Nursery World - DfE refuses to explain how funding rates were calculated

The Department for Education (DfE) has refused to disclose information on how current early years funding levels were determined, despite the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) ruling it do so.

Last month, the ICO ordered the DfE to provide withheld information about how it determined early years funding rates by Thursday 14 November to the Early Years Alliance, which has repeatedly asked for disclosure of the information.

The DfE today confirmed to the Alliance that it will not be providing the information as it has lodged an appeal with the First Tier Tribunal, which deals with appeals against ICO decisions.

In December 2018, the Alliance filed a freedom of information (FOI) request to the DfE asking for the calculations, or broader thinking underpinning current early years funding levels. As part of the request, it asked for information on exactly how the Government concluded that the funding rates for three- and four-year-old places, announced in 2015, were sufficient to cover rising business costs up until 2020.

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