Newsletter for Early Years and Childcare providers in West Sussex
#294 - Wednesday 29 November 2023
This week's newsletter includes:
- Final reminder - Renaming Free Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds
- Advanced notice - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Invitation to join Childcare Expansion Forum
- Final reminder - consultation on mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse
- Tiny Happy People Champion training
- Autumn Statement 2023
- New Traveller Education Support Early Years leaflet
- Ofsted annual report
- Early Years Training
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We are aware that the local authority funding rates for 2024/2025 have been published this morning. Please be aware the funding rates published are not what providers will receive as a base rate. Before we can share the local hourly rates, we need to apply our local funding formula and consult with providers via schools forum. Further information, including a timeline for next steps, will be provided via a special newsletter in the near future.
In newsletter #293 we let you know that we were seeking Early Years and Childcare providers views on renaming Free Entitlement in our literature and branding within West Sussex. This is a quick poll survey, with four options to choose from and takes less than two minutes to complete. Ensure you cast your vote via the Early Years and Childcare project page before the survey closes at 11.55pm on Friday 1 December 2023.
Please be advised that the Online Provider Portal will be unavailable Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 December whilst we upgrade our technology. 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.
In newsletter #293 we let you know we are looking for representatives to join the Childcare Expansion Provider Forum. This is your chance to have your voice heard and be involved in the expansion plan for West Sussex. You can find out more by reading the Childcare Expansion Provider Forum invitation. Successful applicants will receive £1,500 to cover the cost of being part of the Childcare Expansion Provider Forum (including, travel and expenses for attendance at meetings, as well as time for pre-meeting preparation and any agreed actions).
If you are interested please email a completed Expression of Interest form, but please ensure you read the full guidance and application criteria within the Childcare Expansion Provider Forum invitation. Deadline for applications is 6 December 2023
In newsletter #292 we let you know about the consultation launched by the Home Office to set out proposals for creating a mandatory reporting duty for child sexual abuse, and to test opinion on a small but significant number of undecided policy questions. The consultation is open until 30 November 2023. Please visit the consultation webpage to have your say.
In newsletter #281 we let you know about the THP Champion training that is available. The hour long virtual session will support your understanding of what THP has to offer and build your confidence in recommending the service to families that you work with. New dates have been released for December and are free to attend.
- Monday 4 December - 11.00am to 12.00pm
- Monday 4 December - 2.00pm to 3.00pm
You can book a place using the online booking form.
The Autumn Statement took place on Tuesday 22 November 2023. It covered:
- National Insurance Contributions (NICs) – reduction in NICs from 12% to 10% for employed people,
- National Living Wage – from April 2024 workers aged 21 and over will be entitled to the National Living Wage increasing from £10.18 to £11.44,
- State pension will increase by 8.5%, and
- Local Housing Allowance will increase.
A summary of the Autumn Statement can be found on the House of Commons Library website.
The government also announced that NICs for self-employed people will change. Currently:
- Class 2 NICs are payable for profits over £12,750 per year.
- Class 4 NICs are payable in addition to Class 2. At a rate of 9% on profits between £12,570 and £50,270, 2% on profits over £50,270.
From 6 April 2024 self-employed people with profits above £12,570 will no longer be required to pay Class 2 NICs. Class 4 NICs will continue but will reduce from 9% down to 8%. The Autumn Statement 2023: National Insurance Factsheet provides further information and clarity on changes to NICs.
PACEY and the Early Years Alliance have both released statements with their views on the announcements.
The TES team have been working closely with the Early Years and Childcare Team for some time, as the team knows how important it is for children to have the best start in the Early Years.
They have produced a leaflet to support Early Years practitioners, and this will be shared via the Early Years Network Meetings and Early Years and Childcare Advisors. The TES team are hoping to increase awareness of the vulnerabilities of Traveller children in the Early Years and encourage families to feel confident identifying as Travellers within their setting. This is particularly important at the time a child makes transitions from a setting into Reception.
A PDF copy of the leaflet can be downloaded here.
Ofsted has published their annual report for Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2022/23. The annual report looks back at findings from inspection and regulation during the last academic year, between September 2022 and August 2023.
Talking Clearly – Supporting the Development of Children’s Speech Sounds (Webinar) is a popular course, that will support your understanding of how speech and language skills develop in young children. You will learn a range of strategies and approaches which promote the development of attention and listening skills, clear speech and pre-literacy skills. The key word for this course is "talking" and costs £17 per person.
- Thursday 18 January – 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Working with Children who have English as an Additional Language (Webinar) looks at how a child’s first language needs to be represented in settings to ensure that family experiences are being reinforced and valued. A feeling of belonging contributes to a sense of worth and language is crucial in both. This session will encourage settings to work in partnership with families. It will also help settings identify and implement strategies so all children value and respect different languages and cultures. The key word for this course is "language" and costs £27 per person.
- Thursday 18 January – 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Nurturing Self-Regulation (Webinar) is suitable for all practitioners. It will enable you to understand the development of self-regulation in young children and gather ideas to support them to regulate their emotions. It will also help you recognise when to apply calming strategies. The key word for this course is "regulation" and costs £27 per person.
- Wednesday 28 February – 9.30am to 12.30pm
To book please log on to the Learning and Development Gateway and search for the course using the corresponding key word. If you experience any issues when booking your course, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk
Useful information
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.
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.
We have a range of online training available for you to access for your staff to ensure they have the most up to date information to support them in their role:
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#293 (Online Provider Poral downtime; Final reminder - submit Spring Term Estimates; Your view on renaming Free Entitlement for 2,3 and 4 year olds; Invitation to join the Childcare Expansion Forum; Early Years Capital Funding; Reminder - consultation on the mandatory reporting on child sexual abuse; Oral health promotion; Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub (KEYSPH) newsletter; Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP); Support from Early Years and Childcare Advisors (EYCAs) when working with parents/carers; Early Years Training - new payment system coming soon; Early Years Training - booking and cancellation reminder)
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#292 (Free Entitlement Spring Term estimates now open; 30 hour codes - Spring Term deadlines; Consultation reporting of child sexual abuse; Holiday Activity and Food winter bookings; Schools Forum Representative - a message from Claire Kenyon; Upcoming Changes to Early Years Childcare Funding - survey now closed; Right from the Start: Early Years and Childcare Strategy event; Practitioner Wellbeing Support resource; New projects launched evidence-informed programmes; Top three tips for preventing tooth decay - translated infographics; Early Years Training)
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#291 (Final reminder - Upcoming Changes to Early Years and Childcare Funding survey; Schools Forum Representative results; Updated Ofsted poster for parents; Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) exemptions guidance; Reminder Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP) - free professional development; Childminder Mentor Programme; Early Years Experts and Mentors programme; New Early Maths module added to Department for Education (DfE) Online Training; Best start in life - a research review for early years; Early Years Training)
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#290 (Weather warning; Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime; Reminder - Your Voice Matters - Upcoming Changes to Early Years Childcare Funding; Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) consultation response; Stronger Practice Hub - webinar; Ofsted webinars; Early Years Training)
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#289 (Safeguarding Focus - reducing parental conflict; Free Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds – Autumn Term payments; advanced notice - online provider portal downtime; reminder - Early Years Representative for Schools Forum ballot now open; Early Years Change of Age Range Consultation - West Sussex Schools; Childminder Network Meetings; Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Leader Networks; Early Years (EY) Education Recovery Programme – finding the support that is right for you; early years training)
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