Newsletter for Early Years and Childcare providers in West Sussex
#18/2024 - Wednesday 1 May 2024
This week's newsletter includes:
- Wraparound Programme Funding - Expression of Interest
- Ofsted Big Conversation
- Starting school vaccinations
- Reminder - Childminder recruitment and retention consultation
- Childcare Works - Expansion of Childcare resources
- Early Years Training
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In the special newsletter shared on Friday 26 April we let providers know the Expression of Interest (EOI) form for Wraparound Childcare Funding opened. The deadline to submit an EOI is Friday 17 May 2024. Visit the Wraparound Childcare Programme Funding - EOI web page for more information and to complete an EOI.
This EOI will inform West Sussex County Council's wraparound childcare programme delivery plan which is due to be returned to the Department for Education by 14 June 2024. This EOI will help inform WSCC of your intentions over the programme period so that we can plan support where it is needed. Viable projects identified through the EOI process will be invited to complete a formal funding application. There will be other opportunities to apply for funding during the programme period, from September 2024 to September 2026.
It is important to note that the Wraparound Programme Funding does not relate to the Early Years Funded Entitlements, it is funding to support the development of wraparound provision. Parents/carers will be expected to pay for wraparound provision but may be able to use Tax-Free Childcare or the childcare element of Universal Credit to help pay for the wraparound childcare they access.
The Wraparound Childcare Programme Funding is for new or existing providers (including childminders and early years providers) and can be used to contribute towards the creation or expansion of new childcare places but cannot be used to fund existing places. Programme funding can be used:
- to contribute to start up/expansion costs,
- to contribute to running costs whilst demand builds, for example, offering additional places before demand is guaranteed,
- to cover costs including staffing, training, and transport costs such as minibus hire (not purchase, although capital funding could be used for this), as well as resources, and/or
- to pay for training for wraparound staff, including specialist training for staff to ensure they feel equipped to support children with additional needs.
The next South East Ofsted Big Conversation takes place on Friday 17 May at 10.00am. The event will be online and is free to attend. Topics covered will include:
- the Big Listen,
- the new complaints against Ofsted process,
- getting ready for your inspection,
- notification processes, and
- time for a question and answer session.
You can book your place via Eventbrite.
If you have any children in your setting starting school this September, it is important that they are up to date with all of their childhood vaccinations to protect them against potentially unpleasant and often serious childhood diseases.
The 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine is offered to children from the age of 3 years and 4 months. Children should also have two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, with the first dose given around the child's first birthday and the second dose given around 3 years and 4 months old. Both doses are needed to ensure full and lasting protection against MMR.
The guide to immunisation for pre-school answers some of the most common questions about pre-school immunisations and can be shared with parents.
In newsletter #15/2024 we reminded you of the Department for Education consultation relating to the recruitment and retention of childminders. The consultation closes at 11.59pm on 10 May 2024. You can complete the survey by visiting the GOV.UK website.
Childcare Works have developed the HUB, which is a bank of resources available to Local Authorities and childcare providers implementing the Expansion of Childcare offers. The HUB contains a library of resources developed to support the roll-out of the early years and wraparound childcare expansion project. The webpage will be updated with new resources as and when they become available.
Our recently released summer courses have had a lot of interest and bookings. We are shining a spotlight on three of our released courses below, which have a focus on supporting early speech and language. These are bookable on the Learning and Development Gateway and can be found by searching key words relevant to the course, for example 'provision’ or ‘baby’.
Please remember that you are required to book a space first on the Learning and Development Gateway and then pay via the payment steps and link, which are shown on the course page. Your space is not confirmed until both booking and payment are completed. If you experience any issues when booking your course, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
Useful information
- 02 May - Headcount day
- 10 May - Portal closes for Summer Term actuals
- 31 May - Inclusion funding deadline for Autumn Term
- W/C 03 Jun - Summer Term actuals payments due
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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#17/2024 (Safeguarding focus - Unregulated medical treatment for children; Online Provider Portal downtime; Help us to help you - eligibility code queries; Fire safety in Early Years and Childcare settings; Transition Events; Early Years Foundation Stage consultation - Safeguarding requirements Early Years Training)
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#16/2024 (Early Years Funded Entitlement Summer Term Actuals; Validating 2 year old working families eligibility codes; Early Years Funded Entitlement leaflets for parents; Claiming Disability Access Fund (DAF); Transition Events; Department for Education Roadshow - new date; Oral Health in Early Years pilot programme; Brilliant Babies to Terrific Toddlers - A Tool for Reflection; Early Years Training)
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#15/2024 (Business focus - Sign up to offer Tax-Free Childcare; Validating 2 year old working families codes; Reminder - Childminder recruitment and retention consultation; Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub newsletter and new supportive document for providers; Early Years Training)
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#14/2024 (Safeguarding focus - Dangers of laundry capsules; Accepting your provider declaration and estimate payments; Validating 2 year old working families codes; Transition Events; Pre-school immunisations; Ofsted's big listen consultation - for adults and children; Free trees for schools, nurseries and community groups)
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#13/2024 (High volume of calls and emails; Final reminder to check Early Years Funded Entitlement codes; Childcare Expansion Provider Forum update; Are parents/carers in your setting confused about the new childcare offers?; Department for Education Provider Roadshows - postponed; Review of the Ordinarily Available Inclusive Practice guide; Billingual support for Chagossian families; Ofsted updates)
Early Years and Childcare newsletter web page.
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