This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Service Lead for Early Years and Prevention, Michael Jarrett, for the attention of the Early Years Sector.
Please find below updates and information for all settings regarding the operation of provision during COVID-19.
During this unfamiliar time the team would like you to know that we are here to offer you support, in whatever way you may need it? We are on the other end of the phone or email and will continue to provide you with daily email updates. Even if you are currently closed the team can offer a range of support from discussing government guidance documents to reviewing local area initiatives.
We understand that this is a difficult period for everyone and in these uncertain times it can often help to share concerns, questions and queries with others, so please do keep in contact and pick up the phone anytime for a catch up.
You can email and call individual members of the team or for general enquiries contact earlyyears@slough.gov.uk or call 01753 476554.
If your setting is currently still open and are considering closure please discuss with the Early Years Service and for further information, advice or guidance please contact the team on 01753 476554 or email earlyyears@slough.gov.uk.
Family Information Service
Slough’s Family Information Service has a record of all settings currently open for children of key workers/vulnerable children, please signpost parents and carers to the FIS if they need to find care including holiday provision if you are unable to stay open, call 01753 476589 or email fis@slough.gov.uk, Slough’s Services Guide.
Domestic Abuse | Slough Safeguarding Partnership
Challenging times may result in the need to access specialist support, don’t be alone, attached are some resources that might be able to help. You can also visit the Slough Safeguarding Partnership here to learn more.
Alternatively if you can also access the Slough Safeguarding Partnership newsletter by clicking here.
Mental Health and Well-being
If providers have any children or young people displaying any Mental Health and or well-being concerns, then please contact the East Berkshire Getting Help Service at: CAMHSGettingHelpEast e: CAMHSGettingHelpEast@berkshire.nhs.uk.
Furloughed Staff
You must notify your employees before putting you on furlough.
Once staff are on furlough they will not be able to work for you, but you can undertake training or volunteer subject to public health guidance, as long as you’re not:
- Making money for you
- Providing services for you
If you choose to place your employees on furlough, they will need to remain on furlough for a minimum of 3 weeks. However, you can place your employees on furlough more than once, and one period can follow straight after an existing furlough period, while the scheme is open. The scheme will be open for at least 3 months. For more information about furlough please click here.
Ofsted COVID-19 Rolling Update
Ofsted guidance and information relating to COVID-19 for schools, early years, children's social care and further education and skills providers.
Update to include guidance for children's social care and early years and childcare providers on Ofsted's regulatory activity and urgent monitoring visits during this time. For more information please click here.
COVID-19 Guidance for Schools and Other Educational Settings
Guidance and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19) in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students. To view the guidance that has been put in place please click here.
With the bank holiday weekend approaching we would like to wish you all well and hope that with the sun shining you have an opportunity to reflect on what has been (and still is) a very challenging time. Although this is unfamiliar territory we are extremely appreciative of the way the early years sector in Slough have dealt with the situation.
We would like to thank the many practitioners working on the frontline caring for key worker children and some of the most vulnerable little people across the borough, without you many critical workers would not be able to do their job and for this we are very grateful. Stay safe and take care of those around you.
Slough Early Years and Prevention Service will be back open on Tuesday but if you have an emergency situation or an urgent enquiry please contact Michael Jarrett on 07714 858225.
The single most important action you can take is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives. https://twitter.com/GOVUK