Nursery World - DfE launches 30 hours fund for councils as new rates unveiled

Most local authorities will not see any increase to their early years funding rates next year, Department for Education figures reveal, while the Government has launched a new £8m fund to help councils with ‘the challenges’ of 30 hours childcare.

The money is being made available to support delivery of places for the 2018 summer term, as more children become eligible.

Local authorities can bid for a share of the £8.65m 30 hours delivery support fund. While there is no minimum or upper limit for grants, the DfE said it did not expect to award an LA more than £70,000 in total.

The Government said it was aware of the pressure that the first year of rollout of the 30 hours will put on some local authorities and providers and recognised that demand will rise throughout the academic year as more children turn three, and parental awareness of the 30 hours increases.

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