Newsletter for Early Years and Childcare providers in West Sussex
#8/2024 - Wednesday 21 February 2024
This week's newsletter includes:
- Business focus - Changes to your Ofsted registration
- Early Years Funded Entitlement - Spring Term payments
- Do you know someone who deserves an Honour?
- Ofsted curriculum roadshows in West Sussex
- Foundation Years Live - March events
- Webinars on Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Maths Mastery
- Early Years Training
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When there are changes to your Early Years and Childcare business it can be difficult to remember all the steps you need to take. We understand there is a lot to think about, but if you are in the process of re-registering with Ofsted due to changes such as a new ownership, moving site location or changing the legal structure of your business, it is important to consider the following:
- Early engagement with the Early Years Funding (EYF) team - Speak to the EYF team as soon as possible to ensure a smooth re-registration process and timely funding payments. Your proactive approach in reaching out to the team will ensure a smooth transition for your setting. You can email free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk, or call 01243 777807 for support.
- Update banking/payment Details - Promptly inform free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk of any operational changes affecting your payment details to avoid funding interruptions.
- Update your information on the Family Information Service (FIS) website - Keep your setting's details current by completing a termly update form via the Online Provider Portal. Without renewed consent, your setting's details may not be advertised to parents seeking childcare via the FIS website.
Maintaining accurate information and proactively engaging with the necessary teams will play a pivotal role in supporting a smooth transition during the re-registration process. If you would like further support, you can complete our request for targeted support form.
Please be advised that Spring Term payments have been released for:
- EYFE actuals where there are no outstanding queries.
- Disability Access Fund for all approved applications where evidence was provided.
Please note, payments can take three to five working days to show in your account.
The Online Provider Portal (OPP) is now closed for Spring Term submissions, but you can still log back in to view your payment summary. Please refer to the Actuals help guide for step by step guidance on how to view your payment summary. All OPP help guides can be found at www.westsussex.gov.uk/ecsportal. If you have any queries, please email free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk.
Ofsted Education Inspection Framework curriculum roadshows for Early Years are coming to West Sussex. They will be holding two sessions, one aimed at maintained nursery schools and any school with pre-reception age and one for Early Years settings and childminders. Both events will be held at County Hall North in Horsham on Friday 15 March and are free to attend.
Read the invitation from Ofsted to find out more and book your place.
Foundation Years are hosting two free, early years practitioner-focused events. These events will feature presentations on topics including the Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs, SEND in the Early Years and practical approaches to language acquisition, as well as a chance to network with other practitioners. Click the event name below to find out more and book your tickets.
As the King's New Year 2025 honours approaches, the Department for Education (DfE) are encouraging nominations for outstanding contributions in Early Years and Childcare. The honours system recognises people who have made achievements in public life and committed themselves to serving and helping Britain. Visit GOV.UK to find out more about the honours awards.
The DfE are keen to raise the profile of our Early Years and Childcare heroes, highlighting the hard work they undertake for the sector. The DfE are making nominating simple, so all you have to do is complete the honours nomination form and return it to jane.flaherty@education.gov.uk.
You are able to place more than one nomination and the DfE ask that you forward the form on to other colleagues who you think would be able to nominate deserving people. If you have any questions please contact jane.flaherty@education.gov.uk. The deadline for nominations is Thursday 29 February.
Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub have shared the links to two webinar recordings, that can be watched at any time.
We have some exciting courses coming up and below are a few we are really looking forward to. Click the course name to find out more and book your place.
Please remember to pay for your space after you have booked via the ‘How to Book and Pay’ section on the course page. 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
- 06 Mar - Portal opens for Summer term estimates
- 22 Mar - Portal closes for Summer term estimates
- W/C 01 Apr - Summer term estimate payments due
- 12 Apr - Spring term Sufficiency deadline
- 15 Apr - Portal opens for Summer term actuals
- 02 May - Headcount day
- 10 May - Portal closed for Summer term actuals
- W/C 03 Jun - Summer term actuals payments due
- 07 Jun - Inclusion funding deadline for Autumn term
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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07/2024 (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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#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)
Early Years and Childcare newsletter web page.
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