Newsletter for Early Years and Childcare providers in West Sussex
#7/2024 - Wednesday 14 February 2024
This week's newsletter includes:
- Statement from the Department for Education on charging
- Level 3 qualifications and offering Early Years Funded Entitlements
- Early Years Funded Entitlement eligibility checker updated
- Notice of planned downtime
- Early Years Foundation Stage Leaders Network slides
- Final chance for free training and support
- Early Years Conference - Embracing Inclusivity
- SEND and Inclusion Newsletter
- Early Years Training
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The Department for Education(DfE) were asked whether a change to the wording of clause A1.31 of the statutory guidance means that the policy has changed with regard to providers charging for meals, snacks and other consumables. The DfE have provided the following statement to clarify:
"The policy has not changed. As set out in A1.36 of the guidance, Local Authorities should work with providers and parents to ensure that all parents, including disadvantaged families, have fair access to a free place, which must be delivered completely free of charge. The free childcare entitlements are not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables (such as nappies or sun cream), additional hours or additional activities (such as trips). Providers may charge a fee for these additions.
However, we removed the line regarding charges being voluntary in order to provide clarity to readers. This was partially based on feedback we received during our testing period with a small number of Local Authorities, providers and relevant bodies. If a parent is unable to pay for consumables or if a parent wishes to provide their own, then the parent and provider can discuss alternative options. This could include allowing parents to supply their own meals or nappies, or waiving or reducing the cost of meals and snacks. As set out in clause A1.33 of the guidance such charges should not be made a condition of accessing a free place."
The Provider Declaration will be published in early March but we are working hard to release the Parent Declaration separately beforehand as we know you need this to sign up families for the Summer Term.
From April 2024, in line with the updated statutory guidance, West Sussex County Council will fund places for children eligible for the 2 year old Local Authority issued Funded Entitlement (disadvantaged 2 year olds) at providers rated, Good or Outstanding, or equivalent ratings, by Ofsted.
Childminders will not be required to hold a level 3 qualification to offer EYFE for working families, however we encourage working towards gaining a full and relevant level 3 qualification, if they do not already hold one.
The eligibility checker on the Online Provider Portal has been updated to allow you to check codes for the new 2 year old EYFE for working families. The wording on the portal, web page and help guide does not yet reflect this update, but we will soon be updating this.
The update allows you to check new 2 year old EYFE codes in the same way you may have previously checked 30 hours extended EYFE codes. You can continue to use the eligibility checker help guide found on the eligibility checker web page. The help guide will support you in locating the checker and provides important guidance to help you identify if a code is valid or not. Although the guidance currently only refers to 30 hours extended EYFE codes, the guidance on validity and checking codes is the same for 2 year old EYFE codes for working families.
Please be advised that the Online Provider Portal will be unavailable between 6.00pm and 10.00pm on Thursday 15 February whilst we undertake planned maintenance. Please note that parents and carers will not be able to submit 2 year old Free Entitlement applications during this time, and our Family Information Service website will also be unavailable to the public on that day.
Please find attached a copy of the slides from the recent EYFS Leader Network meeting. The slides include a presentation from the oral health team which was not shared at all of the meetings but may be useful for providers to see.
In newsletter 3/2024 we let you know that applications for the final cohort of the Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP) were open. The EYPDP, Experts and Mentors Programme and the Childminder Mentors programme are all ending in the Summer Term 2024. If you would like to take part, you need to sign up now.
To find out more about EYPDP, or to register your interest, you can:
Group settings wanting to receive free bespoke peer support can find out more via the Pen Green website and register interest via this online form. Childminders can find out more via the Hempsalls website and apply for support via this online form. The deadline for childminders to apply is 17 March 2024.
Bi-borough Early Education and Childcare Service are holding an online conference for all early years settings, schools, childminders and other professionals who work within Early Years. The conference will focus on embracing inclusivity in the Early Years and how all children can be supported to flourish and thrive. You can find out more about the conference and the topics that will be covered in the conference leaflet.
The conference is being held on Friday 23 February from 9.15am to 1.05pm, via Zoom. You can find out more and book your place via Eventbrite.
The February SEND and Inclusion Newsletter is now available.
We have a range of informative Makaton courses in February and March, including taster courses to introduce you to the concept of Makaton. Click the course name to find out more and book your place on the relevant course.
Please remember to pay for your space after you have booked via the course page under the ‘How to Book and Pay’ section.
If you experience any issues when booking your course, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
Useful information
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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#06/2024 (Free Entitlement for 2 year old funding; Early Years and Childcare newsletter webpage; Jobcentre Plus - support with recruitment; Letter from Department of Education to Early Years and Childcare providers; West Sussex Health Visiting and School Nursing services survey; Early Years in Mind new guide on self-regulation; Early Years in Mind survey; Newsletter from Early Years Stronger Practice Hub; Webinars from WORTH services; Learning and Development Gateway - new payment system live; Early Years Training)
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#05/2024 (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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#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)
Early Years and Childcare newsletter web page.
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