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    Thursday 10 January 2019
 
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In this Issue:

FEEE: Payments

Training Courses: 

Health and Safety: Button Battery safety

Local News:

National News: 
 
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Welcome back to the New Year.
 
You will be aware from the September eblast that the Early years support services to providers have merged. From January 1st we will be know as the Early Years, Inclusion and Childcare Service. The joining of the teams will ensure all early years support is in one place. The table below outlines roles of the team within the service.

Early Years, Inclusion and Childcare Service

Service Manager – Sue Wilson

Childcare Sufficiency and Organisations Development Team

Team Manager – Jo Fisher		Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disability Team

Team Manager – Olivia Dale
Early Years Improvement Team

Team Manager – Jennie Bainbridge

Workforce Development Officers and Advisors

Business Development Advisors
Childcare Improvement and Sufficiency Officers

FEEE Co-ordinator and FEEE team

Play, Leisure and Inclusion Officer
Senior Early Years SEND Inclusion Advisor

Early Years SEND Inclusion Advisor

Early Years SEND Inclusion and Portage Practitioner

Senior Early Years Autism Outreach Advisor

Early Years Autism Outreach Practitioner		Senior Early Years Improvement Advisor

Early Years Improvement Advisor
 
A reminder of our contact numbers:

FEEE helpline 0116 305 5788

2YO FEEE 0116 305 6208

Early Years Duty Desk 0116 305 7136

Specialist Teaching Service Advice line 0116 305 9400 Wednesday's 2pm-4pm term time only
 
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FEEE

Spring 2018 Headcount 

The spring headcount is now available for completion via the Provider Portal. The deadline for completion is Wednesday 16th January 2019.  Unless a child has carried forward any unused hours from the Autumn period, the maximum that can be claimed in the Spring period is 180 / 360. 
 
Spring Initial Payments 

All providers will have received 180 / 360 hours of funding in the initial payment for children on roll in the autumn period.  term time only providers will only be able to claim 165 / 330 hours on the headcount task. If this results in a negative figure in the final payment we will not claim this back but roll the deficit over to the next payment run.

Early Years Census

The Early Years Census has been released via Anycomms+.  The Census is an annual return that the Department for Education (DfE) has requested that you complete and return.  Failure to return this form by the deadline date will jeopardise any future funding you may wish to access, so please ensure that you log in to Anycomms+ and complete it fully.  There is a user guide attached to the notification. The deadline for this return will also be the 16th January 2019.

Provider Portal

Guidance has been produced to support you in logging in to the Provider Portal if you forget your password.  Please find details here.

Whilst the headcount task is open you will be able to submit children's information multiple times, so making the system more flexible in line with requests from parents or if you notice any mistakes during the open period, these can be rectified and then the headcount task resubmitted. 
 
2019 Calendar

Details of headcount, adjustment tasks and payment dates for 2019 can be found here.

Invoices

We are receiving an increasing number of parent complaints of providers showing the FEEE funding as a monetary amount on invoices.  This should not happen.   As per your provider agreement guidance, any reference to FEEE hours should show a zero amount. Additional charges for other services should be shown where applicable.

FEEE Helpline

Following research into the use of the FEEE helpline we have changed the opening hours to 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.  Please email feee@leics.gov.uk if you have any queries outside of these hours.
 
 
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Training

The Big Conference: School readiness Book Now

Only £15 to £35 per day. Book Friday and get 50% off Saturday
Friday 8th and Saturday 9th March 2019 at NSPCC Centre, Beaumont Leys
 
Held on two separate days, this is an excellent opportunity to hear from leading professionals on this year's focus; school readiness.  It will involve key speeches, two workshops per day, numerous information stands, lunch and refreshments and the opportunity to network with other providers.
 
Spring courses 2019

All courses are now available to book on Eventbrite.  The courses below are early in the term and available to book through the direct link attached.
  
Early Years Postgraduate Network and Locality Professional Cluster Groups

The Leicestershire Early Years Postgraduate Network (EYP Network) is a professional group of individuals who have gained either Early Years Professional Status, Early Years Teacher Status or Qualified Teacher Status. If you hold any of these qualifications you can join the EYP Network here.
 
Locality based Cluster Groups set up by members of the EYP Network have been successfully running across the county for a number of years, the following cluster groups would now like to expand their membership group and welcome local leaders and managers; who do not necessarily hold EYITT/EYP/QTS:-
  1. North West Leicestershire and Charnwood
  2. Hinckley and Bosworth
  3. Harborough
Each group meets once per term, they undertake professional discussions covering pertinent topics; they have guest speakers, share feedback from events etc.  If you would like to participate in one of these inspiring groups, sharing best practice through peer to peer support please contact Laura.Upton@leics.gov.uk in the first instance.
 
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Health and Safety

Button battery safety
 
Many people are still unaware of the dangers button batteries pose to young children.
 
The batteries, which are often found in toys and gadgets, can be extremely harmful if swallowed or inserted into the ears or nose as they can lead to severe burns, internal bleeding and in some cases death.  Children under the age of 5 years old are particularly at risk as they may mistake them for sweets.

Always keep button batteries out of reach of children and if you think a child may have swallowed a button battery, act quickly.
  • Take them straight to A&E or dial 999 for an ambulance
  • Do not allow your child to eat or drink
  • Do not try and make your child sick
As there are often new toys and gadgets around the house after Christmas, please help us to ensure parents/carers are aware of the dangers. A leaflet and poster are attached to this Bulletin for you to share with parents.
 
For further information:
  • The Child Accident Prevention Trust has advice on its website: www.capt.org.uk/button-batteries
 
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Local News

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – consultation

There is a consultation on the development of new specialist provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We hope you will be able to read the documentation and have time to take part in the consultation.

Referral to Early Years Panel

There is a new form to make referrals to the Early Years Panel.
This can be found on the website at http://resources.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children
Panels are held fortnightly, alternating between East and West
Panel dates for the rest of the year are below:

Applications to be received by Specialist
Teaching Services no later than:		Panel Date:
W= West  E=East                                              
Monday 7th January 2019 Tuesday 15th January 2019 W
Monday 21st January 2019 Tuesday 29th January 2019 E
Monday 4th February 2019Tuesday 12th February 2019 W
Monday 25th February 2019Tuesday 5th March 2019 E
Monday 18th March 2019Tuesday 26th March 2019  W
Monday 1st April 2019Tuesday 9th April 2019 E
Monday 29th April 2019Tuesday 7th May 2019 W
Monday 13th May 2019Tuesday 21st May 2019 E
Monday 3rd June 2019Tuesday 11th June 2019 W
Monday 17th June 2019Tuesday 25th June 2019 E
Monday 1st July 2019Tuesday 9th July 2019  

Please ensure correct postage is paid on applications to avoid delays

Jobs in Childcare
 
We are delighted to announce that a free job vacancy advertising service is now live.
 
The service has been developed to enhance the recruitment and retention of childcare practitioners in Leicestershire.  The aims are to help reduce childcare providers recruitment costs and to be 'the' place for practitioners to go to seek new job opportunities, therefore retaining quality practitioners within Leicestershire.
 
All Leicestershire providers can advertise their vacancies free of charge by completing the Vacancy online form within our Jobs in Childcare website
 
All vacancies will be uploaded on a Friday; therefore providers will need to complete the online form by noon on the Thursday to ensure being included that week.
 
The Online form
When completing the online form providers need to be aware that all sections need to be completed.  You will have the opportunity to include brief:

  • personal specification
  • main duties
  • quality attributes
  • terms and conditions
  • any benefits

 
You will be able to attach your own job descriptions / personal specifications / application forms as well as deciding on the closing date for applications and how replies need to be made from practitioners.
 
Once the vacancy has been submitted, providers will receive an email with a reference number and a summary of the completed form.   After the Early Years and Childcare service has reviewed the information, providers will then receive a second email confirming when the vacancy will go live or declining.  This will give the reasons for not publishing the vacancy (if necessary).
 
If you have an enquiry or if there are any amendments needed to be actioned please email jobsinchildcare@leics.gov.uk and quote your reference number.
 
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National News

Government launches multi-million pound fund to help thousands more low-income families -Extra support for disadvantaged children during school holidays

What to expect, when?

What to Expect When, a parent's guide to the EYFS has recently been rebranded. The purpose of this booklet is to help parents and carers find out more about how their child is learning and developing during their first five years in relation to the EYFS.

Download a free copy of the What to expect, when? guide.

Printed copies can be purchased from the Action for Children website.
 
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This message was sent to nicola.thompson@leics.gov.uk.
 
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