Early Years Education Grant for 3 and 4 Year Olds
Early Years Education Funding
Do You Have a child who is three or four years old ?
Do they currently attend a pre-school, Day Nursery or School? If not, would you like them to?
Your child will be entitled to a 2½ hour nursery education place, which is funded by Croydon Council, from the term after their 3rd birthday, for a maximum of six terms. You can access your entitlement in Pre-schools, Day Nurseries and Independent and Croydon Council Schools.
If your child attends a Pre-school, Day Nursery or Independent School (a setting), it needs to be part of the Council's Directory of Approved Providers to receive the Nursery Education Funding and although most registered settings are in this Directory, not all are.
If your child attends a Croydon Council Nursery Class or School then their place is free. If your child attends a private, voluntary or independent setting as well your child will not be able to benefit from this funding in that setting.
If your child does not attend any of these:
Contact the Children's Information Service 0845 11 11 100 and they will give you information about the settings and schools near you, where your child could benefit from this entitlement.
When will my child become entitled to receive funded Nursery Education?
If your child becomes 3 between September and December they will benefit from the funding from the following January.
If your child becomes 3 between January and March they will benefit from the following April.
If your child becomes 3 between April and August they will benefit from the following September.
How the Funding works for Pre-schools, Day Nurseries and Independent schools (settings).
The Nursery Education Funding provided to settings is for a minimum of 2½ hours a day, for a maximum of 5 sessions a week 38 weeks of the year. The funding per session is £8.30 and is paid directly to the setting.
The maximum number of weeks that the setting can claim funding in each term is as follows:
Summer Term 07 = 13 weeks
Autumn Term 07 = 14 weeks
Spring Term 08 = 11 weeks
However if the setting is open fewer weeks, they can only claim funding for the weeks that they are open.
Who gets the money?
The funding will be paid directly to the setting your child attends.
What do I need to do?
If your child already has a place in a setting, you will need to check with the leader of the setting that they are on the Directory of Providers. If they are, they will ask you to sign a declaration form. The setting will then claim funding for your child, and adjust your fees accordingly. Each term has a "Head Count Day" and your child must be attending the setting by then for them to claim the funding and offer your child the entitlement. If you miss that date they may not be able to offer the entitlement until the following term.
Do they have to do 5 sessions?
The funding is for up to 5 sessions per week. You may prefer your child to have fewer sessions or the setting may not be able to provide 5 sessions for your child. You do not have to use 5 sessions.
What happens if my child leaves?
If your child leaves before "Head Count Day" the setting will not be entitled to any funding. If your child leaves after this day the funding will only be paid for the weeks spent at that setting. Should you start another setting straight away, then your new setting will be able to claim the remainder of your entitlement.
What if the setting asks for extra money?
Some settings charge additional fees for extra services. They must make clear to you what these are and what they are for. If your child attends a setting where fees are higher than the funding you will be liable for the additional costs.
If you are receiving help with your childcare costs through the Working Tax Credit you will need to inform them when you start to claim the Nursery Education Funding.
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Croydon Children's Information Service
- Telephone
- 0845 11 11 100
- child.care@croydon.gov.uk
- Address
- 10 Katharine Street
Croydon
CR9 1JU - Website
- www.croydonchildcare.com/
