Introduction
As part of a national scheme, South Gloucestershire now has government funding to provide some free childcare places for 2 year-olds. There are financial and local criteria to decide which 2 year olds qualify for this funding.
Financial Criteria
One parent receiving of one of the benefits listed below:-
- Income Support
- Income based Job Seekers Allowance
- Child Tax Credit at the higher rate
- Extra Working Tax Credit relating to disability
- Pension Credit
Locally South Gloucestershire has the following criteria:
- BME families to include gypsy roma travellers, refugee & asylum seekers and new arrivals
- Families with three or more children under five
- Teenage Parents
- Lone parent (including families where one parent has been legally removed from the household)
- Families who have experienced domestic violence
- Families who have experienced substance misuse
- Parents with health issues, learning needs or disabilities
- Families receiving family support central or from a 3rd sector
- Children in temporary or overcrowded accommodation
- Children with significant learning disabilities, developmental delay or learning delay
- Children identified with significant emotional and behavioural problems
- Sibling in receipt of disability living allowance
- Children in receipt of disability living allowance
Should the project be oversubscribed then priority will be given to those families who meet more than one of the above criteria. So it will help if you identify as many of these local criteria as you can when you apply for this funding. Funding will only be paid if you use a childcare provider which has already been judged Good or Outstanding overall by Ofsted or a provider which Ofsted judged to be Satisfacory but the Local Authority is now satisfied will very soon reach a good standard.
How it works
Once you or the person working with you have checked that you meet at least one of the financial criteria and at least one of the South Gloucestershire criteria then complete an application form. Forms can be obtained from the 2 year old Co-ordinator (details on the back of this leaflet).
You can apply for funding the term before your child’s second birthday but it does not start until the term following their second birthday.
For example: A child who is two in August 2009 will be eligible for the funding from September 2009. Term dates start 1 September, 1 January, 1 April.
Can I choose when I use the childcare?
Your childcare can be up to 10 hours a week and used flexibly to meet family needs over two to five days and from 2 hours per day to 5 hours per day. You can decide how much of the 10 hours you use.
How will the childcare be paid?
Payment for the childcare will be made direct to the childcare provider.
Will additional support be available?
Anyone who applies will be sent details of the local Sure Start Children’s Centre. Staff there will be able to help you access any other relevant services you might need. They may also be able to help you find out about training courses or parenting support.
If I do not fit the criteria will someone be able to help me?
If you do not qualify for this 2 year old funding, please contact the Children & Young People Information Service who will be able to support you by looking at other funding routes as well as offering information on registered childcare, local activities and support services. Your Children & Young People Information Service can help you locate childcare where you can arrange visits and taster sessions if needed.
How to apply
If you think you may be eligible please download an applicaion form from the 'Read more' section of this page and follow the instructions on the form. The closing date for applications is 01 March 2012 and the next panel date for hearing these applications is 06 March 2012.
Future Funding
The Department for Education has opened a consultation asking for responses to the future of this funding. Please read the letter entitiled 'Future expansion of early years education for 2 year olds' in the 'Read more' section of this page. This consultation runs until 31 January 2012.
For more information on this project or for a referral form please contact:
The 2 Year Old Project Officer
Tel: 01454 862368
Or call the Children & Young People Information Service on 01454 868008