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 28/04/2020. 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
New Slough Giving COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund
Help Slough's COVID-19 Relief Effort to Support the Most Vulnerable
Slough CVS (SCVS) launches the Slough Giving Covid 19 Response and Recovery Fund today, to support our voluntary sector so that they can provide vital ongoing services for Slough residents. People and organisations across Slough are making incredible efforts and are working together to support the most vulnerable people across our communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has made the lives of the vulnerable so much more difficult, isolating them and exposing them to other issues, such as mental health problems and job insecurity.
The Challenge
Vital services, provided by the voluntary sector are having no choice but to close, others are having to change the way they provide support in order to prevent infection.
Vulnerable Residents Need your Help
We need to ensure that vital services, often a lifeline for residents are being met, including: getting food to people who are isolated and in greatest need; protecting our most vulnerable children while schools are closed; helping people who have recently left hospital; supporting people with their mental wellbeing; helping people who are struggling with debt; making regular contact with isolated elderly people and ensuring disabled and frail have medical supplies are being met.
Our voluntary sector in Slough is robust and has really stepped up to the huge challenges, but needs sufficient funding to be able to ensure we are supporting everyone who needs support during this emergency.
Many people who cannot donate their time have been asking me what they can do to help instead, so we have set up this fund so people can donate and we can help provide much needed cash for the local charities and organisations who are doing so much for so many people.Ramesh Kukar - Chief Executive of SCVS
Now it’s Time to Play Your Part
Spread the word about donating to this fund, 100% of which will be used by community groups, charities and not-for-profit initiatives, who are supporting the many vulnerable people in Slough.
Donate to Slough Giving COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund at: www.localgiving.org/sloughgiving.
Businesses Can Help Too
Business can donate in-kind resources such as goods or services and can email us at: Sloughcommunityresponse@sloughcvs.org.uk
New Government Updates for 27/04/2020 & 28/04/2020
COVID-19 | Attendance in Education and Early Years Settings
A summary of how many children and teachers attended education and childcare settings since Monday 23 March. Updated data and added summary of data returns to 24 April 2020. Please click here for more information.
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 note that temporary legislation relating to the early years foundation stage is now passed in parliament. Click here to find out more.
New Free Online Learning Platform to Boost Workplace Skills
Online platform ‘The Skills Toolkit’ will help people to build their skills during the Coronavirus outbreak and beyond. To view the online platfirm and the resources it has to offer click here.
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
Announcement from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has announced that anyone in England who has symptoms of Coronavirus and is classed as an essential worker, and members of their household who are currently experiencing symptoms, will be able get tested.
A new campaign will help essential workers in England to access testing – this includes staff working in early years settings.
From today, employers can register online and refer self-isolating staff, and from tomorrow employees will be able to book a test directly on gov.uk for themselves or members of their household who are experiencing symptoms – a high temperature or new continuous.
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.