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 5 April 2023
Free Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds – Summer term Estimate Payments
Thank you for submitting your Summer term Estimate claims and completing the Provider Declaration 2023/2024 online form. For all submissions that returned their Provider Declaration form by the deadline, and where there were no outstanding queries, estimate payments were released this week (week commencing 3 April 2023). Please allow three to five days for payment to reach your bank account.
You can log back on to the Online Provider Portal to view your payment summary. Please refer to the Estimate Help Guide for step by step guidance on how to do this. If you have any queries, please email free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk.
New Learning and Development Service
We can now provide an update on the new Learning and Development Service (LDS) that has replaced the Learning and Development Gateway, as mentioned in broadcast #247. The LDS is now live and the Learning and Development Gateway is no longer accessible.
To access the LDS for the first time or create a new user account, click here. Existing users should have been updated by email and do not need to create a new account.
Transition Events May 2023 - booking now available
These events are for settings and schools to meet and discuss children who will be starting school in September 2023. It is an opportunity to share key information that will enable you to plan the transition process. Effective transitions are important for children’s emotional well-being and achievement, and planning for these transitions is fundamental to effective early years practice.
A full list of event dates and general information about transition events is available. A list of schools attending particular events will soon be available here.
Please book using the new Learning and Development Service and search 'transition' to locate the events. There is no charge for attendance.
Tax-Free Childcare - a back to basics webinar for all activity and childcare providers
This 90 minute webinar, run by Hempsalls, aims to raise awareness of Tax-Free Childcare. It is funded by HMRC and free to attend. More information, including the agenda, can be found in this flyer. To book your place, please use this link.
- Wednesday 3 May 2023 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Theraplay informed workshop for Early Years settings and staff
The Virtual School has released a new date for their free Theraplay informed workshop. The workshops are for Early Years Practitioners and based on Theraplay activities and principles. The goal of Theraplay is to enhance attachment, self-esteem and trust in others through joyful engagement. This three hour workshop will provide practitioners with an overview of the core concepts of Theraplay, practical activities based on the four dimensions of Theraplay and how to incorporate Theraplay activities in their setting. The completion of the course will enable practitioners to carry out Theraplay informed activities within their setting. Please be prepared to join in and play.
- Tuesday 9 May 2023 - 9.00am - 12.00pm - Crawley Library RH10 6HG
Please book via the new Learning and Development Service and search 'Theraplay Informed Workshops for Settings' to locate the course. If you have any questions please contact Emma Hoare via email Emma.hoare@westsussex.gov.uk.
- w/c 3 April - Payments due for Summer Estimates
- 14 Apr - Spring term Sufficiency deadline (all providers)
- 4 May - Summer term Headcount Day
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 EYCA team 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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#259 (Setting update 259 (Safeguarding focus: sexual harm practice guidance; new post-headcount exceptional payment request form; education endowment foundation new resources available; tiny happy people; SEND and inclusion newsletter)
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#258 (Final reminder - FE summer estimates; provider declaration form reminder for existing FE providers; 30 hours eligibility checker guidance; committee and charitable settings guidance; childminder assistants; TFC new HMRC mailbox; spring network presentations; HAF reminder)
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#257 (Budget announcement; healthy child programme; experts and mentors programme; Ofsted priorities 2023; national day nurseries training)
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#256 (Free entitlement summer estimates open; 30 hour codes summer deadline; HAF bookings now open; HAF expressions of interest 2023; updated Ofsted web pages; EYPDP phase three; home learning environment resources and campaign; the daily mile; new evidence based resources; DfE new early years child development training)
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