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 updates and information for all settings regarding the operation of provision during COVID-19.
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.
Spread Some Cheer!
Slough Borough Council are hoping to spread some cheer by sharing rainbows children from across Slough have drawn/painted. If children in your setting have created rainbow pictures please share some images of them with their rainbows. Please make sure you have the right permission for images to be shared.
Please ensure the photos taken are taken on an iPhone or similar so we can get a fairly high resolution photo.
It would be great to have some separate photos of the staff working in the setting as we would like to promote them and say thank you to our key/essential workers!
Please email your photo’s to clare.thompson@slough.gov.uk.
Active Slough Online Programme
Check out the brand new online Active Slough programme, bringing you three 30-minute exercise classes a day, Monday-Friday, broadcast live from the Active Slough Facebook page: www.facebook.com/activeslough.
Fun for all the family and FREE!
Daily classes include:
- 11:00 -11:30am relaxation classes (yoga, Pilates, seated exercise)
- 3:30 - 4:00pm after school exercise (bootcamp, bhangra, aerobics)
- 7:00-7:30pm high energy (Caribbean dance, aerobics, boxercise, bhangra).
Slough Libraries are Always Open (Online!)
Our branches may be closed, but our eBook, eAudiobook and eMagazine services are still available. You can also access Kanopy film streaming, online courses and language learning or trace your family history, all with Slough Libraries. You can find details on how to use these services on the SBC website by searching ‘libraries’ and clicking on the icons at the bottom of the page.
You can join online and immediately begin to make use of our digital services. We have invested more into our collections and have increased the number of times you can renew each title. Happy borrowing!
Government Updates | Check if your Employer Can Use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Find out if you’re eligible, and how much your employer can claim if they put you on temporary leave (“furlough”) because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Keeping Children Safe in Education
Statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment.
2 April 2020
Added a link to the guidance 'Coronavirus (COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers.
Gavin Williamson | Secretary of State for Education (@GavinWilliamson) Tweeted at 1:59 pm on Thu, Apr 02, 2020
My enormous thanks to all the nurseries, childminders & early years staff who are continuing to support families during these uncertain times.
Our updated guidance clarifies the support available to them and how to provide safe, quality care.
https://t.co/WuBFfoj7zd (https://twitter.com/GavinWilliamson/status/1245697267673292800?s=09)
We hope you all have a well earned break over the weekend and we look forward to updating you more next week!