Coronavirus Update
During the Coronavirus outbreak, the situation will be changing rapidly both nationally and locally.
We will use this page to hold all the latest guidance and advice for settings.
FIS Regular Updates
Annual Childcare Audit and Census, Early Years and Childcare Workforce Strategy meeting, Early Years Inclusion Fund Applications, Disability Access Fund (DAF) Application, SENCo Network Training, Nasen Training, The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families, Forest School Network Update, Forest School – Forest Kindergarten, Pacey Careers in Childcare Recruitment, Contact Information
Early Years Inclusion Fund, Disability Living Allowance, SENCO Network, Brightsparks, Covid Case Reporting, Tiny Happy People, Storytelling in Early Years, Reading Research, Annual Childcare Audit, Childcare Brokerages,Contact Information
Staffing concerns, Updated Covid Guidance, Safeguarding Children: Working Together A 2021/22, Annual Childcare Audit and Census, Education Endowment Foundation Survey, Child in Care Practitioner Network Training, Childcare Brokerages, Current Vacancies, Contact Information
Annual Childcare Audit and Census – reminder to complete, Ofsted withdraws and clarifies guidance on significant events and health changes, Self-isolation in England to be cut to five full days, government confirms, Safeguarding information, Childcare brokerages x 4, New Early Start course delivered by Family Learning - correction, Forest School update, Providers and COVID weekly pulse survey: COVID absences, Contact Information
Quality Improvement Team Information
Keeping in touch with Families
The Coronavirus crisis has created significant challenges for Early Years providers with the sudden closure of some settings having an impact on children, families and practitioners alike. During the current climate it is imperative to keep in touch with families; those that are staying at home and those that may be self -isolating. Early years practitioners have a special relationship with the children in their care. This is particularly true for key persons and the children they are assigned to.
A few suggestions to help you stay in touch with families during the crisis:
- Send out regular e-newsletters to parents who are still using the setting and those who are at home, this will help you keep in touch and share relevant information
- Provide parents or a child’s temporary new setting with your most recent summative assessment of their child’s learning and development. Make suggestions as to how they can support any skills their child was on the cusp of mastering, or that they may need a little more support with.
- Create an online album of photographs you have taken with the children and share with families so that children can look through them with their families.
- If parents are willing and able to, ask if you can use Facetime, Skype or Zoom to speak with children.
- Ask parents to share tasks with children – such as asking them to draw a picture to share with you.
- You could record or livestream a storytime session. Use one of the children’s favourite books and try and make it a regular activity. Parents can use the videos multiple times if needed to help keep you in their children’s minds.
- Share some activity ideas with parents – think of things that you may have usually done in your setting that they can recreate easily at home
CPD resources for staff – trauma and loss
We would like to draw your attention to some resources from our Educational Psychology team which could be useful for you and your staff. These resources include:
- Trauma-informed approaches to Behaviour
- Loss and bereavement booklets:
- Supporting Bereaved Children
- When Someone Close Dies
- Critical incident guide
These resources can be found on the Educational Psychology area of the York Education website.
COVID 19 FAQs for childminders
The Department for Education has produced a FAQ's document for childminders relating to COVID-19, a copy of which is here.
Resources to support outdoor learning
Learning through Landscapes (LtL) have launched a Facebook group for educators on outdoor learning. LtL aim to provide Webinars, lesson ideas and resources for outdoor learning and play through the virtual forum.
Learning through the Landscapes
Forest School Update
Please see below information from Andy Mulholland on Forest School networks and the information on exploring different types of play.
Makaton Training
Please also find below details from The Makaton Charity who have made some Makaton Training available online.
Activities to do at home/setting
Early years home learning collection
Health body Healthy mind guides
Learning and Development Support
Communication, Language and Literacy
Audible
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: all children’s audiobooks are available for free while schools are closed.
Registration: not required
Authorfy
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: access to masterclasses on texts from a range of authors, including videos from the authors and activities linked to novels.
Registration: is required
BookTrust
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: a site with recommended booklists, categorised by age range and topic, including fiction and non-fiction. Family activities are included in the ‘Home Time’ section.
Registration: not required
Classroom Secrets
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: downloadable resource packs which cover a range of subjects, including reading and writing.
Registration: not required
Personal Social and Emotional Support
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: wellbeing advice for all those supporting children and young people.
Registration: not required
British Psychological Society (BPS)
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: advice on dealing with school closures and talking to children about COVID-19.
Registration: not required
Children’s Commissioner
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: a downloadable guide for children about coronavirus.
Registration: not required
MindEd
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: an educational resource for all adults on children and young people’s mental health.
Registration: not required, but registration increases functionality
The Child Bereavement Network
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: advice on supporting grieving children during the coronavirus outbreak.
Registration: not required
Physical Development
Boogie Beebies
Key stages: early years foundation stage
Description: videos that get younger children up and dancing with CBeebies presenters.
Registration: not required
Disney 10 Minute Shakeups
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: 10-minute activities based on Disney films that count towards a child’s 60 active minutes per day.
Registration: not required
Mathematics
Mathematics Mastery
Description: downloadable guidance and resource packs for parents and pupils.
Key stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2
Registration: not required
Nrich
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: a range of activities. Some are interactive and some are to be completed offline. Activities are categorised by age range.
Registration: not required
Numberblocks
Key stages: early years foundation stage and key stage 1
Description: videos for numeracy development designed for children aged 0 to 6. There are fun activities that can be applied to everyday life and play.
Registration: not required
Top Marks
Key stages: early years foundation stage, key stage 1 and key stage 2
Description: a range of interactive maths games categorised by age group.
Registration: not required
White Rose Maths (home learning)
Key stages: early years foundation stage to key stage 2
Description: presentations and downloadable workbooks which are easy to use for parents. New material is being released each week.
Registration: not required
Training and Development for staff teams
Mylo york.learningpool.com/login/
Early Years Alliance eyalliance.org.uk/
ABC (Alistair Bryce Clegg) abcdoes.com/
SEND Guidance
Legislation around increased access to outdoor spaces has now been relaxed for people with Autism and other SEND needs. An excerpt of the guidance is copied directly here but for the full government guidance see attached link.
15. Can I exercise more than once a day if I need to due to a significant health condition?
You can leave your home for medical need. If you (or a person in your care) have a specific health condition that requires you to leave the home to maintain your health - including if that involves travel beyond your local area - then you can do so. This could, for example, include where individuals with learning disabilities or autism require specific exercise in an open space two or three times each day - ideally in line with a care plan agreed with a medical professional.
Even in such cases, in order to reduce the spread of infection and protect those exercising, travel outside of the home should be limited, as close to your local area as possible, and you should remain at least 2 metres apart from anyone who is not a member of your household or a carer at all times.
Support can be found at the website Ambitious About Autism
Please find Government guidance on supporting mental health and well-being for children and young people with SEND here.
Please find FAQs from the Council for Disabled Children here
The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) has launched two mailboxes to answer questions, collate resources and share information on Coronavirus and the impact on children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). They are designed to be used by professionals, practitioners, parents, carers and families of children and young people with SEND.
This Department for Education (DfE) guidance is for special schools, specialist colleges, local authorities and any other settings managing children and young people with complex special educational needs and disability (SEND).
Useful Links
Information on providers currently open
York Council - www.york.gov.uk/coronavirus
Children and Young People's Safeguarding Partnership Information
Early Years Alliance Guidance & Business Advice
The National Autistic Society tips and advice
Hungry Little Minds Activities
NSPCC safeguarding and child protection
Keeping Children safe - Parents' digital safety and wellbeing kit (PDF)
Guidance on Absence from School or Early Years Setting
Vulnerable Children: Guidance for Early Years Providers
Early Years Home Learning Activities
Hempsall's Managing Your Way Through COVID-19
We had excellent engagement from nurseries, playgroup, childminders at the Hempsall’s sessions 2020/21. Please see below for presentations and further information:
In a nutshell - planning guide for early years and childcare
PACEY Symptoms and testing flow chart
York Child Minders finding your way slides
York Nurseries and Preschools finding your way slides
York Out of School Clubs finding your way slides
Contact Information
In order to ensure that Covid-19 related queries from settings are dealt with as effectively and efficiently as possible please direct all emails to:
Quality Improvement EYCqualityimprovement@york.gov.uk
Early Education Funding earlyyearsfunding@york.gov.uk
Other early years and childcare issues eycc@york.gov.uk
Please also be clear in your subject heading.
For public health related enquiries (related to COVID-19 or otherwise), please contact enquires.publichealth@york.gov.uk
Department for Education coronavirus / COVID-19 helpline: 0800 046 8687 (8am Mon - Friday) - email dfe.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Social Care - If you have significant concern regarding a vulnerable child:
- If the matter is urgent please contact the Front Door /MASH Monday – Friday between 8.30am and 5pm on 01904 551900 where you will be able to discuss your concerns with a social worker.
- If it is out of hours please contact the Emergency Duty Team on 01609 780780 or if a child is at immediate risk please contact North Yorkshire Police.
Page last updated: 11 February 2022
Contact us
York Family Information Service
West Offices
York Y01 6GA
Tel: 01904 554444