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 23/04/2020. 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
HMRC Webinar | Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme | How to Make a Claim
As part of the government’s commitment to supporting employers through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, you can now claim online for a grant for 80% of your furloughed employees’ salaries through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
The following live webinar provides a step-by-step guide on how to make a claim through the scheme.
During this webinar we’ll be taking you through the following steps:
- Essential information
- Before you make your claim
- Calculating your claim
- Processing your claim
- After submitting your claim
If you’ve missed any of our other recent webinars, or have been unable to join, you can now view a recording on HMRC’s YouTube channel.
We will endeavour to bring you the most up-to-date information to keep you fully informed of changes as they develop.
New Government Updates for 22/04/2020 & 23/04/2020
COVID-19 | Guidance on Supporting Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing
Advice for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Please click here to learn more.
Government Link Reminders
Actions for Early Years and Childcare Providers During the Coronavirus Outbreak
This guidance covers providers registered with Ofsted and childminders registered with childminder agencies for children of all ages, including nurseries and wraparound childcare and clubs (before and after school and holiday care). Please click here to see learn more.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Financial Support for Education, Early Years and Children’s Social Care
Funding and financial support available for education, childcare and children’s social care organisations. Please click here to find out more.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: step by step guide for employers
This guide explains the information that employers need to provide to claim for their employees’ wages. Please note that if you are an employer making a claim, you need to follow the processes explained in the guidance page Claim for your employees’ wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on GOV.UK.
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.
Reminders
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 |
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.
All previous updates can be found on TheLink website: https://thelink.slough.gov.uk/news/covid-19-latest-updates-schools-early-years-and-fe-providers