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Home Coronavirus – Updates for Early Years
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Coronavirus – Updates for Early Years

Information for Early Years staff and parents

  • Information and guidance

  • Where to find information

  • Business and financial support

  • Advice for staff, parents and children

  • Holiday clubs and out of school settings

  • Covid EY Team link workers

  • Area SENCO

  • Contact

Information and guidance

Government guidance

  • From 17 March 2022, if someone in a Childminder’s household has tested positive or has COVID-19 symptoms, Childminders can continue to childmind from home. Please follow the advice in the guidance Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread.
  • Management of COVID in early years children – Actions for parents and carers
  • COVID-19 early outbreak management – early years settings
  • Guidance – Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
  • Guidance – What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

Local guidance

  • Guidance for Early Years Settings – COVID-19 Operating Procedures
  • Coronavirus Useful links for reopening
  • Coronavirus Risk Assessment
  • Transition back to settings

The Educational Psychology Service is offering an individual training opportunity for all staff working in early years settings, and schools to support children and young people as they return following the COVID-19 restrictions.

The session is approximately 90 minutes long and is accessed through YouTube  It includes several short activities and opportunities for reflection within in it.

More information

Tips to promote your early years setting

Where to find information

Watch back our Spring Term Provider Information Evening for updates: https://tinyurl.com/ProviderEvening

Updates on COVID-19

Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus outbreak – on GOV.UK

Education Psychology Service Helpline – Phone support for parents and carers.

Department for Education helpline: 0800 046 8687 – Opening hours: 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday

Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk

Latest Department for Education information

Twitter
Facebook

Business and financial support

You can find Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care guidance on www.gov.uk. Please note sector specific guidance for early years.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended to 30 September 2021.

Useful Guidance on sources of financial support – PACEY

See the web links for sources of financial support including for the Self-Employed

Please refer to the government guidance for information on the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and statutory sick pay relief for SMEs

Latest information and advice for businesses

Guidance, advice, support packages and information are being released and updated on a daily basis for businesses and the self-employed. For current details please visit the COVID 19 web pages on Heart of the South West Growth Hub.

Responsibilities to staff when closed
Please adhere to employment regulations and liaise with childcare’s insurance (legal team)

Useful Guidance on Coronavirus – advice for employers and employees – ACAS

COVID-19 Hardship Grant
If your setting is experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 then you can apply for up to £10,000 using the COVID-19 EY Hardship fund. Your link worker can send you the application form and accompanying guidance documents. Please note that the hardship fund is available to all settings including childminders and wrap around care providers. If your setting is experiencing financial hardship due to a drop in income because of reduced numbers of funded children or fee paying children then you can apply.
*Please note that this is subject to financial scrutiny and a successful application process. The deadlines for returning grant applications are below.

  • 23 April 2021
  • 25 June 2021
  • 24 September 2021
  • 26 November 2021
  • 21 January 2022
  • 25 February 2022

Please email your application to EarlyYearsTeam@somerset.gov.uk in good time for consideration by the grants panel.

Advice for staff, parents and children

Please adhere to government guidance and follow the NHS advice

Wellbeing – Every Mind Matters

Winter Readiness Toolkit
The Winter Readiness Toolkit is designed to help settings with planning and preparation for winter infections. It includes a link to the “Spotty Book 2021” produced by Public Health England SW Health Protection Team. This serves as a practical guide to recognising and managing common infectious disease and out breaks.

NHS England and NHS Improvement South West – Schools and Nurseries Guidance

Educational resources

campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/101-coronavirus-/resources

campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools

STC – Signs and Symbols 

What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges – GOV.UK

Resources for talking to children about COVID-19

www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk/Services/3242

Holiday clubs and out of school settings

Guidance on protective measures for Holiday and Out of School Settings

Guidance for parents and carers of children attending Holiday and Out of School Settings

Protective measures for Holiday and out of school clubs during COVID pandemic

Covid EY Team link workers

AreaLink WorkerEmailTelephone
Ansford/WincantonHeather Stebbinghstebbing@somerset.gov.uk07890 580964
Chard, Crewkerne and IlminsterSarah Lovesplove@somerset.gov.uk07919 540711
Frome and Shepton MalletSarah Lovesplove@somerset.gov.uk07919 540711
Street and GlastonburyAlison Jefferyajeffery@somerset.gov.uk07977 401872
Yeovil, Stoke Sub Hamdon and Huish EpiscopiJo Sawyerjsawyer@somerset.gov.uk07976 816811
BridgwaterAli Highfieldahighfield@somerset.gov.uk07823 537446
Burnham & CheddarAli Highfieldahighfield@somerset.gov.uk07823 537446
TauntonNikki Diffordnldifford@somerset.gov.uk07919 540564
Wellington and WiveliscombeNikki Diffordnldifford@somerset.gov.uk07919 540564
West SomersetNikki Diffordnldifford@somerset.gov.uk07919 540564

Area SENCO

AreaSENCOEmailTelephone
Ansford/WincantonMikaela Jaunceymjauncey@somerset.gov.uk07811 309957
Chard, Crewkerne and IlminsterWendy Toywtoy@somerset.gov.uk07811 310510
Frome and Shepton MalletKaren Fosterkzfoster@somerset.gov.uk07811 310486
Huish EpiscopiWendy Toywtoy@somerset.gov.uk07811 310510
Street and GlastonburyKiri Gibsonkzgibson@somerset.gov.uk07811 310515
Street and GlastonburyKaren Fosterkzfoster@somerset.gov.uk07811 310486
Yeovil, Stoke Sub HamdonMikaela Jaunceymjauncey@somerset.gov.uk07811 309957
BridgwaterKiri Gibsonkzgibson@somerset.gov.uk07811 310515
BridgwaterKaren Marshkmarsh@somerset.gov.uk07811 308382
Burnham & CheddarKaren Marshkmarsh@somerset.gov.uk07811 308382
TauntonSarah Stentsstent@somerset.gov.uk07890 581139
Wellington and WiveliscombeJo McDonoughjmcdonough@somerset.gov.uk07919 540560
West SomersetJo McDonoughjmcdonough@somerset.gov.uk07919 540560

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