18 January 2023
Important change to the Inclusion Funding Process
Currently, following applications for Inclusion Funding, an Early Years and Childcare Adviser (EYCA) arranges to visit the setting to conduct an observation of the child to support the funding application.
Going forward, from the February funding panel, EYCAs will visit the setting after panel, should you be successful in being awarded Inclusion Funding. They will conduct an 'Inclusion Funding Review' during this visit, looking at the child's Action Plan, Individual Plan and observe/discuss the impact of the funding on removing barriers to inclusion.
These visits will take place the term following the panel.
- Spring Term Panel (February) 2023 – visits to be conducted in the Summer Term 2023.
- Autumn Term Panel (June) 2023 – visits to be conducted in the Spring Term 2023.
Applications for Inclusion Funding will now rely on settings completing effective and detailed Action Plans for Inclusion. There is full written guidance and a short video explaining how to complete the Action Plan.
Please note: should a setting be found to not be using Inclusion Funding to effectively support an individual child, an EYCA will arrange a second support visit and it may result in the setting having their Inclusion Funding removed.
Business Planning
In these difficult financial times, business planning and cash flow forecasting have never been more important. To support you in this planning, here are some considerations for you to think about:
- Do you know what your break-even figure is? Is this worked out term by term or over the academic year, if at all? Is this information used to help set any fees for the setting?
- Do you know what your usual trends are across the year? For example 60% occupancy in autumn, 75% occupancy in Spring and 85% occupancy in summer. How does your financial planning take these trends into consideration and make sure you have enough funds in the bank during quieter periods?
- Have the trends changed looking back on historical data? For example pre- and post-lockdown.
- Do you know what % of children on average are eligible for the Universal FE, who also receive Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)? Are you able to evidence how EYPP is spent and the impact it has on children's outcomes?
- Do you know what % of children eligible for Universal FE, on average, are also eligible for the Extended FE?
- Do you set maximum numbers for different age groups? Or are you flexible depending on spaces and staffing?
- Do families use Tax Free Childcare to help with their fees?
If you have any current or anticipated sustainability concerns, you can request support via the Targeted Setting Support process.
Department for Education - free leadership training for leaders of PVI nurseries and other early year settings
The National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) is a free, high quality and evidence-based leadership course provided through the Department for Education. It is designed for current and aspiring nursery leaders, childminders, and leaders of school-based nurseries to help develop the knowledge and skills to lead a setting and boost early years development to ensure every child has the best start in life. Find out more by reading the blog on the Foundation Years website.
Early Years Professional Development Programme - places now available for February 2023
The Early Years Professional Development Programme is now accepting applications for the latest phase of the training, beginning February 2023.
The flexible study programme offers a high quality CPD programme across England, and is facilitated through online self-study and regular facilitated webinars. Areas covered include:
- early communication and language,
- early mathematics, and
- personal, social and emotional development (PSED).
The training is designed for childminders and early years practitioners, qualified to Level 3 or above, who regularly work with disadvantaged children aged 2-4 (*eligibility criteria applies). To find more information on eligibility and how to apply please visit the website. Early years practitioners should discuss with their line managers before applying.
Training to Support Children with Hearing Impairments
The National Deaf Children's Society offer a range of training and networking opportunities for early years providers, including some accredited training. You can find out more here. For additional advice and guidance please see their information for professionals in early education on their website.
EYFS Leaders Networks
These two hour, face to face or online sessions are an opportunity to network with other local providers, hear about the latest local and national EYFS news and discuss current and pertinent issues with colleagues. Each session runs from 1.00pm to 3.00pm and they are fully funded by West Sussex County Council, so are free to attend.
- Friday 3 February - EYT 23/519 - (Any area) – Online
- Monday 6 February - EYT 23/389 (Arun) - The Wickbourne Centre, Littlehampton
- Monday 6 February - EYT 23/407 ( Mid Sussex) - Sidney West Centre, Burgess Hill
- Tuesday 7 February - EYT 23/421 ( Crawley) - Broadfield Family Hub
- Wednesday 8 February - EYT 23/386 (Adur and Worthing) - Adur East Family Hub, Kingston Buci
- Wednesday 8 February - EYT 23/404 (Chichester) - County Hall, Chichester
- Friday 10 February - EYT 23/405 ( Horsham) - County Hall North, Horsham
To book, simply visit the Learning and Development Gateway and search for the session by entering the EYT code.
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
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 consult the guidance to check when to 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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#248 (Final reminder - starting school applications; checking eligibility for 2 year old FE; transition events; early years training)
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#247 (Mandatory Census 2023 and Free Entitlement actuals; FE funding rates 23/24; last chance to apply for HAF funding; school applications deadline 15/01/23; DfE childminder mentor programme; learning and development gateway replacement; level 3 qualification consultation; new training courses this term)
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#246 (Safeguarding focus: staff supervision and LADO e-learning module. Early years census 2023 - advance notice; early years training update - January courses)
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#245 (Scarlet Fever management webinar; Starting School applications - one month to go; checking eligibility for 2 year old FE; DfE childminder mentor programme; early years equality - campaigning for better funding; setting fees; slides from network meetings)
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#244 (Rise in Scarlet Fever, Level 3 cold weather alert; Spring Term FE claims - 30 hour code deadline reminder; sufficiency update deadline approaching; consultation on level 3 early years educator qualification; flu vaccination information for early years providers; proposed changes to Worthing primary school places)
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