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 30/04/2020. 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
Business Growth Hub | Thames Valley Berkshire
One of the most immediate challenges facing businesses amidst the coronavirus outbreak is cashflow. The Chancellor has announced a package of measures to support businesses:
Children’s Commissioner Local Vulnerability Profiles
The Children’s Commissioner’s local area profiles of child vulnerability build on our long-term programme of work on vulnerable children. This data shows, council by council, our latest data on levels of childhood vulnerability. To learn more information on this please click here.
Safeguarding | E-Learning
The NSPCC have offering a 15-minute interactive e learning course FREE to help workers who enter or have access to people’s homes to:
- Recognise the signs of possible child abuse and neglect
- Report concerns either through your work channels, the NSPCC helpline or, if the concern is urgent, the police
- Support those who may have already witnessed signs of child abuse and provide advice.
Crying Babies | ICON Infant Crying
Please see below the link to a video regarding the ICON Infant crying information leaflet. We encourage you all to watch this video to understand how you can support parents and carers to cope with a crying baby. Please share this far and wide within your agency.
For more information and support for professionals, children, parents and carers please visit the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership website: https://www.berkshirewestsafeguardingchildrenpartnership.org.uk/scp/west-berks/west-berkshire
New Government Updates for 29/04/2020 & 30/04/2020
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme | Step by Step Guide for Employers
HM Revenue and Customs has published a step by step guide that explains the information that employers need to provide to make a claim through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and also describes the processes involved. This guide can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-step-by-step-guide-for-employers
The government is committed to supporting people, employers and businesses through the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and HMRC has a range of online support for you.
If you’ve missed any of our live webinars, you can catch up with our series of recorded webinars on HMRC’s YouTube channel – available at a time to suit you.
Whether you’ve already made a claim, or you’re about to, get the information you need by joining the following live webinars. They're interactive giving you the opportunity to ask questions using the on-screen text box.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Job Retention Scheme
During this webinar we’ll cover furloughed workers, who can apply for the scheme, following the rules of the scheme, how much may be claimed, how to claim and what you’ll need to claim.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme | How to Make a Claim
This guides you through making a claim, including the essential information you need, what to do before you make your claim, calculating and processing your claim.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
Providing an overview of the scheme, this webinar looks at who can claim, when to start paying SSP, employees you can claim for, making a claim, keeping records, and more.
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 |
Early Help Provision
We appreciate that our children, young people and families may experience some challenges in the coming weeks.
Where possible, the Early Help Hub will continue to provide support to families through our family support. If you require support from the EH Hub team and you have a family support worker already, please contact them directly or call us on 01753 476589.
If you are not currently supported by our family support workers but require support and advice, please call us on 01753 476589 and our Family Information Service will be happy to provide you with information and advice to ensure you get the support you need. If this line is not available you can access the website by clicking on the following link: www.sloughfamilyservices.org.uk.
If the child or young person requires immediate protection please call the Front Door Hub on 01753 875362 and send the electronic multi-agency referral form (MARF) to sloughchildren.referrals@scstrust.co.uk
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.