Newsletter for Early Years and Childcare providers in West Sussex
#1/2025 - Wednesday 8 January 2025
This week's newsletter includes:
- Cold health alert extended into the weekend for the South East
- Mandatory Early Years Census 2025 and spring term Actuals – action required
- Childcare Expansion Capital Grant Funding - deadline approaching
- Wraparound Childcare Funding Grant - spring term 2025
- Annual Admissions Consultation 2026/27
- Business opportunity in Walberton
- Better Health Start for Life - Top Tips for Teeth
- Maths Champions – professional development programme
- Early Years Training
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Latest Ofsted news and updates here.
Welcome back to 2025. We hope you were able to relax and enjoy the holidays where possible. We look forward to working with you throughout the year and are here to support you with everything the new year brings.
An amber cold health alert from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been extended for the South East. The alert is in effect from 12.00pm on Monday 06 January to 12.00pm Sunday 12 January. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable groups and disrupt the delivery of services. Please refer to your setting's Cold Weather/Emergency Plan.
Please can we remind you that it is the setting’s responsibility to risk assess whether you need to close due to the cold weather, or remain open. For settings offering Early Years Funded Entitlements (EYFE) the Provider Declaration states:
4.33 Should the setting need to close in the event of an emergency, it is expected that you make up any loss of EYFE hours wherever reasonable. You must contact the Family Information Service (FIS) to discuss the circumstances and anticipated length of closure.
You should assess the risk of any potential impact on your setting and inform your local Early Years and Childcare Adviser (EYCA) team if you are considering closing for a temporary/short period of time. For support from the FIS team or your nearest EYCA team, please find the relevant email address at the bottom of this newsletter.
In the latest Early Years Funding newsletter, we let you know that the mandatory Early Years Census 2025 and spring term Actuals are now open for completion. Please check the relevant articles for more information and submission deadlines.
When submitting your actuals this term, a new section must be completed on the ‘Funding Details’ tab called ‘Census Information’. The guidance on our web page will shortly be updated, and you can access the updated guidance here. The new guidance is found in steps 23 for existing children, and step 40 for new children.
If you have any questions, please email: free.entitlement@westsussex.gov.uk.
In newsletter #50/2024 we let you know that applications are open to invite further projects to apply for Childcare Expansion Capital Grant funding. This funding is to support the creation of additional early years and/or wraparound childcare places, which must be made available by September 2025. The deadline to submit your application is Friday 14 February 2025. Please visit the Childcare Expansion Capital Funding web page for further information and to apply.
Please check the relevant article for more information. If you have any questions, please email: childcareexpansiongrants@westsussex.gov.uk.
The next funding window is now open for applications for the Wraparound Childcare Funding Grant. Last term we funded over £1.1 million worth of grants, creating over 1000 wraparound places across the county. The application window is open until Monday 3 March 2025 and places should be available by the summer term 2025, where possible.
Please visit the Wraparound Childcare Programme Funding web page for further information and to apply.
If you have any questions, please email: Wraparound.Childcare@westsussex.gov.uk.
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) are seeking the views of parents/carers and providers in the Horsham and Worthing area. They are holding a consultation on proposals to reduce the Published Admission Numbers (PAN) at the following Community and Controlled schools with effect from 1 September 2026:
- West Park C of E Primary School, Goring by Sea, Worthing
- Trafalgar Community Infant School, Horsham
WSCC welcome your views on the proposed admission arrangements and oversubscription criteria for all Community and Controlled schools for September 2026 entry, as well as key dates in the admissions process.
Visit the admission arrangements 2026/27 consultation web page for more information. If you are a provider based in Horsham and/or Worthing, please can you also share this with parents/carers in your setting, to give them the chance to have their say. This consultation closes at 11.55pm on Friday 10 January 2025.
We wish to share a possible business opportunity for a high-quality early years provider in Walberton, BN18, (between Chichester and Arundel). Due to the retirement of the current owners, this long established and popular pre-school is for sale. The opportunity is based in Walberton Village Hall, with the potential to hire two rooms, both with secure outdoor play areas. The hall has plenty of storage, kitchen space and overlooks a large playing field. It is in close proximity to the local primary school and there is parking available.
For further information about the opportunity please email: contact@walbertonpre-school.co.uk.
Following this, should you require support from an Early Years and Childcare Advisor, you can request new business support via the start a childcare business web page.
Please note, any provider wishing to explore this opportunity should ensure they seek appropriate legal advice, as well as carrying out due diligence in terms of business planning and cash flow forecasting.
A new and updated set of children’s oral health ‘Top Tips for Teeth’ resources is available. These resources support dental professionals and those working in early years settings with encouraging parents and carers to teach children good oral health.
The resources aim to raise awareness and provide instruction for good oral hygiene in children aged 0 to 3, 3+ and pregnant women. They also address the impact of poor dental health. The resources include leaflets, posters, digital screen images and a social media toolkit with key messages including:
- "Help them brush twice a day to keep decay away."
- "Protect your pregnancy smile."
- "Skip the sugar they're sweet enough."
Parents and carers can access oral health tips and advice on the Start for Life website.
The National Day Nursery Association are working in partnership with the Education Endowment Foundation to provide Maths Champions, a professional development programme.
The free online programme will help build the knowledge of nursery practitioners to support children’s early mathematical development. You can find out more about the programme here and register your interest here. The deadline to sign up is 12.00am on Saturday 31 May 2025.
As we enter January 2025, please find below details of two courses running early this year. To book a course click the course name below. You can also visit our booking portal West Sussex Services for Education and select your required course.
If you experience any issues when booking your course, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk.
Useful information
- 6 Jan 2025 - Portal opened for spring term actuals
- 6-31 Jan 2025 - Portal open for early years annual census
- 16 Jan 2025 - Spring term headcount day
- 21 Jan 2025 - Portal closes for spring term actuals
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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We’re committed to providing excellent support to all providers we engage with. Please take a moment to complete our Early Years and Childcare Provider Feedback Survey and let us know about your experiences. Your feedback will help us improve our service and better support settings like yours. You can visit the web page or scan the QR code. |
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#51/2024 (Safeguarding focus: Making a referral to WORTH services; Photographing and filming children; West Sussex Early Years and Childcare Conference 2025: Champions of Childhood – Celebrating Early Years Heroes; Starting School Applications - one month to go; Virtual school support groups; The Wellbeing and Exercise in Pregnancy Programme - the benefits of yoga; Fire safety training for early years and childcare providers; Mental health first aid (adult) training)
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#50/2024 (Online Provider Portal downtime; Early Years Funded Entitlement spring term estimate payments; Early Years Funded Entitlement for Working Families - spring term code deadline; Advance notice - mandatory Early Years Census 2025; Final reminder - checking working families eligibility codes webinar; Inclusion Funding - online information updated and availability for 9 months plus; Childcare Expansion Capital Grant Funding - applications open for further projects; Presentations from INCO/SENCO Networks; Bookstart packs - deliveries starting early 2025)
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#49/2024 (Changes to information gathering for SEND Under 5's and Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment, Advanced warning - Online Provider Portal downtime, Emergency closure planning and response for settings, Wraparound childcare funding - last week to apply, Final reminder - Have your say in the Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) Payment Consultation – Stage Two mandatory survey for EYFE providers, Norovirus symptoms and how to prevent the spread of infection, SEND and Inclusion Newsletter - November 2024, Safer sleep for babies and coping with a crying baby, Early Years Training)
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#48/2024 (Business focus - Management and leadership courses; Offering Early Years Funded Entitlement from January 2025; Early Years Funded Entitlement - checking Working Families codes workshop; Wraparound Childcare Funding Programme - 2024 deadline; Starting school applications; Creating accessible spaces for children with cerebral palsy; Infection prevention; Wellbeing and Exercise in Pregnancy Programme social media launch; Early Years Training)
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#47/2024 (Safeguarding focus - Why language matters - criminal child exploitation, Safeguarding special newsletter, Early Years Funded Entitlement spring term 2025 estimates now open, Early Years Funded Entitlement for Working Families - spring term code deadline, Early Years and Childcare expansion - funding timeline of events, Autumn Budget 2024, Kent Early Years Stronger Practice Hub November newsletter, Early Years Training)
Early Years and Childcare newsletter web page.
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