Newsletter for Early Years and Childcare providers in West Sussex
#5/2024 - Wednesday 31 January 2024
This week's newsletter includes:
- Safeguarding focus - NSPCC case reviews on parental substance use
- Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Final call - Expansion of Childcare offers survey
- National Early Years Recruitment Campaign
- Increase in measles cases in Europe
- Transition for Children starting school in September 2024
- How parents apply for eligibility codes
- Early Years provider emails hacked
- Early Years in Mind
- Early Years in Mind speech and language webinar recording
- Cancellations and substitutions - Early Years Training
- Early Years Training
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NSPCC has published a new learning from case review briefing on parental substance use. The briefing looks at case reviews published between 2022 and 2023 involving parental substance use problems. Many of the learning and recommendations contained in the serious case reviews repeat lessons from numerous other reviews. The reviews emphasise that professionals need to conduct child-centred assessments and continue to reassess the potential risks that children face in households experiencing problems with substance use.
As an Early Years provider, you may notice signs that children are, or potentially could be, exposed to situations involving substance misuse. Providers have a duty to act on these concerns and use their professional curiosity to identify the appropriate course of action to keep the child safe. If you are unsure, you can get advice by contacting the Integrated Front Door but don't ignore your concerns.
You can read a summary of the case reviews on the NSPCC Learning web page.
Please be advised that the Online Provider Portal will be unavailable Wednesday 31 January at 1.00pm to Thursday 1 February at 11.59pm 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 02/2024 we let you know about our survey looking for views from all parents and carers about how they currently use childcare, and how this may continue to change in the future. This information will support us to map the potential demand for the new childcare offers. The survey closes on Friday 2 February and we would really appreciate your support in sharing it with parents and carers in your setting.
You can ask parents to visit yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/family-information-service to have their say.
The Department for Education (DfE) are launching an Early Years recruitment campaign on Friday 2 February. The campaign will promote Early Years and Childcare careers by highlighting the huge difference Early Years professionals make to young children and how rewarding working in the sector can be.
The campaign will have its own dedicated website. This will direct potential applicants to use Department for Work and Pension's Find a job platform. The DfE are asking providers to list any current or upcoming roles in their setting on Find a Job ahead of the campaign launch. This is a great opportunity to advertise current vacancies in your setting and support your recruitment needs. The DfE have developed instructions to help you add your current vacancies to the platform. Providers should use the term ‘early years’ in the title of their job adverts and select ‘Education jobs’ for the job category.
In recent news it has been highlighted that cases of measles are increasing across Europe. Routine vaccinations play a huge part in protecting us all against a range of unpleasant and often serious childhood diseases, including measles. Older children and adults who have not had both doses of the MMR vaccine are also at risk of measles and it is never too late to catch up on missed vaccinations. If you or any of your staff are not sure if you have had the MMR vaccine, you can contact your GP. You can visit nhs.uk/MMR to find out more.
You can also visit westsussex.gov.uk/campaigns/childhood-immunisations and use the parent resources section to share important information with parents/carers in your setting. Public Health have also developed a parent message you can use in written communications with families. If anyone has any concerns about symptoms, please signpost them to visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
If you have not already done so, please book your place on your local Transition Events to meet with schools where your children will be attending. For more information, please read newsletter 02/2024.
Some children will make a successful transition to school following the universal transition process but others will need a more supported transition. Some settings may also feel that support from the Specialist Advisory Teachers for Early Years SEND Transition. The role of this team is to help children with additional needs experience a positive transition from home, and/or pre-school, to Reception in school. If you feel that a child in your setting would benefit from this support, please:
We are aware that many settings are curious about how parents/carers apply for eligibility codes for Free Entitlement and Tax-Free Childcare. Did you know that the Childcare Choices website has a guidance and resources section, which includes a customer journey application guidance for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours Childcare.
The guidance and resources section also includes information such as how to sign up to offer Tax-Free Childcare as a provider and other useful resources for providers and parents.
Recently providers in our area and other Local Authorities have fallen victim to hackers who gained unauthorised access to their email accounts. They have attempted to contact other settings and even the Local Authority, seeking financial gain and making requests such as changes to bank details.
Implementing robust email security measures can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access, these measures include:
- two-factor authentication,
- regular password updates, and
- employee training on identifying and responding to phishing attempts.
Encrypting sensitive information and using secure email services can add an extra layer of protection, making it more difficult for hackers to intercept and misuse confidential data. Working with IT professionals to conduct regular security audits and staying informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices will also support you in preventing potential risks.
EYIM is a free online network for early years practitioners. The network provides easy to read and easy to use guidance on supporting the mental health of babies, young children and their families. The network was developed by mental health experts and shares practical and clinical expertise, and advice on using attachment-informed practice. Read more about Early Years in Mind and join the network by completing the online form.
In November 2023, EYIM held a webinar on "Thinking Differently about Speech, Language and Communication". For many years, there has been a focus on developing speech, language and communication skills of children in the Early Years. Recent debates have focused on developing oracy skills to improve the life chances of children. The webinar focuses on thinking about children from a wide range of racial, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. It also looks at children who acquire and use communication skills differently. Speakers help to challenge and develop thinking about the standards of language we strive for children to achieve. You can watch the webinar recording on YouTube.
Did you know you can use the payment for another course of the same price or receive a refund in full, if you cancel up to five working days before your course date. To substitute a payment for another course, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
If you cancel within five working days, we will not be able to refund your payment. Should the original delegate be unable to attend a course, you are welcome to send a substitute. If you do this, please update the Learning and Development Gateway booking system and email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk. This ensures the correct name is on the course certificate. The cancellation policy still applies if the substituted delegate cancels within five working days or fails to attend. You will also be charged for any non-attendance on the day of a course.
Payments for paediatric first aid courses cannot be refunded if a learner begins the online part of the course. Even if a learner cancels within five working days of the face to face course. If the delegate is unable to attend the face to face course, they may be able to transfer to an alternative date, if space is available. To do this please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
You may be interested in one of our upcoming courses. Click the course name to find out more and book your place.
If you experience any issues when booking your course, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
Useful information
- W/C 19 Feb – Payments for Spring 2024 actuals due
- 12 Apr - Spring term Sufficiency deadline
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:
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 EYCA team using the following email addresses:
Where there are not clearly evidenced reasons why the setting had no option but to close, there could be implications for funding received as per the government guidance.
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#04/2024 (Online Provider Portal downtime; Free Entitlement Funding rates 2024/25; Termly childcare provider form; Funding support for medical training; Update to Early Years Inspection Handbook; Funding support for medical training; Update to Early Years Inspection Handbook; Learning and Development Gateway payment update; Childcare Expansion Forum update; Follow the Family Information Service Facebook; Department for Education Experts and Mentors programme)
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#03/2024 (New 2 Year old Free Entitlement for working families - issues when applying; Advanced notice of planned downtime; Expansion of childcare funding offers update - Schools Forum and proposed funding rates; New Parent Declaration form - coming soon; Early Years Foundation Stage Leaders Networks; Early Years Professional Development Programme - closing soon; The Big Ambition - Early Years responses needed; How to use research evidence in practice; Early Years Training)
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#02/2024 (Expansion of childcare offers survey; Expansion of childcare funding offers update - proposed funding formula and Free Entitlement rates; Starting School Applications - five days to go; Transition events; Wellbeing webinar for practitioners; Free professional development course for Early Years leaders; Early Years Training)
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#1/2024 (Mandatory Early Years Census and FE spring term actuals; expansion of childcare funding offers update; understanding changes to the EYFS; starting school applications - 12 days to go; updated guidance - working together to safeguard children; admission arrangements consultation; bilingual support with school applications; best start in life part two; early years training)
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#297 (Safeguarding focus - when to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer; New Early Years Foundation Stage statutory documents published; Speech and Language Support in the Early Years; Free Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disabilities training; SEND and Inclusion newsletter; Free workshops cost of living support for children and families; Prevent duty guidance updated; Updates to GOV.UK login for training; Early Years Training)
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