Opening of Early Years Settings
Please continue to keep the local authority informed of your opening plans by using the Early years returns. Your Early years link worker will email reminders to complete this.
Remaining open during National Lockdown
The COVID situation is continually evolving. At present all early year’s providers (including registered childminders but not including reception years in primary schools) can remain open during this period of national lockdown.
To help provide clarity we have compiled some Questions and Answers based on current guidance.
Please make sure you keep up to date with government guidance including the guidance issued by Public Health England on the management of COVID-19.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) contingency framework for education and childcare settings – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- How to contact Public Health England (poster) – If you have a confirmed COVID-19 case in your early years setting, as well as following the existing guidance please can you also send an email to publichealth@somerset.gov.uk
- Flowchart – guidance for settings in the management of COVID-19
- 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 –
Education Plans from September 2020 – Guidance about Ofsted’s phased return to inspection
Guidance for Early Years Settings – COVID-19 Operating Procedures
Coronavirus Useful links for reopening
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.
Entitlement funding
Where to find information
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
Business and financial support
Please see the guidance at Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Please note sector specific guidance for early years.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended to 30 April 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
The COVID-19 hardship grant will remain in place until the end of December 2020 for any setting that is experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.
This is a temporary measure in response to COVID-19 and subject to a successful application process.
Please contact your area link worker for more information.
Advice for staff, parents and children
Please adhere to government guidance and follow the NHS advice
Wellbeing – Every Mind Matters
Educational resources
campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/resources/campaigns/101-coronavirus-/resources
campaignresources.phe.gov.uk/schools
Resources for talking to children about COVID-19
Holiday clubs and out of school settings
Guidance on protective measures for Holiday and Out of School Settings – updated 20 August 2020
Guidance for parents and carers of children attending Holiday and Out of School Settings – updated 20 August 2020
Protective measures for Holiday and out of school clubs during COVID pandemic (updated 27 November 2020)
EYFS
Paragraph 3.30 of the EYFS states:
‘Exceptionally, and where the quality of care and safety and security of children is maintained, changes to the ratios may be made.’
We consider the extent of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to be an exceptional temporary circumstance in which the staff to child ratios set out in the EYFS can be changed if necessary. However, childcare providers or schools remain responsible for ensuring the safety and security of children in their care and for their staff.
Ratios for childminders remain maximum of 6 children under the age of 8 years.
Early Years Foundation Stage: Coronavirus disapplications
The DfE will be asking early years practitioners to use their best endeavours to complete the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile for children in the summer term 2021, however it will not be mandatory.
If you haven’t found what you need, or need more support please phone us on 0300 123 2224
Covid EY Team link workers
| Area | Link Worker | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ansford/Wincanton | Heather Stebbing | hstebbing@somerset.gov.uk | 07890 580964 |
| Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster | Sarah Love | splove@somerset.gov.uk | 07919 540711 |
| Frome and Shepton Mallet | Sarah Love | splove@somerset.gov.uk | 07919 540711 |
| Street and Glastonbury | Alison Jeffery | ajeffery@somerset.gov.uk | 07977 401872 |
| Yeovil, Stoke Sub Hamdon and Huish Episcopi | Jo Sawyer | jsawyer@somerset.gov.uk | 07976 816811 |
| Bridgwater | Ali Highfield | ahighfield@somerset.gov.uk | 07823 537446 |
| Burnham & Cheddar | Ali Highfield | ahighfield@somerset.gov.uk | 07823 537446 |
| Taunton | Nikki Difford | nldifford@somerset.gov.uk | 07919 540564 |
| Wellington and Wiveliscombe | Nikki Difford | nldifford@somerset.gov.uk | 07919 540564 |
| West Somerset | Nikki Difford | nldifford@somerset.gov.uk | 07919 540564 |
Area SENCO
| Area | SENCO | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ansford/Wincanton | Mikaela Jauncey | mjauncey@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 309957 |
| Chard, Crewkerne and Ilminster | Wendy Toy | wtoy@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 310510 |
| Frome and Shepton Mallet | Karen Foster | kzfoster@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 310486 |
| Huish Episcopi | Wendy Toy | wtoy@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 310510 |
| Street and Glastonbury | Kiri Gibson | kzgibson@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 310515 |
| Street and Glastonbury | Karen Foster | kzfoster@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 310486 |
| Yeovil, Stoke Sub Hamdon | Mikaela Jauncey | mjauncey@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 309957 |
| Bridgwater | Kiri Gibson | kzgibson@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 310515 |
| Bridgwater | Karen Marsh | kmarsh@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 308382 |
| Burnham & Cheddar | Karen Marsh | kmarsh@somerset.gov.uk | 07811 308382 |
| Taunton | Sarah Stent | sstent@somerset.gov.uk | 07890 581139 |
| Wellington and Wiveliscombe | Jo McDonough | jmcdonough@somerset.gov.uk | 07919 540560 |
| West Somerset | Jo McDonough | jmcdonough@somerset.gov.uk | 07919 540560 |