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Funding Explained...
'Funding' in this context refers to the government's allocation of money to support families with their childcare costs. There are different criteria for different funding schemes, but the predominant one is to support eligible working parents. There is a lot of information about funding, and all it entails, within the Hub itself, but here is a brief overview for everyone to access.
Central government provides local authorities with money, childminders apply for their share of the money each term and this is distributed by the local authority.
Funding is connected directly to the children who are using it. For example, if you have have 3 spaces available each day but only 2 children attending, you would they would only receive funding for the two children who attend.
This is the same for all providers, regardless of whether they are a small childminding setting or a large preschool!
Applying to Offer Funding...
If you wish to offer funding within your setting, or at least find out more about it, then you need to contact the early years funding team at your local authority and ask them about becoming a funding provider. You must be a registered childminder to offer funding and your grade may affect your eligibility.
To contact your funding team, use your local authority's website to find their details. if you have no luck there, call your local authority's main switchboard number and ask to be put through. When you speak with someone on the funding team, ask for their name so you have a point of contact, their direct number and an email address to save you time when you need to contact them next.
In England alone there are 151 different local authorities and each one does things a little bit differently, which is why there are regional areas within the Hub to help with this! However, all the local authorities have to follow this statutory government guidance for delivering funding and it's worth childminders reading too as it contains lots of useful information:
Funding Portals...
Childminders have to claim the funding money each term through online systems, generally referred to as 'funding portals'. There are rules and cut off dates regarding the claiming for and distribution of funding, which may vary across local authorities.
The payment dates within the terms also vary according to the systems set up by each local authority. Therefore, if you need a payment schedule to support with the portal, you should ask the funding team at your local authority for that information.
Best Start in Life...
You'll find a wealth of information on funding and funded places on the 'Best Start in Life' website. This was previously known as Childcare Choices, but has been relaunched by the government and this is where you should send your childminding families to.
Funding Across the UK...
Each country has their own funding processes and variations on the scheme, so it makes sense to deal with each one separately. Please choose your country to find out more about funded childcare in your area, also bearing in mind that these sections are written to the childminding families.
