Following publication of the Government document Next Steps for EarlyLearning and Childcare, further guidance is emerging around the freeearly years offer targeted at the most disadvantaged two-year-olds.
A main aim of the scheme is to raise outcomes and close earlyachievement gaps. As quality childcare is known to make a difference forthe most disadvantaged children, it is of no surprise that a clearfinancial opportunity is being presented to settings that are viewed asbeing higher quality. Indeed, local authorities are being encouraged towork in partnership to deliver the scheme with only those providers whomeet the following minimum criteria:
- Have an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding, or where a satisfactoryrating is held it should be able to demonstrate that it is activelyworking towards a good rating.
- Have a graduate EYP (or teacher with relevant experience) leadingpractice.
- Regularly evaluating the quality of their provision and participatingin a local Quality Improvement Scheme or a quality improvement processthat the local authority recognises and approves of.
With 100m being invested over a three-year period to extend thepilot to all local authority areas by September, high-quality nurserieswould be well advised to participate. Detail within schemes will varyacross the country, but the new offer will provide:
- At least ten hours of free, quality, flexible childcare a week for 38weeks per year.
- Wider family support to participants
- Outreach activity to better engage disadvantaged families inchildcare.
While local authorities have the discretion to set their own additionalcriteria, all families accessing the offer must be in receipt of atleast one of these income-based criteria:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
- Extra Working Tax Credit relating to disability
- Pension Credit.
Individual local authorities will provide details of their scheme in duecourse. In the meantime, further background information is available onwww.everychildmatters.gov.uk and www.dcsf.gov.uk.