Early Years Provider Updates | COVID-19 Edition 118

This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Associate Director for Children and Families, Michael Jarrett, for the attention of the Early Years leads.

Welcome back to everyone, we hope you had a good rest and are ready for the new term ahead as we work together to support you, and your staff teams, children and families in Slough.

Remember to check TheLink for updates and to book on to this term’s training, there are lots of interesting things on offer, and of course we are looking forward to seeing you at the EY Cluster and PVI Managers meetings in October

This week’s news bulletin from Children and Families, Early Years Division at Slough Borough Council is now available please see the attached document dated 2nd September 2021.

There are important DfE updates regarding the EYFS and from Ofsted with new Inspection Handbooks, please take time to click on the links for more information

In addition, this week’s newsletter has an important message to the sector.

This week’s newsletter includes:

• Message from Michael Jarrett to the EY Sector

DfE

• Actions for schools during the Coronavirus outbreak

• Special schools and other specialist settings: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Protective measures for holiday or after school clubs and other out of school settings for children during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

• Important information about clinically extremely vulnerable children and young people

• Contacting NHS Test and Trace on 119 for issues and queries about the supply, ordering and delivery of test kits for all settings that are part of the education rapid testing programme

• Department for Education COVID-19 helpline

• Department for Education Guidance

• Consented addresses for childminders and domestic childcare

• Joiners and leavers in the childcare sector

• Suspending a childcare provider

EYFS

• EYFS Framework and reforms from 01/09/21 statement from EYFS Reforms Implementation team

• Changes to the early foundation stage framework

• Changes to the Early Years foundation stage (EYFS) framework became law on 1 September 2021.

• EYFS Staff: child ratios – DfE approved qualifications

Schools Updates

• Information on school attendance expectations

• Reminder to complete the educational setting status form for schools and colleges

• Webinar on preparing for autumn term for all education settings

• Remote education temporary continuity direction for schools

• Back to school campaign launches

• Webinar for all education settings on preparing for the autumn term

Ofsted

• Please note that all old guidance has now been removed and the September 2021 handbooks are now in force 01/09/21

• Early Years Inspection Handbook

• Ofsted EIF inspections and the EYFS

• Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills settings

• Gathering additional evidence to secure an incomplete inspection

• Ofsted's plans: 2021

• Childcare providers and inspections as at 31 March 2021

Safeguarding

• Ofsted safeguarding policy

• Keeping children safe in education

In the News

• NEWS: Isolation rules remain in place for childminders in England

• NEWS: Education settings in England to receive air quality monitors

• Return to settings parent’s leaflet

• Young people and vaccines toolkit