  
Dear Colleagues,
As we approach the final half term of this academic year, I would like to thank you for the continued support that you provide to our children and young people, as well as their families. Supporting families is an important strand of our work to improve outcomes for children and young people in West Sussex, and our schools are a key touch point to allow us to connect with families.
In this edition, we will explore some of the work taking place across the Council, and in schools, to ensure that our children and young people are safe and supported in education and at home. We will hear about the available guidance on finding suitable, affordable childcare, which is offered by the Family Information Service and helps to enable parents/carers to return to work. We will also hear from the Public Health team on how families can stay safe over the summer holidays.
The Library Service will provide an overview of the exciting events and resources that are available to families, and the Adult Learning Service will provide an insight into the excellent Family Learning and Parenting courses available to parents/carers and their children, delivered at no cost to attendees. Finally, the Early Help Service will provide an overview of the support available to families in need, which is delivered in partnership with schools and settings. I hope that you find this edition useful in your work to support the families within your setting.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a restful break over the upcoming half term holiday.
Best wishes,
Vince Clark
Director of Children, Young People and Learning
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The Family Information Service: strengthening family engagement
Helping families find the right childcare and support is key to children’s wellbeing and success. Schools play an important role by promoting trusted services like the Family Information Service (FIS).
Access to high-quality childcare and family support promotes children’s emotional security, development and a stable home environment that is conducive to learning. Signposting families to FIS resources can reduce enquiries and build stronger home to school partnerships, and responding clearly to childcare requests shows parents they are being heard and valued. For more information, including practical steps and key links to support your school, please click here to read the full article from Polly Manners, Family Information Service Adviser.
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Staying safe during the summer holidays: advice for families
With the summer holidays fast approaching, sharing summer safety advice with families can help to prevent accidents and illness over the holiday period, ensuring that children, young people, and families remain safe and well. Make sun safety a priority by reminding families to apply sunscreen, wear a hat, stay hydrated and seek shade during peak hours. Parents/carers should be advised that when around water, whether at the pool, lake, or sea, they must always supervise children closely, be aware of hazards and follow the signs and water safety code. Remind families to stay vigilant about tick prevention when spending time in grassy or wooded areas: use insect repellent, stay on defined paths, and check for ticks after outdoor activities.
A few simple precautions can help families to enjoy a safe and healthy summer. For further information and resources, take a look at the Public Health Team's summer safety guide, which can be shared with families.
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Welcoming spaces, services and support from the West Sussex Library Service
The West Sussex Library Service offers a wide range of events, activities and services for families, both during the school term and the holidays. In this article, Christine Broggi, Contracted Services Team Manager, provides a guide to the range of support available to families through their local library, and guidance for schools to signpost families to the appropriate services, including:
- Centenary events to celebrate 100 years of the West Sussex Library Service
- The range of free physical and digital resources available
- The 'Story Garden' themed Summer Reading Challenge 2025
- Information on the Disability Register
- How the West Sussex Schools Library Service can support your school
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Supporting families through learning with the West Sussex Adult Learning Service
Learning and developing together can help to bring families closer and improve relationships between children and parents/carers. Parents/carers who are empowered and educated are able to support their children to achieve, contributing to improved outcomes for children and young people in West Sussex.
For more information on the events and services provided by the Family Learning Team, please click here to read the full article, or visit the Family Learning page on the Adult Learning Service's website.
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The Early Help Service: empowering families
The Early Help Service's core purpose is to strengthen and empower families, so that children and young people are safe, healthy and happy at home. Early Help works in close partnership with schools, through link workers, to facilitate a unified approach to supporting families.
For more information on the Early Help Service, and the different levels of support that they can provide for families in need, read the full article from Charlene Hornsey, Head of Early Help.
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Schools and education settings are vital touch points for families to receive support. To help schools and settings offer the right support, at the right time, in the right way, guidance and resources are available on West Sussex Services for Education.
Collaborative and respectful: communicating with parents
This empowering webinar, which is suitable for reception teachers, teaching assistants and early years settings, has been designed to support partnership working with parents. The course aims to place you, as an educator, in the best possible position to ensure that children receive the care, attention and nurturing life experiences that they deserve. Book your place for 4 October 2025, or 3 March 2026, 09:30 to 12:30.
Outstanding practice: the reflective playworker
This course is suitable for out of school providers, wraparound providers and childminders. It supports attendees to achieve the best possible environment to enable freely chosen self-directed play and learning. The session also examines how reflective practice and record keeping supports individual children to enjoy and achieve. Join this session to explore how you can support children’s learning and development through the playwork values and principles. Book your place for 25 June 2025, or 4 February 2026, 09:30 to 12:30.
Useful links
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Feedback
To provide feedback on the content of Education Matters, or to find out more about
any of the included topics, please email educationmatters@westsussex.gov.uk.
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