Article: Nursery education funding Article Body Once your child reaches the term following their third birthday they are entitled to receive a minimum of 15 hours per week of early years education for 38 weeks per year. This can be accessed in a school nursery or in a private, voluntary or independent setting, childrens centre or through a childminder who is registered with Ofsted and the local authority to receive nursery education funding. Within Barnsley, the two guaranteed models of provision that are available are: 3 hours per day over 5 hours per week 5 hours per day over 3 days per week Any other pattern of attendance requested by parents may be considered by providers within the following framework: a minimum of 2.5 hours per day a maximum of 10 hours per day accessed between 8am and 6pm a maximum of 2 providers per week a child attending for 2 days per week will only be entitled to a maximum of 12.5 hours per week to be eligible for the full 15 hours children must take their entitlement over 3 days Who is entitled to nursery education funding Your child will become eligible to receive nursery education funding in the term following their third birthday. The funding is not means tested - it is paid for all children who are registered and attending on 'Headcount Day' each term, which is a date set by the authority. How the funding is paid Funding is paid to cover the cost of up to 15 hours of early years education per week, for 38 weeks per year. The funding is paid directly to the private early years education provider who will deduct the cost of the entitlement from your bill. If the cost of the funded early years place is less than the funding received from the Authority the provider may keep the excess funding, providing it is used to support the education of eligible children. The number of funded weeks for 2012/13 are as follows: Summer Term 2012 Autumn Term 2012 Spring Term 2013 13 weeks 15 weeks 10 weeks For further information, please check the Funding Calendars 2012-13. Charges/fees There is no charge for the funded hours. Each provider will set the level of their fees which will apply if your child stays longer than the funded hours. You will need to contact the provider individually to find out their fees. Registered early education providers You can find lists of registered early education providers in the Early Years - Information and Advice to Parents Booklet 2010/11. These lists give details of locations and opening times of the settings. Please note that some of these opening times may change from time to time - you will need to confirm opening times with your preferred early years provider. What you have to do to claim nursery education funding The nursery staff will ask you to complete a claim form. They will also complete a section on the form and will then submit it on your behalf to the authority following 'Headcount Day'. The provider will need to see your child's birth certificate as proof of their date of birth to check that they are of eligible age for the funding. We will then process your claim and pay the funding directly to your nursery provider. Application form references Form PP1 - claim form for nursery education funding. This is available from the provider. Legislation Code of Practice for Local Authorities on Delivery of Free Early Years Provision for 3 and 4 Year Olds Useful links School Nursery Places Department for Education Families Information Service How to contact us Senior Officer School Organisation Telephone: 01226 774513 Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5.00pm and Fridays from 8.30am to 4.30pm Email: schoolorg@barnsley.gov.uk Directorate for Children, Young People and Families Postal address: PO Box 634, Barnsley S70 9GG Helplines School Admissions Section: 01226 773689 / 773670 Nursery Education Funding Queries: 01226 774513 Childminding Network Co-ordinator: 01226 775977 Families Information Service: 08000 345340 Frequently asked questions How do I find out which providers offer funded places? For a list of all registered private providers see the Early Years - Information and Advice to Parents Booklet 2010/11 or ring the school admissions section on 01226 773670. When will I be able to claim assistance towards the cost of an early years place? From the term following your child's third birthday. How do I apply to a private nursery/ playgroup, childrens centre or childminder? Contact the provider direct. Contact numbers can be found on the above-mentioned list of providers. For information on accredited childminders contact the Early Years Education Childminding Network Manager on 01226 775978. If my child attends a private nursery, playgroup, childrens centre or childminder does that mean he/she can't stay on the waiting list for a school nursery? If you have applied for a school nursery your child's name will automatically remain on that list unless you ask us to remove it or you are offered a place at another local authority nursery. Can my child attend a private nursery, playgroup, childrens centre or childminder and a school nursery? Yes, but you will have to pay the full cost of the private early years place if your child attends for 15 hours at the school nursery. The private provider requires one month's notice to withdraw my child - if I am offered a nursery place at a school do I have to accept it immediately? If you have to give notice the place at the local authority nursery will be kept open for that time. What is the 'Headcount Day'? The date on which the count of children attending settings is taken each term. 'Headcount Day' is on a Thursday but my child only attends nursery on a Monday and Tuesday - will they have to attend on that Thursday in order to get funding? No - providing your child attends on their regular days during the week that includes 'Headcount Day' your child will be eligible to receive the funding. What if my child moves to a different nursery education funded setting after the Headcount date? Funding cannot be transferred it is paid for the full term to the setting where your child is attending on Headcount Day. If your child transfers to a different setting after Headcount Day you will need to confirm with the manager of the new setting if a funded place is available for the remainder of the term. What if my child attends for more than 15 hours per week? You will have to pay the full cost of anything over the 15 hours. What if my child attends more than one early education provider? You can claim for a maximum of two providers so long as your total claim is not more than 15 hours per week. I live in Barnsley but my child attends a provider in a neighbouring authority - can I still claim the funding? Yes, you will be able to claim the funding from the authority in which the nursery is situated.