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 12 April 2023
Committee run groups - Utility Aid - free energy bill audit
Utility Aid is the UK's largest energy broker for the voluntary sector, working with over two thousand organisations. They are passionate about reducing energy costs, so you have more money to spend on your services.
Utility Aid offer a free bill audit service, where they will review your current contracts and make detailed recommendations based on your actual energy consumption. They will then find the supplier that can offer you the best deal. Complete this form to request a free Utility Aid bill audit.
IT Maintenance
Please be advised that the Online Provider Portal will be unavailable between 6.00pm – 10.00pm on Wednesday 19 April, as essential maintenance is taking place. All forms, 30 hours (extended Free Entitlement) eligibility checks, and funding summaries will be unavailable during this period. Please note that parents and carers will not be able to submit 2 year old Free Entitlement applications, and our Family Information Service website will also be unavailable to the public during this period.
Month of the Military Child - April 2023
This April, we will be celebrating and raising awareness of children from an Armed Forces background. The Month of the Military Child is an opportunity to identify and listen to children from an Armed Forces background, to learn about and understand their unique experiences.
There is more information on the Royal Air Force (RAF) Families Federation website.
World Daily Mile Day
In broadcast #256 we let you know about the Daily Mile. They are now holding the first ever World Daily Mile Day on Thursday 27 April 2023 and all early years settings are invited to join. The Daily Mile is a simple, yet effective initiative where children run, jog, wheel, or toddle for just fifteen minutes a day. You can sign up here and receive a free downloadable pack containing resources to help you celebrate on the day.
The Daily Mile Foundation are also inviting you to send in short video clips, no longer than thirty seconds, telling them why you're excited to take part in World Daily Mile Day. By sending The Daily Mile Foundation your videos, you are acknowledging that you have permission from the children’s legal guardians for videos to be shared across digital platforms.
Please send your videos to team@thedailymile.co.uk by 14 April. You must seek consent from children's legal guardians before sending in your videos.
Early Years In Mind - neurodiversity guide and transition webinar
A guide to neurodiversity in the early years has recently been published by the Anna Freud Centre, as part of their Early Years In Mind resources. This is written in collaboration with Early Years lecturer, trainer and SEND Specialist Kerry Murphy. This new guide is for professionals working with young neurodivergent children aged 5 and under, in an educational or community setting.
You can also register for their Early Years and the Transition to School webinar. The webinar is free and you can reserve your place here.
- Thursday 20 April - 4.30pm - 6.00pm
- 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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#260 Setting update 260 (Free entitlement summer term estimate payments; new learning and development service; transition events; tax-free childcare webinar; theraplay workshop)
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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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