local authorities that they are to stop providing early education
funding for care of a related child.
While the Childcare Act 2006 states that early education funding cannot be claimed by those providing childcare for related children (see box), it appears there has been some confusion among local authorities, with some allowing childminders to claim for a child or grandchild in their care.
One council said several local authorities 'recently' contacted the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted for clarification on the relevant sections of the statutory guidance, and that this is thought to be before the DfE published updated guidance last July, effective from September 2013. However, the rules of the Childcare Act still apply.
A DfE spokesperson said, 'The Childcare Act makes it clear that childminders cannot claim early years funding for their own child or a related child, even if they are claiming funding for other children.
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