Year: 2021

The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated Keeping children safe in education 2021 statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England.

Updates include: ‘Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’; ‘What parents and carers need to know about early years providers, schools and colleges during COVID-19’; ‘Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’, ‘Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’, ‘Reported coronavirus (COVID-19) notifications by registered early years and childcare settings’ and ‘new food safety resource’.

The newsletter contains an update on special school places, Devon County Council’s new SEND website and how you can provide your feedback. In addition, the Autism resources toolkit, with a vast range of information on a number of topics and the newsletter includes an update on the Ambassador Volunteer Project.

DEL Devon Learning is a training website for early years practitioners containing a range of short courses and eLearning modules. If your staff need to access training, contact the Early Years Workforce Development Team to request a DEL training account.

Advice for early years settings from Public Health England about the increase in acute respiratory infections amongst children and staff.

The Summer Term Amendment Task is currently available with a deadline of 23.59 on 31st August 2021. We have also issued an updated ‘570 Hours Remaining’ report via the Provider Portal. If you have any amendments to hours, new starters or leavers, increases/decreases, or Ad Hoc sessions that have been booked please ensure that the task is updated and submitted by the deadline.

Working parents of 3 and 4 years old in England may be entitled to up to 30 hours of childcare for 38 weeks of the year (term time) or use less hours per week for up to 52 weeks of the year (stretched).

The DCFP are trying to gather information on how the Graded Care Profile 2 Assessment Tool has helped you and the families you are working with. Please help them by completing a short survey.

Updates include: ‘Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’; ‘Use of PPE in education, childcare and children’s social care’; ‘Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’ and ‘an open letter from Ministers Ford and Churchill to early years providers’

The aim of the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme is to support children to eat more healthily, be more active over the school holidays and have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition as well as be more engaged with school and other local services.