Early Years Funding and the extention to the free entitlement from 12.5 hours to 15 hours
The 'Single Funding' formula
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) announced the following changes to how the free entitlement to early learning and care for three and four year olds will be funded through local authorities (LAs):
- LAs are required to develop and introduce a single local formula for funding early years provision in the maintained and private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sectors, and introduce a consistent method of counting children between the maintained and PVI sectors.
Suffolk's Single Local Formula
Funding Formula (PDF, 62Kb) - In the process of being updated.
The Extension to the Free Entitlement to early years care and education for 3 and 4 year olds
All 3 and 4 year old children in the county can have 15 hours a week from September 2010. This can be taken flexibly.
The flexibility depends on what is available in each locality. We believe there is enough provision in each local area of Suffolk to allow parents to make flexible choices.
A legal duty to secure free early years provision
Section 7 Childcare Act 2006 came into force, along with the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework on 1st September 2008.
The Schools Forum – how Private, Voluntary and Independent settings are represented
Representatives from the PVI sector are elected to represent you on The Schools Forum. You can contact them about issues that affect you in relation to the provision of Early Years Care and Education.
You can contact your representative using this e mail address: pviforum@suffolk.gov.uk