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 today’s daily communications from the Early Years and Prevention Service to keep you informed of various different initiatives and government updates. We hope you find this informative and if you have any suggestions about content please contact us on earlyyears@slough.gov.uk .
It is important to keep in contact with families during this time, so please share this information across all of your contacts!
What’s New
Advice for Parents When Children are Unwell or Injured
As you are probably aware there has been an ongoing concern that parents and carers are not bringing ill children to hospital or going to their GP due to the worries about COVID-19 and leaving home. 111, GP’s and hospitals are still working for residents to support ongoing health and wellbeing. RCPCH have just launched a useful COVID-19 RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rating of parental advice. Please see the document attached at the bottom of this article.
Active Movement and Our New Integrated Wellbeing Service
Active Movement and our new Integrated Wellbeing Service, are excited to launch a new element of the programme designed to empower children to look after their, and their families, health whilst at home.
As an extension to our Health At Home resources and the current Ambassador programme delivered in Slough schools, we are offering the opportunity for Slough children to join this new programme. There are 2 bespoke element to the programme:
- For Early Years - This element follows the “Max” programme which is delivered in Children Centres and other Early Year settings. This involves Max the dog, and how the child can emulate the positive behaviours of Max.
- For Primary Schools – This element follows the “Ambassador” programme which is delivered across Slough primary schools. This involves empowering the child to take ownership of supporting their family to be more active and healthy whilst at home. It also includes a bespoke “5 ways to wellbeing” resource which has been designed by the East Berkshire CCG.
With both elements they will receive a letter, badge and pledge of what to do. The parents/carers will also have the opportunity to receive ongoing support from Active Movement to reduce sedentary behaviour whilst they are at home. To sign up please head to https://www.publichealthslough.co.uk/campaigns/active-ambassador-programme/ there is then a bespoke page for either Early Years or Primary schools.
New Government Updates for 15/04/2020 and 16/04/2020
Consented Addresses for Childminders and Domestic Childcare
This report details the names and addresses for childminders and childcare on domestic premises, where the provider has consented for their name and address to be published on the Ofsted inspection report website. To access the report click here.
COVID-19 | Early Years and Childcare Closures
Guidance for local authorities, early years settings and childminders about childcare provision following the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Updated introductory sections and sections on Who this guidance is for, Prioritising children, Funding, Staying open for children of critical workers and vulnerable children, Early Years Foundation Stage and Holidays. Click here for more information.
Updated Handwashing Advice
It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain.
Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.
The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public.
Keeping in Touch and Targeted Support for Early Years Settings
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.
Reminders
Reminder weekly registers are due in Friday this week before 1pm
All settings who are open this week must send the local authority details of the children who attended or are attending your provision. Please see the attached template, if you require a word version please email clare.thompson@slough.gov.uk.
Submit your settings attendance by completing the spreadsheet and then password protect it and send to earlyyears@slough.gov.uk .
Please do not email personal details without password protecting the document first. Please use the password ‘Attendance’.
Childminders please call Danielle Mercer on 07770 936674 or Sharon Rose on 07920 287687 if you are unable to email in the details
Group settings please contact or Karen Loft on 07923 260393 if you are unable to complete the spreadsheet.
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 on CAMHSGettingHelpEast.