Issue - meetings

This paper seeks approval to consult widely on a proposed single funding formula for the free entitlement to three and four year old nursery and childcare provision.  The report sets out the options that are being recommended to be included in a formal consultation document.

RESOLVED:            (i)            That consultation be initiated with the providers of the

Early Years Free Entitlement using the agreed consultation document (Annex 1 of the report).

(ii)               That feedback from the consultation be presented to the Executive Member for consideration at the Decision Session in January 2010 to ensure that the new formula is in place by the statutory deadline of April 2010.

(iii)That the feedback to the Executive Member include details of the proposed formulas for neighbouring authorities.

REASON:      To enable the views of providers of Early Years Free Entitlement to be considered when the new formula is agreed.

The Executive Member considered a paper that sought approval to consult widely on a proposed single funding formula for the free entitlement to three and four year old nursery and childcare provision.  The report set out the options that were being recommended to be included in a formal consultation document.

The Executive Member received assurances that the consultation would extend to all providers, including the maintained sector. 

Details were given of the transitional arrangements that would be put in place. A contingency would also be set aside to ensure sustainability.

It was noted that there were likely to be variations between different authorities as to the formulas that were put in place. 

RESOLVED:            (i)            That consultation be initiated with the providers of the

Early Years Free Entitlement using the agreed consultation document (Annex 1 of the report)¹.

(ii)               That feedback from the consultation be presented to the Executive Member for consideration at the Decision Session in January 2010 to ensure that the new formula is in place by the statutory deadline of April 2010².

(iii)That the feedback to the Executive Member include details of the proposed formulas for neighbouring authorities.

REASON:      To enable the views of providers of Early Years Free Entitlement to be considered when the new formula is agreed.