Funded Places For Eligible Two Year Olds

Barnsley Choices has secured government funding for its 2 Year Old Pilot Project, funding places for eligible two year olds in registered childcare settings. The aim of this Project is to enable disadvantaged families to introduce their children to childcare settings at two and form positive relationships with local providers. This should ensure that these families get the support and advice they need in order to take up their free nursery entitlement when their child is three – some children lose out on this valuable pre-school experience because parents are not aware of this entitlement or do not feel confident approaching a provider or claiming the funding.

Since the Pilot Project began, the DFES has allowed us to make changes to ensure that the offer of funding best meets the needs of the families applying. The criteria for eligibility as from 1st January are:

1. The child must be born between 1st April 2004 and 31st March 2005

2. The family should be able to demonstrate disadvantage arising from:
• Lone parent status
• Low income (for example, working less than 25 hours per week, or earning less than £15,000 before tax)
• Workless household
• Refugee/asylum seeker status
• Traveller family
• Additional need – this includes any health or developmental need the two year old may have, or circumstances where a close family member (brother, sister, parent) has care or health issues that have a direct impact on the care or development of the two year old.

Funding is offered for 3 terms (38 weeks) or 2 terms (25 weeks), depending on when the child will access their Nursery Education Funding.

Parents can choose to use any setting taking part in the Pilot Project, subject to them having a suitable vacancy.

Applications from families are considered fortnightly by a Funding Panel and we aim to inform parents of a decision within 10 working days. Please encourage any interested families to apply as soon as possible. Application forms are available from Barnsley Choices (tel. 01226 775977), the Childcare Information Service (tel. 08000 345 340) or can be downloaded from this website – see below.

For further information about the 2 Year Old Pilot Project please contact Mary Dyer – Project Co-ordinator – at Barnsley Choices, tel. 01226 775977 or e-mail to: marydyer@barnsley.gov.uk

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION / REFERRAL FORM

The Early Years Curriculum
Useful links can be found at:
• The Departments for Education and Skills website which gives a range of information on all aspects of early years.
• QCA - a website devoted to all aspects of the early years curriculum.

TRYING TO FIND THE BEST CHILDMINDER FOR YOUR REQUIREMENT?
The Barnsley Early Years Education Childminding Network can help. Click here for more details. (PDF document)

See new Birth to Three Matters flyer that is available to parents

INFORMATION ON NURSERY EDUCATION FUNDING

What is Nursery Education Funding?
Assistance to cover the cost of early years education.

Who qualifies for the funding?
The funding is not means tested. Your child will become eligible to receive Nursery Education Funding in the term following their third birthday.

The funding is payable to children attending a playgroup or private nursery or an accredited childminder that is registered through OFSTED to claim the funding. It is paid to all children who are registered and attending the setting on ‘Headcount Day’ which is a date set by the Authority (usually the third Thursday after the start of term).

How does the funding work?
The funding is paid directly to the registered provider, to cover the cost of up to 5 x 2 ½ hour sessions per week for 38 weeks per year.

Your child can attend any number of sessions per week; however the maximum that you can claim for is 5 per week (this could be 2 full days plus 1 half day or 5 half days).

Some providers offer sessions of 2 ½ hours and therefore the amount of grant received will cover the full cost of the session. However, some settings have sessions that are longer than 2½ hours and will require you to pay ‘top up’, which is the difference between the amount of funding and the cost of their sessions.

You are advised to check directly with your preferred nursery, pre-school playgroup or childminder to find out the length of sessions offered and the costs involved.

You should not be expected to take up or pay for any additional services as a condition of a child attending a free early education place, unless you choose to do so.

Childcare settings registered to accept Nursery Education Funding can be found by telephoning the Childcare Information Service on 08000 345 340.

How much is the grant?
The Nursery Education Funding is currently £1543 for the year.

The amount of funding is set annually.

There are 3 terms in the school year. For the financial year 2007/2008 the funding is split as follows:

Summer Term 2007
Funding for 13 weeks £528

Autumn Term 2007
Funding for 14 weeks £568

Spring Term 2008
Funding for 11 weeks £447

The amount shown is based on a claim for 5 x 2 ½ hour sessions per week. If your child attends for less than 5 sessions per week the funding will be paid on a pro-rata basis.

How is the funding paid?
The funding is paid directly to the nursery, pre school playgroup or childminder. You should not be required to pay any fee for your child’s free early education place (if they only access the 2 ½ hour sessions). If your child attends for a longer session and you pay ‘top up’ the amount paid will then be deducted from your bill.

Please note:If the cost of a 2 ½ hour session is less than the amount of funding received from the Authority the nursery may keep the excess funding providing it is used to support the education of eligible children.

Nurseries in other Authorities
If you live in Barnsley but your child attends a registered setting in another authority you will still be able to claim funding from the Authority in which the setting is situated.

How do I find out further details?
Contact the Admissions Officer on 01226 773689 or request a copy of the ‘Early Years Education – Information and Advice to Parents’ booklet by telephoning 01226 773670.