Welcome to Jigsaw, a monthly E-bulletin from Sunderland Children’s Services for people working within Attendance, Childcare, Children's Centres and Extended Schools in Sunderland.
 

1. NEWS

Children's Centre Event Promotes Healthy Eating

Sunderland Children’s Centres have stepped up their campaign to encourage more people to improve their health, diet and lifestyle by teaming up with local organisations to host a special health event.

The health themed fun day, which involved the Mayoress of Sunderland, Councillor Mary Smith, was organised by Sunderland Children’s Centres and supported by the Raich Carter Sports Centre, Back on the Map, Thorburns Fruit and Veg, and Northumbrian Water amongst many others to help promote healthy living in Sunderland.

For more on this story and other Children's Centre news visit the new Sunderland Children's Centre website

Marketing Campaign Planned to Promote Childcare Tax Credits

To help improve the take up of childcare in the city, Sunderland City Council is looking to promote the affordability of childcare through the childcare element of Working Tax Credits.

As part of this process we are keen to support and build upon the work already being done by settings and to assess what is and isn't working. The plan is then to use resources in the best possible way to help support the work which is being done in the marketplace.

If your setting is already promoting the childcare element of Working Tax Credits we would be keen to hear from you. Please send your contact details to Rad Ainley at esagmarketing@sunderland.gov.uk or call him on 0191 553 5782.
 

2. OFSTED NEWS

Voluntary Part of Childcare Register Now Available online

The on-line registration application is now available for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register. You can access the new service and find out more information on the Childcare Register here.

New Ofsted Self Evaluation forms now available online

The new self evaluation forms (SEF) that will be used in all future Ofsted inspections from September 2008 is now available and can be found below as well as a guidance document to help you complete the forms.

Self Evaluation Form

Guidance document

To talk to someone about the new SEF please call Judith Walker on 0191 553 5636 or email Judith
 

3. SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

Family Support in Sunderland is Evolving

As Sunderland City Council continues working to make Sunderland one of the most child friendly places in the UK, the way in which thousands of families living in the city can access help and information on a range of family issues is changing.

As a result of the Government’s change in agenda, from July 2008 the Children’s Information Service Sunderland will be changing to the Families Information Service and will open up the service to many more parents and children.

Click for more details on the Families Information Service

New Child and Family Support Service in Sunderland

A new Child and Family Support service is now available through Children’s Centres and Extended Schools for children aged 0-12 and their families.

It is recognised that not all referrals made to Children’s Services Social Care require such a high level of intervention, and that there is a need for a lower level of service for children and their families. The danger is that without support there is a likelihood that these children will be considered in need of safeguarding in the future.

To prevent these lower level needs escalating, the Child and Family Support Service has been developed to provide appropriate and targeted support to children and families at a much earlier stage.

For further information on the new Child and Family Support Service

Tax Benefits for Families Living with Disabled Children

Thousands more families from across the UK with disabled children will be better off after realising they are entitled to extra tax credits.

Up to 30,000 families from across the country were not getting the disability element of tax credits because they did not know to tell HM Revenue and Customs they were receiving Disability Living Allowance.

More information on the tax benefits available for families with disabled children can be found here.

New Website to Support Fathers is Launched

The Families Matters Institute has launched its new website which is designed to provide fathers with additional parenting support.

The site will provide a special forum where dads can talk and offer each other advice and support. It will also host articles, videos and podcasts which will help them to participate in debates. Fathers can be signposted to appropriate specialist services through the new site, which was launched in June. Visit www.dadtalk.co.uk
 

4. NEWS FOR PRACTITIONERS

Funding for Early Years Workforce Development

To ensure that quality childcare services are provided for families, it is essential a suitably qualified workforce is embedded at the heart of those services. The Government's response to the Children's Workforce Strategy consultation, published in February 2006, set out plans to establish a more professional early years workforce.

As such extra money has been made available to local authorities to help up skill staff in daycare settings to graduate status.

To find out more on how to apply for funding towards attaining graduate status contact Helen Chart on 0191 553 5784 or email helen

Early Years Professional Status

The Government's aim is to have an Early Years Professional in every Children's Centre offering early years provision by 2010 and in every full day care setting by 2015. To become an Early Years Professional (EYP), you need to gain Early Years Professional Status.

EYPS will be key to raising the quality of provision in early years settings, leading practice across the Early Years Foundation Stage and being a role model for other practitioners in safeguarding and supporting children's learning and development. The status is awarded to people who can demonstrate that they meet a set of national graduate level EYP Standards when working with children from birth to five.

Click for further information on EYPS courses in Sunderland and entry qualifications.

Childminders Being Scammed by fake ‘parents’

Childminders in Sunderland are being warned to be careful about a new scam being perpetrated by ‘parents’ returning from abroad looking for childcare. The scam involves the prepayment by cheque for childcare which is overpaid by a significant amount. The childminder usually refunds the difference without realising the original cheque has bounced.

Find more information on the childminder fraud scam here.
 

5. TRAINING

Sunderland Children's Centres in the North are now recruiting for a range of training courses which will begin in September 2008. Courses available include:

Childminding Course (8 weeks)
Classroom Assistant (16 weeks)
Personal Enhancement Course (10 weeks)
Tai Chi (10 weeks)

There are also a range of courses available through the area's community drop in sessions. If there are any parents which may benefit please ask them to contact Alex Humble on 0191 561 8145 or email alex for more information.