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 communications from the Early Years and Prevention Service to keep you informed of various different initiatives and government updates for 17/04/2020. 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
Early Years Provider Agreement
Slough Early Years and Prevention Service has updated the Provider Agreement for providing Funded Early Education in Slough. Please read the guidance document and sign the provider declaration form on page 60 and return a copy to Eyfunding@slough.gov.uk. Please note a number of the appendices have been updated, including the Early Years Inclusion Grant documentation, please ensure you are using the most up to date forms when making applications.
DfE Data Collection
The DfE have now requested that the Local Authority submits to them the total number of early years children (0-4 year olds, excluding 4 year olds in reception) being cared for, every Monday and Thursday. Please can all providers (who are open) continue to submit registers every Friday but in addition to this please email earlyyears@slough.gov.uk before 12pm on Monday’s and Thursday’s with the following information:
| Total Number of 0-4 Year Olds in Attendance | Number of Children Who’s Parents are Critical Workers | Number of Vulnerable Children |
Parenting Special Children | Online Workshops to Support Parents of Children with SEND During the Lockdown
Delivered by Jo Billington, Autism Doctoral Researcher at Reading University, Lecturer at Brookes University, trainer at Parenting Special Children & Charlie Whaller Trust and parent of autistic boys.
This series of 3 x 1.5 hour online workshops has been developed to support families of children with SEND during the COVID-19 lockdown. These workshops have been designed for parents and carers of children who are showing behaviours of concern such as anger, aggression and physical harm.
They aim to explore the underlying causes of such behaviours and provide practical positive strategies for reducing stress and creating a calm environment. The workshops are written and delivered by parents of children with SEND who have personal experience of the issues raised. Please see the attachment for further details.
New Government Updates for 16/04/2020 and 17/04/2020
COVID-19 Closure of Educational Settings | Information for Parents and Carers
Information for parents and carers about the closure of schools and other educational settings following the outbreak of COVID-19. Updated Resources and support and added a new section for Admissions. To find out more information click here.
Help to Claim | Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
HMRC have updated guidance on ‘help to claim – Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’ this includes when to access the system with some more information about what you will need to have ready before the system goes live.
They have also updated an important change to the scheme relating to employee eligibility:
- You can claim for employees that were employed as of 19 March 2020 and were on your PAYE payroll on or before that date; this means that you will have made an RTI submission notifying us of payment of that employee on or before 19 March 2020.
- Employees that were employed as of 28 February 2020 and on payroll (i.e. notified to us on an RTI submission on or before 28 February) and were made redundant or stopped working for you after that, and prior to 19 March 2020, can also qualify for the scheme if you re-employ them and put them on furlough.
Please see the attached document for more guidance and for further information visit GOV.UK.
Ofsted | Coronavirus (COVID-19) Rolling Update
Ofsted guidance and information relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) for schools, early years, children's social care and further education and skills providers.
Updated to include information from DfE on planned legislation on temporary flexibility to the EYFS. Click here to view the latest updates.
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
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 Wellbeing
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@berkshire.nhs.uk