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 July 2023
West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSSCP) - Neglect Questionnaire
To improve how neglect is recognised and responded to across West Sussex and to understand whether the neglect strategy is effective, the West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership (WSSCP) are undertaking a practitioner questionnaire. The information from this questionnaire will be used to inform the update of the neglect strategy. They welcome views and comments from all employees within early years settings, we therefore ask that you share this questionnaire with your staff team. The questionnaire is anonymous, but you are asked to confirm where you work and your role as this will enable them to understand and implement effective strategies across all services and roles.
You can find the WSCCP survey here. The deadline for completing this survey is 21 July 2023.
Reminder - Early Years Foundation Stage Consultation
We wanted to remind you of the Early Years Foundation Stage consultation launched by the Department for Education (DfE), as mentioned in Broadcast #269.
Foundation Years are holding online events to support the consultation with the next event being held on 6 July. You can find out more and sign up for the event here. You can also sign up to their newsletter or follow them on Twitter or Facebook to hear the latest information.
The deadline for the consultation is 26 July 2023 and you can respond to the consultation via the Citizen Space platform. If you have any further questions please email eyfs.consultation@education.gov.uk.
The National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership
Registration is now open for the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) starting this October.
The NPQEYL is free, flexible and designed by experts to help professional leaders and aspiring leaders develop in their career. The training will provide leaders with knowledge on how to support children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as helping them to lead effectively through:
- creating and implementing a vision and policies,
- improving staff recruitment, development, management and appraisal,
- marketing their setting, and
- working in partnership with parents and carers.
You can find more information about the NPQEYL and eligibility criteria here. The Foundation Years have also published a new blog post that shares individual learners experiences of the NPQEYL.
If you have any questions or need further support, please email eyerproject.mailbox@education.gov.uk.
Supporting Children's Mental Health and Well-Being in the Early Years
A group of professionals from multiple services within West Sussex have started meeting to review the support provided to families and young children to enable children to develop good mental health. The aim of the group is to look at what is working well and what can be improved when providing early support, improving outcomes for children and families.
If you are interested in getting involved by sharing your views or being part of a working group of early years practitioners, please email family.info.service@westsussex.gov.uk. We will collate the information and share your details with Suzanne Charlesworth from Kamelia Kids Day Nursery and Beach School, who will then contact you.
Early Years and Childcare Online Courses Available
We have a number of online, self-led courses to refresh your skills and knowledge throughout the summer. Our courses are aimed at all settings working with children under 5. Available courses include:
- Little Scientists Leading the Way,
- The EYFS Practice and SEND,
- Level 2 Food Hygiene, and
- Managing Performance Through Effective Appraisal.
Each course costs £10 and once purchased you have six months to complete it. To view all available courses, please see our online course brochure.
To book, please make a payment choosing the £10 rate. Next email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk to tell us:
- the course title,
- your name, and
- your settings name.
We will then send you the login details.
Portable Appliance Testing
Portable appliance testing is the examination of electrical appliances and equipment to make sure they are safe to use. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have put together some frequently asked questions about inspecting and testing this type of equipment.
HSE's leaflet Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments is free to download and sets out simple and sensible precautions you should take to prevent danger from portable electrical equipment. Their website also has further guidance on electrical safety at work.
- 07 Jul - Portal closes for Autumn Estimates
- W/C 17 Jul - Autumn term estimates payments due
- 31 Aug - Summer term Sufficiency deadline (all providers)
- 04 Sep - Portal opens for Autumn term Actuals
- 29 Sep - Portal closes for Autumn term Actuals
- W/C 23 Oct - Autumn term 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 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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#272 (Safeguarding focus: sharing safeguarding information to support transitions; possible business opportunity in Adversane; Foundation Years online event; new consultation - working together to safeguard children; Vodcast on the EYFS consultation; West Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership training; budgeting tips for the summer holidays; new guide from Health and Safety Executive)
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#271 (Free entitlement autumn term estimates open; 30 hour codes summer autumn deadline; childminder networks; reminder to submit - termly childcare provider update form; Screen in the early years - digital devices and online safety webinar; starting school questionnaire consultation; updated government guidance; transitions to school - transition summary template; retention of staff)
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#270 (Early Years Covid-19 Recovery Programme - autumn 2023; EYFS consultation - new supportive document; Free Entitlement funding rates 2023/24; New Post-Headcount/Exceptional Payment request form available; new consultation - changes to inspection complaints system; scam alert; hot weather advice and guidance; new oral health guidance; early years training)
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#269 (Free entitlement summer term headcount payments; early years foundation stage profile information and guidance; EYFS regulatory changes consultation; Ofsted code of conduct; early years training; the Summer Reading Challenge)
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#268 (Safeguarding focus: updated safeguarding letter for parents; Adverse Childhood Experiences - free online learning; Learning and Development Gateway help guides; A Better Start webinar; National Week of Play; new training module - supporting physical development; food safety and sensory food education webinar)
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