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 10 May 2023
Reminder - New Post-Headcount/Exceptional Payment request form available
As Summer term Headcount Day has now passed, further to information in Broadcast #259, this is a reminder that our new Post Headcount/Exceptional Payment Request form can be found on our webpage (please go to section "5. Children requesting a place after headcount"). You do not need to set up an account to access and complete the form.
For Summer 2023 term and onwards, the new form will be the only way to request a Post-Headcount and/or Exceptional Payment. Please delete any old copies of the form you may have stored, as we will no longer be able to accept these.
Free Entitlement - administration fees and deposits
As set out in the WSCC Free Entitlement (FE) for 2, 3 and 4 Year Olds Provider Declaration 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024 (item 1.14) providers who offer Free Entitlement (FE) are able to charge registration/administration fees and deposits for children accessing sessions and services outside of their FE pattern of delivery and agreed FE hours. However, children accessing an FE only place must not be charged:
- a registration/administration fee,
- a non-refundable deposit,
- or be subject to other fees up front.
Providers are able to charge a refundable deposit for 3 and 4 year olds accessing FE only, (whether accessing Universal, Extended or both) which must be repaid shortly after Headcount. No deposits, either refundable or otherwise, are to be required for a 2 year old accessing an FE only place.
Following a review of a number of FE provider admissions policies and feedback from parents, many providers are applying 1.14 correctly. However, many admissions policies could either be clearer or make no mention that these fees do not apply to FE only places.
If your setting does charge administration/registration fees or deposits, please review your admissions policy and any relevant documents/websites. Your policies towards administration fees, deposits and FE-only places need to be clear and transparent.
Childminder grants scheme update
Following the announcement of the new start-up grant for childminders at the Spring Budget on 15 March 2023, the Department for Education have confirmed:
- The £600 grant for individuals who register with Ofsted.
- The £1200 grant for individuals who register with a childminder agency.
These grants will be payable to any individual who has completed their childminder registration on or after 15 March 2023. New childminders will be able to apply for the grant from Autumn 2023. How these payments will be administered and what the application process is are currently unknown. We will share updates via this broadcast once more information becomes available.
Transition Events
Next week, our Transition Events begin and we look forward to seeing you for these important meetings. These events are a crucial part of the universal transition process for children starting school in September 2023. These events give you the opportunity to share key information about all children moving from your setting to their chosen school.
At this meeting we recommend you discuss the children you feel will need support over and above the universal transition support process and arrange further contact to plan this process with the school. If you are providing support over and above the universal transition process, then this would be identified as a "supported" transition. If you are making a referral to the Specialist Advisory Teachers for SEND, then this would be identified as an "enhanced" transition. The information you share with schools must:
- be factually accurate and include any relevant information that enables the school to support the child and their family,
- include current and historic safeguarding information, and
- cover any additional support you have put in place to ensure a child thrives in your setting.
At this stage, the information shared will be an overview to support and plan the transition process. When detailed records are passed to the school towards the end of the Summer term more information can be shared between the setting and school.
When preparing for the Transition Events please ensure that you are using the updated transition event record for the 2023 events which is available on our website. We recommend that you complete a separate document for each school so that you can provide them with a copy.
We would be grateful if you can share information about children in your setting from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families, and children you have identified as needing a supported or enhanced transition. This can be by:
- sharing a copy of the transition event record
- or by sharing a separate list which includes your setting name, the names of the children and any relevant information e.g. Gypsy Roma Traveller family, supported/enhanced transition.
You can share this information with us by bringing an additional copy of the transition record and giving this to an Early Years and Childcare Advisor on the day. Alternatively, you can email a copy of your paperwork to the setting support mailbox for your area.
For further advice, guidance and copies of recommended paperwork please go to Transition guidance and Managing transitions (Tools for schools and settings).
Sharing learning from A Better Start
A Better Start works in partnership across the country to improve early years outcomes, with many projects focusing on supporting families through the cost of living crisis. You can visit their website for the latest news and reports.
Reports, articles and projects that may be of interest to settings:
Booktrust: How does reading benefit children?
A new resource by Booktrust sets out the wide range of benefits that reading provides for children, in a simple and accessible way. The resource has interactive links so that parents and early years practitioners can click on each core theme for key findings, detailed analysis and evidence.
Click here to find out more and download the resource.
National Week of Play 2023
This year’s National Week of Play, will run from 19 to 25 June. The focus is on how play can help build positive connections and break down barriers, whether cultural, generational, societal or otherwise.
Parents and providers who sign up to receive the National Week of Play resource pack will automatically be entered in to a prize draw. You can find out more here.
Infant Mental Health Lunchtime Learning Sessions
The National Children’s Bureau and the Public Health Agency Northern Ireland have organised a series of sessions on supporting infant mental health. These lunchtime learning sessions aim to provide an opportunity for shared learning and collaboration for those working to support babies, infants and their families.
Topics include:
- supporting first time parents,
- the impact of domestic abuse,
- the role of registered childminders, and
- using the Solihull approach to support infant mental health.
Sessions are free and taking place each month until November 2023. You can find a full list of sessions, dates, times and booking information here.
- 12 May - Portal closes for actuals submissions
- w/c 5 June - Actuals payments due
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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#264 (Reminder and guidance - summer term FE actuals; FE ethnicity information; pre-school vaccinations; early years development programme - registration open; A Better Start child development research; Foundation Years online event; supporting grandparents webinar; Early Education festival; safeguarding training - domestic abuse)
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#263 (Safeguarding focus: inadequate Ofsted gradings; possible business opportunity Poynings; claiming Disability Access Fund (DAF); toolkit to support mental health; professional development guide; sharing your coronation experience; paediatric first aid courses available to book)
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#262 (Business opportunity in Arundel; summer term FE actuals now open; reminder how to claim FE for Afghan families; article on integrated reviews; safeguarding training - domestic abuse)
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#261 (Committee run groups - free energy bill audit; IT maintenance; month of the military child; world daily mile day; early years in mind - neurodiversity guide and transition webinar)
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#260 (Free entitlement summer term estimate payments; new learning and development service; transition events; tax-free childcare webinar; theraplay workshop)
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