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 from 27/05/2020. 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 and Childcare COVID-19 Recovery Planning
We have updated the attached ‘Early Years and Childcare COVID-19 Recovery Planning’ documents to help you prepare to reopen to more children from 1st June. This document has been updated in line with the publication of Preparing for the wider opening of early years and childcare settings from 1 June.
The Early Years and Prevention Service will be making contact with all settings over the next few weeks to discuss what your plans are regarding opening or wider opening of your service? If you are not planning to open in the very near future please let us know so we can update our records, alternatively if you are planning to open please contact the team to discuss what support we can offer you at this time. Contact 01753 476554 or email earlyyears@slough.gov.uk.
Data collection
The next data collection will be on Thursday 28 May for all early years settings who are currently open. Please complete the following table and submit by 12pm on Thursday to earlyyears@slough.gov.uk
Attendance Totals – Children Aged 0–4 Years Old Only
- Total number of children who are attending your educational setting today 0-4 years old
- Number of children who’s parents are critical workers
- Children in need (CIN)
- Number of children with an Education , Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan)
- Number of children who are both CIN and have an EHC Plan
- Number of children assessed as vulnerable by providers or local authorities but not CIN and without an EHC Plan
Reopening and Business Sustainability - A Free Digital Conference
This one is going to be all about business sustainability We'll cover how to stay on top of your setting's finances and keep your business going in a climate of potentially up-and-down occupancy, and how to plan properly for the future.
We'll be welcoming the following guests for our special one hour session between 10-11AM on Friday 29th May:
- Neil Leitch - CEO, Early Years Alliance
- Ruth Pimentel - CEO, Kindred Nurseries
- Gary Langan - Owner, Silven Business Consultancy.
For further information click here.
PACEY Webniar
**LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE - www.pacey.org.uk/RTW-webinar **
Tonight we are hosting a webinar to discuss the reopening of settings and the planning guide that was released on Sunday. The webinar will feature PACEY Chief Executive, Liz Bayram, as well as childminder and PACEY Chair, Jane Comeau.
To sign up, please log in to the members area and fill in the short form - www.pacey.org.uk/RTW-webinar
New Government Updates for 26/05/2020 & 27/05/2020
NSPCC | Guidance and Information for Early Years Providers
We’ve produced a briefing pulling together key guidance for providers of early years services from all four UK nations on keeping children safe. It answers frequently asked questions including how childcare settings can support and protect children who are not attending. Click here to read the guidance in full.
Ofsted | 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 add information on completing social care and early years forms online. Click here to read the full update.
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 closed and are considering opening 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
Preparing For the Wider Opening of Early Years and Childcare Settings from 1 June
A planning guide for early years providers, in England, to help prepare them to open their settings for all children from 1 June 2020 can be found here.
You should read this planning guide alongside: