Work on the practical issues surrounding delivery of the extended freeentitlement is continuing with interim guidance issued by the DCSF.While this is aimed at local authorities, it is accessible to allinterested parties, and as the subsequent changes will have an impact onhow Nursery Education Grant will be paid in the future, it is importantfor nurseries to understand context and consultation arrangements.
Guidance is contained in two documents which can be obtained by visitingthe Every Child Matters website atwww.everychildmatters.gov.uk/earlyyears.
Interim Guidance on the Flexible Extension
From September 2010, local authorities must offer a flexible 15 hoursper week of free early education to all three- and four-year-olds over aminimum of 38 weeks. As a first step, this offer should be madeavailable to 25 per cent of the most disadvantaged children fromSeptember 2009. In addition to the implications for practice, nurseriesshould be thinking about the business opportunities, including how thiscan be marketed to parents to retain children in their pre-schoolyear(s), targeting parents only if the nursery is experiencing lowoccupancy, and revisiting pricing structures to work around thisincreased flexibility.
Interim Guidance on the Single Funding Formula
The ways the maintained and PVI sectors are funded to provide the freeentitlement can be very different. To address this, local authoritieswill be required to use a single local formula from 2010/11, althoughintroduction from April 2009 is being encouraged if possible. A keydifference will involve payment against participation - against hours ofentitlement used at a setting, rather than simply a place. Developingthis formula will include undertaking a cost survey across both themaintained and PVI sectors to gain a robust understanding of the costsassociated with delivering the free entitlement in individuallocalities. Nurseries involved in the cost survey or the LA SchoolsForum will have a real opportunity to shape the future of the funding intheir area.
