#2/2026 - Wednesday 14 January 2026
This week's newsletter includes:
- Starting school applications - window closes tomorrow
- Important safety alert - check your formula now
- Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime
- Why a SEND information report matters
- Bursaries for Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator)
- Apply to become an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub – deadline approaching
- New Potty Training Guide launched for settings and families
- Keeping your setting healthy this winter
- Early Years Training - submitting actuals claims and census details webinar
- Early Years Training - new ideas and activities for the children in your setting
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Latest Ofsted news and updates here.
Have you checked that all of the families in your setting with a child due to start in September 2026 (children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022) have completed their school application? If any families have not done this, they should apply by midnight tomorrow.
To apply for a school place, or for more information on applying, please signpost parents to www.westsussex.gov.uk/admissions.
There is a national recall of certain Nestlé SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula because of possible contamination with cereulide toxin. This toxin is produced by some strains of the Bacillus cereus bacteria that can cause food poisoning symptoms, which can be quick to develop and include vomiting and stomach cramps. Young children are most at risk.
What you need to do now:
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check all formula in your setting against the batch numbers listed on the official Food Standards Agency alert and Nestle consumer recall notice
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do not use or touch affected products. Keep them sealed in their packaging
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tell parents and carers about the recall and share the official links for batch numbers.
It is important that children who may have consumed affected formula are monitored for symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea within hours of feeding. Most cases resolve within 24 hours but seek urgent medical help if there are signs of severe dehydration. Offer alternative formula or breast milk where possible.
If you or a parent identify you have one of the effected products share a photo of the product and the batch code via https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/getintouch or call the careline on 0800 0 81 81 80 for a refund. If you have fed this product to a baby and have any concerns about potential health impact, you should seek advice from healthcare professionals, using the most appropriate route depending on where you live. For example, visiting a GP or calling 111.
Please be advised that the Online Provider Portal (OPP) will be unavailable from 7.00am on Monday 19 January 2026 for viewing and submitting forms, but you can still access the funding area. This is due to essential maintenance that is taking place. We understand this downtime comes at a particularly busy time and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Please note, parents and carers will not be able to submit 2 year old Local Authority Issued Early Years Funded Entitlement applications and our Family Information Service website will also be unavailable to the public.
We will send an update when the OPP is available to use again. We expect the this to be later the same day.
Every child deserves the right support to thrive. Families want clear, honest information about what your setting offers. The SEND Information Report is not just a legal requirement under the SEND Code of Practice 2014, the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework and the Equality Act 2010. It shows your commitment to inclusion and puts the child at the centre of decisions. The benefits of a SEND information report are as follows:
- a clear report builds trust with families and strengthens your reputation as an inclusive setting
- it shows compliance and readiness for regulatory inspections
- it reduces repeated questions and gives staff confidence through clear expectations
- it demonstrates that your setting values transparency and partnership
- families feel reassured that their child will be understood and supported, and professionals see that you are proactive and organised
- this is your opportunity to showcase best practice, highlight your expertise, and showcase the inclusivity of your setting
- when families read your report, they should feel confident that their child will thrive in your care.
You should publish your report on your website or provide it by email or in print to parents, if needed. Review it every year and update it when your practice changes. Visit our SEND Information Report web page for more information and templates to help you get started.
Providers who took part in the early years and childcare workforce review told us they have staff they would like to upskill to a full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification.
We are creating a bursary scheme to help fund staff or volunteers who meet the eligibility criteria for the NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for Working in the Early Years Sector (Early Years Educator), available at Chichester College or Worthing College (from 2026).
The learner will need:
- to be over the age of 16
- have a suitable level 2 English qualification
- to work in your setting a minimum of 20 hours a week
- be able to commit to an 18 month programme
- commit to attending 10 mandatory taught workshops (twilight delivery at Chichester College)
- it is helpful, but not essential, to have completed a Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner or another full and relevant Level 2 qualification.
If you have a member of your team you would like to put forward, please email early.years.training@westsussex.gov.uk to express your interest. We will then send you further details.
We shared information about applying to become an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub in newsletter #48/2025. The deadline to apply is Friday 16 January 2026.
More information, including eligibility criteria and the application link, can be found on the apply to become an early years stronger practice hub web page.
If you are considering applying, we would welcome the opportunity to support you. Please email family.info.service@westsussex.gov.uk to let us know you are planning to submit an application.
Kindred Square has launched a brand new Potty Training Guide. The free Potty Training Guide has been developed by the early years sector and offers clear, research-based guidance around when and how to potty train.
Evidence shows that the best time to stop using nappies for bowel and bladder health is between 18-30 months, and the guide helps early years settings work with parents so children can achieve this.
Government guidance on potty training in settings has also been updated to align to the Potty Training Guide, ensuring a single clear message for parents, schools, nurseries and childminders. This follows the Government’s backing of a new agreed definition of school readiness with the launch of the Starting Reception website last year, linked to the Best Start in Life Strategy. The guide provides the best advice on toilet training in one place.
Winter illnesses such as flu, COVID-19, RSV and norovirus can spread quickly. You can help protect children, staff and families by following these steps and sharing advice with parents.
Key actions for your setting:
- ask staff and families to stay at home if they have flu or COVID-19 symptoms such as high temperature, cough or feeling unwell
- if anyone has diarrhoea or vomiting, they should not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after symptoms stop
- promote good hygiene, wash hands with soap and water, use tissues and dispose of them in bins, and keep rooms well ventilated
- use bleach-based cleaning products for norovirus prevention (alcohol gels do not kill norovirus)
- vaccination is the most effective way to prevent serious illness from flu and COVID-19. Share eligibility and booking details with staff and parents: www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations
- encourage families to follow the same rules for children and take up winter vaccinations
- share NHS advice on recognising serious illness in babies and toddlers.
Useful resources for your setting:
Submitting actuals claims and census details webinar
In newsletter #48/2025, we advised that from January 2026 the annual Early Years Census for the Department for Education will change to a termly return. To support this transition, we are pleased to offer additional Online Provider Portal Training sessions this week on ‘Submitting Actuals Claims and Census Details.’ You can book these sessions below.
We strongly recommend booking a session or setting aside time to review the updated guidance. Additional information and guidance were shared earlier this week in the Early Years Funding newsletter Spring 2026.
New ideas and activities for the children in your setting
A new year often means you and your setting are looking for ideas and activities for the children. We have courses in our programme that can help. To book, 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
- 15 January 2026 - Headcount day for spring term
- 30 January 2026 - Portal closes for settings to submit actuals and the early years census for spring term
- w/c 23 February - Payments for spring term actuals due to be released
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:
It is important you follow the correct steps and notify the relevant teams and professionals if your setting needs to close.
Contact your local setting support team and visit our closing your early years and childcare setting web page for step by step support.
We share a weekly Jobs in Early Years and Childcare bulletin with members of the public. You can find guidance and a template for submitting your job adverts to this bulletin on our advertise early years and childcare jobs web page. You will also find useful guidance on advertising your job vacancies on other platforms.
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#1/2026 (Spring term 2026 census and actuals claims - action required; Spring headcount date; Starting School Applications – one week to go; Mythbusting Early Childhood Development: writing; Share your experience as an Early Years Teacher; Supervised toothbrushing programme; Update to Portage referral criteria; Early years qualification requirements and standards: minor changes; Checking qualifications are full and relevant; Important changes to the childhood vaccination schedule; Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub updates; Early Years Training)
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#50/2025 (Safeguarding focus - New weekly online safeguarding drop-in sessions; Christmas and New Year opening times; Submitting Actuals Claims and Census details webinar; Starting school applications; Recent updates to Ofsted guidance; Vaccine hesitancy e-module now live; New disability guidance and training; Designated Safeguarding Lead networks 2026 - secure your space; Keynote speaker confirmed for West Sussex Early Years Education and Childcare Conference 2026; Cyber Security: ministerial letter to small businesses; Childcare Works - free resources; Early Years Training)
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#49/2025 (Early Years Funded Entitlement spring term estimates - deadline this Friday; Spring headcount date; Checking eligibility for Early Years Funded Entitlement for Working Families; Ofsted regulation changes; Newly Qualified Starters Programme; Tax-Free Childcare; Disclosure and Barring Service campaign: understanding the legal duty to refer; Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub newsletter; SEND and Inclusion Newsletter; Early Years Training)
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#48/2025 (Business Focus; Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime; Important: Changes to Early Years Census Processes (EYFE providers only); Apply to become an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub; Reminder of upcoming Early Education and Childcare Statutory Requirements – from January 2026; Updates from the Education Endowment Foundation; Tax-Free Childcare; Paediatric Oral Health Access and Prevention Programme; Could you offer work experience placements?; Kent and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub newsletter; Spring Early Years Foundation Stage leaders networks – secure your space; Early Years Training)
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#47/2025 (Warning - Online Provider Portal downtime; Early Years Funded Entitlement - spring term 2026 estimates open; Early Years Funded Entitlement for working families eligibility codes; Early Years Funded Entitlement number of weeks in spring term; Starting school applications; Admissions consultation; Updated children's vaccine schedule resources; Kent & Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub Webinars; Have your say on the future of local government in West Sussex; Early Years Training)
Early Years and Childcare newsletter web page.
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