Date: 3rd December 2008
REPORT TITLE
EARLY YEARS REFERENCE GROUP – FORMULA APPROACH TO THE FREE ENTITLEMENT
Report by Harriet Hill: Head of Early Years and Childcare
Contact details l no: 01245 512300
1. Purpose of report
To update the schools Forum on proposals for a formula approach to the free entitlement.
2. Recommendations
The Forum is asked at this stage to note progress of the Early Years Reference Group and its working group towards the single funding formula for the early years funding three- and four–year old free entitlement, and related issues.
3. Relevance to Strategic Plans
The Early Years Reference Group of the School’s Forum is currently overseeing the extension of the Free Entitlement (including the single funding formula, the 3 and 4 year old flexible offer, and the 2 year old pilot). It was agreed that the reference group would report regularly to the School’s Forum.
4.Finance Implications
Government funding is applicable for all aspects discussed through proportionate increases in the predication for the free entitlement within the DSG.
5. Other Resource Implications
These are national strategies that the Local authority must deliver through a partnership approach and to defined timescales.
6. Background
Single Funding Formula
The Early Years Reference group has had a further meeting regarding the single funding formula which included representatives from each sector. Hedra, the consultants, had also met with these representatives and talked through the issues for each sector group. As expected some issues are common to all whilst others are sector specific. The next steps will be to agree some proposals around the criteria that will influence funding levels, such as areas of deprivation, qualification levels, and participation in quality assurance schemes. Hedra will now work towards producing at least two draft models and there will then follow some wider consultation across the County. Alongside this the group is also considering the extended offer for 3 and 4 year olds. The funding will increase to15 hours a week for 38 weeks a year to be delivered flexibly. From September 2009 this will be available to 25% of 3 and 4 year olds who wish to access, moving to universal coverage by September 2010. Some of the decisions that need to be made are as follows;
- Funding can be for individual children or settings in areas of disadvantage
- Minimum requirement is for 38 weeks; however this could be pro-rated to 50 weeks.
- 15 hours can be taken up over three days, with a maximum of 10 hours and a minimum of 2 hours. The LA needs to set its own parameters e.g. maximum limit of 6 hours between stated hours
Two Year Old Pilot
Essex is part of the Phase 2 Two Year Old Pilot and is in the process of setting up a working group to support this project. There will be funding for 287 two year olds from September 2009. The focus is on extreme disadvantage and children living in workless households. We aim to have representatives from all sectors including the Family Information Service, a Children’s Community Development Officer (linked to Childcare Sufficiency), a Children’s Centre Outreach Worker, the voluntary sector and a parent/carer. The first action for this group is to draw up and approve a project plan. Further to this there needs to be decisions on;
- Criteria for eligibility, Essex has approximately 15,000 2 year olds and funding for 287, there needs to be consultation with local stakeholders
- Offered across the whole of Essex or in specific areas
- Identify appropriate childcare settings (including childminder networks), which need to have good/outstanding OfSTED outcomes with Early Years Professional Status or Qualified Teacher with relevant experience.
- Identify family support services, what they may be and quality of delivery
- Model contract for parents
- How flexibly the funding is offered
- How the settings will link with their local Children’s Centre
- Agree protocols around information sharing with PCT, JCP and Children’s Centres
- Agree outreach methods
- Agree media and communications strategy
- Agree referral process from outside agencies eg TASCCs, Health Visitor, etc
- Agree monitoring data required
- Agree consultation process with practitioners and parents/carers
Other related areas of work being led by Early Years and Childcare Service in partnership with the sector are:
Childcare Sufficiency
The Local Authority has a duty to ensure there is sufficient childcare. To support this work there has already been a consultation across the county to identify parents/carers requirements and barriers (real or perceived) to accessing childcare. This has been broken down to district level. Each area is using this information alongside occupancy information from all sectors of childcare to plan future developments and to support grant applications for sustainability, start up or expansion.
Children’s Centres Phase three Development
60 Phase one and two centres are now established and operating. 26 Phase Three centres will complete the offer for all Essex 0-5s and their families by 2010. Lead and Employing Bodies for Phase 3 Children’s Centres have been identified. Capital projects are being finalised and the roll out of universal coverage is on track for completion by 31st March 2010.
7. Consultation with stakeholders
Essex is recognised for having a rich partnership and commissioning environment in relation to early years and childcare development and delivery, having worked closely with the four national players of NCMA, PSLA, NDNA and 4Children for more than a decade. Our children’s centres are being delivered through a CYPSP-led commissioning approach. For these initiatives the guidance proposes the involvement of a wide range of stake-holders including parents. This is being actioned through existing EYDCP mechanisms and through direct involvement in the working group(s).