EYRG Minutes 15 May 2024

Early Years Reference Group Minutes: 15 May 2024, 18.00 - 19.30 via Teams

Present

• Helen Gibson - EY Lead (Chair)
• Jo Chan - Early Years Teacher Consultant  - SCC 
• Karen Greenan - Early Years Sufficiency & Market Development Consultant - SCC
• Kev Taylor - Continuous Improvement Partner - SCC
• Amanda Richards - Early Education & Childcare Development Officer - SCC
• Felicity Pepper - EEAC Entitlement Officer - SCC
• Karen Winfer - Accountancy Support Team Leader-SCC
• Keziah Dewing - Payments Manager- SCC
• Rosie Boardman - Senior Specialist Teacher Consultant for SEND and Early Years-SCC
• Amanda Richards - EEAC Development Officer
• Vicki Green - EEAC Sufficiency Data Officer - SCC
• Michelle Lindley / Julie Wetton - Sandytots
• Tim Hopkins -Humpty Dumpty
• Sharon Keane - Childminder
• Sadie Shenton-Jones - Dollymixtures/PVI Rep on Schools Forum
• Jo Di Castiglione - Greenhall Nursery
• Nadine Key - Oaklands Nursery School
• Megan McComiskie - Colwich Preschool
• Rob Lawford - childminder

Apologies

• Cllr Mark Sutton- Cabinet Member for Children and Young People
• Debbie Nash - Education Commissioning Officer - SCC
• Helen Townsend - Hey Diddle Diddle
• Becky Haynes - Codsall Community Nursery
• Sarah McCormick - Little Owl Childcare
• Jayne Waterman - Little People Nursery
• Jude Russell - Staffordshire Safeguarding Childrens Board (SSCP)
• Natasha Richards - Wolstanton Kindergarten/ Cheadle Kindergarten
• Philip Siddell - Humpty Dumpty / PVI Rep on Schools Forum

Minutes and matters from last meeting

• Calling cards-should be in all districts now.
• Helen Gibson responded to Philip Siddell directly-survey can be shared wider.
  
  
• Minutes were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting.

1.   New funded entitlements-update & Wraparound project overview

Kev Taylor shared PowerPoint presentation.

Providers have expressed concern that once the new wraparound provision is established, schools may decide to take over, as this has happened before.

Action: Kev Taylor & Helen Gibson - will feed back concern to the Department for Education (DfE) at regional meetings.

Early Years Forum Update

Since September the Early Years Forum now comes under remit of Early Years team, alongside the Family Hub managers who now chair the meetings. Numbers of referrals have significantly increased.  

Working group has been set up with key stakeholders to review Forum and how it is operating across districts. Its Terms of Reference have been reviewed in line with the SEND and Inclusion Terms of Reference.  A triage process is in operation at particularly busy times.

Parent carer feedback sessions are running currently to gain feedback. 

Capacity in team has increased by addition of three full time Area Senco’s. Phone helpline is still available so providers should make use of this when needed.

One provider shared the positive news that feedback from Forum was rapid and that the triage process for Speech & Language worked well.

EYFI Update

Early Years Financial Incentive (EYFI) or Golden Hello-Staffordshire has been selected as one of 20 Local Authorities to trial this short pilot running from April to December 2024. DfE want to know if offering financial incentive will impact and improve recruitment.

The purpose is to attract new staff or staff who have been out of EY workforce for 6 months by offering a £1000 cash incentive. This is payable directly to the staff member after 12 weeks. Eligibility criteria apply. Once provider signs up to participate, settings advertise their vacancy on the Staffordshire Jobs and Careers website. Providers must ensure that the payments are made to the new recruit.

Only one recruit per setting but we will review in June and we may be able to offer more than one recruit per setting, depending on demand.

The local authority will liaise closely with settings who are participating and into Spring term 2025 to enable us to feed back to DfE. Open to all group based settings in Staffordshire.

DfE will monitor recruitment activity across all counties to compare outcomes.

Info available on the webpage Early Years Financial Incentive - "Golden Hello" - and has been promoted on the weekly Early Education and Childcare update and Facebook page.

Action: Vicki Green - will also include a link in the next Sufficiency Survey to ensure all providers have the opportunity to take part.

One provider asked the question regarding recouping National Insurance and tax deductions. Is there an expectation from the HMRC to claw that money back for a recruit who does not complete their 12 weeks?

Action: Jo Chan - to contact HMRC to answer this query.

Another provider asked what happens if it doesn’t work out from the nursery perspective? DfE have instructed that the payment goes to the employee after 12 weeks, but there is no follow up required after that time.

Sector updates - SCC Developments and DfE update/ project

One provider expressed thanks for the communications from the local authority-this has helped them to help parents navigate the new entitlements.

One Childminder reported high demand and lots of enquiries from parents  -member of a network so Childminders are working together to assist parents with places. Feeling positive and optimistic for autumn term.  

One provider stated that Communications from the local authority has been fantastic and parents are well informed.

Tim Hopkins -attended a DfE event and reported that the DfE expect the sector to charge more for a baby place than a 4 yr old place. However, there has been no communications from DfE about this change in business plan?

He also reported that HMRC have declined 2 x parents Universal Credit (UC) claim as the setting provide a cooked meal. UC refuse to pay for the meal as it was included as part of their itemised invoice. Provider agreement states that the invoice should be clear and transparent. 

Also that parents starting work through job centre have 4 weeks of initial childcare paid for. If they don’t remain in the job for that time the HMRC will not pay for the childcare, by which time several hundred pounds of childcare costs have already been accrued.

Action: Kev Taylor - will feed back to HMRC

AOB

None

Date of Next Meeting 15th October 2024 14:00-15:30