DfE new document on funding for 3 and 4 year olds

[AgentTink]

http://www.education.gov.uk/g00209650/code-of-practice-for-las

It says in the key points in the first page that the hours for this have also changed to 7 til 7 with up to 10 hours a day, which can be taken over 2 days. Has this always been the case? Or is this new to fall in line with 2 year old funding criteria?

[mama2three]

it appears to be new and part of Nick cleggs announcement today - previously 5 hours over 3 days a week.

[AgentTink]

That is positive news for us childminders then. I will be speaking to my Early Years team about this tonight. Many thanks.

[Penny1959]

Thank you for the link


Penny :)

[HelenHale]

Previously it was max 5 hours a day so had to be taken over 3. I think the 7 til 7 but max 10 hours is just to fit in with parents who either start early or finish late, but its not compulsory for providers to do it. Can se many nurseries changing their opening times tbh.

[rickysmiths]

So that means in order to use the 15 hours a parent could do 7am to 7pm 12 hours in on place and use the 3 hours left on another day? That is so going to help working parents isn't it :laughing:

One of our local Nurseries who is rated Outstanding has come out of the funded scheme so no longer offers the free hours because they can fill their spaces with parents who will pay £55-£60pd and the money for the funding is so much less.

Another two are Satisfactory so that leaves only 2 oyt of 5 able to offer the 2yr old funding. There are only 2 or 3 Level 3 Childminders and of those only me who is prepared to do the Quality Accreditation so I can become the only Accredited Childminder in the town :eek:

I do have lots of space maybe I will have to employ some Assistants in the future :rolleyes:

[AgentTink]

I suppose the way it is meant is that the parents can use 7 hours one day and 8 the next, and by the time dinner hour is added they are pretty much getting 2 full days care. Which has got to better than the alternate in my local area which is pay £170 a month to a private nursery to use the free hours or the only other option is nursery school attached to the school who only offer 5 days a week morning or afternoon.

[uf353432]

In my LA currently we can offer a minimum of 2.5 hours and a max of 7.5 hours in any one day in 1/2 hour blocks, and a max of 12.5 hours in 2 days or 15 hours over 3 days or more per week.

Lots of my hours are part time anyway - the new funding formula won't alter too much what I do already - but will allow me even more flexibility so I can help more parents if their needs are different to the norm.

[Lincsminder]

Unfortunately LEA can still stipulate how these hours can be used, ours state not before 8am or after 6 and a max of 6 hours a day.

[AgentTink]

Unfortunately LEA can still stipulate how these hours can be used, ours state not before 8am or after 6 and a max of 6 hours a day.

As these guideliens were only published today for local authroities you may find that your local authority imlement these changes from Sept 2012, as the governement has said that the availability needs to be avilable from 7 til 7 across the country.

[miffy]

Thanks for the link

Miffy xx

[TooEarlyForGin?]

My local nursery is attached to a private school and are not inspected by OFSTED but by an independent body.

Will they still qualify for funding?