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Contents
Introduction .......................................................................... 3 Time Table of Important Dates ............................................ 4 Summary of Conditions ........................................................ 5 Conditions............................................................................. 8 Eligible Children ................................................................. 12 Levels of Funding ............................................................... 13 NEF Calculator.................................................................... 14 Free Sessions of Nursery Education .................................. 15 Information Needed ............................................................ 16 Working with Parents ......................................................... 17 Changes in Circumstances................................................. 18 Cross border arrangements................................................ 19 Appeals Procedure ............................................................. 20 Children with Special Educational Needs.......................... 22 Special Educational Needs Policy ..................................... 23 NEF Parents Declaration 2008/2009................................ 24 Estimate Details ................................................................. 25 Headcount details .............................................................. 26 Headcount Summary Form ................................................. 27 Changes to Claims.............................................................. 28 Payment of Nursery Education Funding............................. 29 Repayments ........................................................................ 29 How to Calculate NEF Deduction....................................... 30 Useful Publications ............................................................ 32 Contacts ............................................................................. 33
Introduction
Nursery Education Fund (NEF) is a statutory duty administered by the Local Authority. This guide is intended to support you in understanding this complicated system. Children become eligible for NEF the term after their 3rd birthday. Funding is available for up to six terms until they start at a LEA school or until the child reaches statutory school age. Which is the term after their 5th birthday. The Bradford Early Years and Childcare Service (EYCS) pays the fund to nursery education providers who then reduce the fees to parents accordingly. Each child is entitled to a maximum of 5 sessions a week, a session lasting a minimum of 2 hours. The funding provides for a maximum of 38 weeks of education each year. Children can access a place in any category of provider listed below who is included in BEYCSs Directory to receive funding: Day nursery Playgroup / pre-school Independent School A non-maintained special school A portage service A registered childminder working within an approved network.
Claims can be made at more than one setting provided the total number of sessions claimed does not exceed 5. Claims cannot be split between a local authority school and a private and voluntary provider. This is due to the way in which schools are funded. Schools should not offer less than 5 sessions per week. Included in this guide should be everything you need to know about eligibility, conditions of funding and how to claim it. If you cannot find the information you require please contact the NEF Officer: Early Years & Childcare Service Wool Exchange Hustlergate Bradford BD1 1RE Tel - 01274 431965 Fax 01274 229368 Email nef@bradford.gov.uk
Time Table of Important Dates Nursery Education Fund Eligibility Dates 3 & 4 year olds 2008/2009
Amount No Term Dates Payable of Per 5 wks sessions Summer Term 2008/2009 1 April 31 Aug 2008 50.00 13 w/c 10th w/c 7th April 24th March 2008 2008 April 2008 1st May 2008 w/c 23rd 01/04/2003 June 2008 31/03/2005 Estimate form Sent date
(1 month before next term)
(1 week of term)
Pay 1 Date st
(2
Count Day nd
week of term)
Forms To be Returned By
(1 week after count day)
Pay 2 Date st
(1 week after half term)
Autumn Term 2008/2009 1 Sept 31 Dec 2008 50.00 13 w/c 30th July 2008 w/c 1st September 2008 18th September 2008 2nd October 2008 w/c 17th 01/09/2003 November 01/08/2005 2008
Spring Term 2008/2009 1 Jan 31 March 2009 50.00 12 w/c 24th November 2008 w/c 5th January 2009 22nd January 29th January 2009 2009 w/c 2nd 01/01/2004 March 2009 31/12/2005 1 Jan 2005 31 Dec 2005 1 Jan 2004 31 Dec 2004
Summary of Conditions
Providers should agree to the following conditions to be included in the Bradford Directory: 1. Hold a current OFSTED registration certificate Be inspected by Ofsted Agree to inform Bradford EYCS of the results of Ofsted inspections within two weeks of notification Inform Bradford EYCS of any changes of key staff (Managers/Leaders, Foundation Stage Leaders, SENCOs) as well as change of ownership or premises.
2. Offer early years education for 3 and 4 year olds at premises within Bradford Local Authoritys area Offer free sessions of Nursery Education of at least two and a half hours in length Offer eligible children at least one session per week for up to thirty eight weeks of the year
3. Identify a setting based Special Educational Needs Coordinator and operate a Special Educational Needs policy in line with the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice Agree to support SENCOs to undertake required training
4. Work towards the Every Child Matters outcomes of: Be Healthy. Ensure provision is made for childrens physical, mental, emotional well being and development. Stay Safe Ensure that children are safe and feel secure within the setting Enjoy and Achieve Ensure good relationships between children, staff, parents and carers and among staff themselves, ensuring children feel secure and valued and parents are respected as partners in supporting their childrens learning Building on these good relationships, practitioners need to understand how children develop and learn; know about the curriculum the subject knowledge; Know about and be able to use a range of learning and teaching strategies appropriate to this distinct stage and each childs development; Understand how to promote and support child initiated learning with a balance of adult led activities through a play based curriculum.
Make a positive contribution Ensure that practitioners listen and respond appropriately to childrens choices and decisions Economic well-being Ensure the organisation is of high quality and is well led and managed so that parents feel confident in using the setting while they return to work or training. Deliver the principles and practice of the Foundation Stage care and education as set out in the EYFS Use the Bradford Expressive Language Record. To continue to provide high quality provision for children as measured by the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale or the EYCS NEF evaluation tool. To participate in Action Planning as part of the self evaluation of ECERS & ITERS. To work with officers from EYCS, or officers appointed on behalf of EYCS, to assess the quality of provision and use the information to monitor and develop practice. Identify up to two Foundation Stage Curriculum Leaders within the setting to take responsibility for the delivery and development of the Foundation Stage Curriculum Actively support the transition of children from home or into other settings or schools. Ensure that the setting has a child protection policy and that staff know how to follow the procedures Ensure that the setting has an equal opportunities policy which the staff value and understand Agree to support the identified Foundation Stage curriculum leaders to access appropriate and relevant training Agree to identify all staff training needs and enable staff to attend appropriate and relevant training Agree to use the knowledge and skills gained through training within the setting Allow Bradford EYCS officers and Special Needs Area Co-ordinators to visit at mutually convenient times to focus on quality of provision and offer help and support Agree to allow other authorised officers or agencies, including PLA and BUFA that have been commissioned on behalf of Bradford EYCS, to visit at mutually convenient times to offer help and support
5. Agree to keep and have available to Bradford EYCS, financial accounts of the receipt and use of grant Inform Bradford EYCS when a child in respect of whom funding has been claimed leaves the provision or has a significant change in circumstances
Limit the reimbursement of funds to parents to the amount actually needed for the 2 hour session, the excess must be used to support quality early education. Use the rate paid by each parent to calculate the reimbursement due; Undertake to repay on demand any payment of funding if that funding was for provision which did not meet the LEAs conditions of grant or made incorrectly due to administrative error; Agree to be inspected by officers from Bradford EYCS to ensure they are using funding paid to them for the provision of free places appropriately and to ensure they are complying with the Code of Practice on the provision of free nursery education for 3 and 4 year olds.
6. Agree to complete as accurately as possible and submit on time the Annual Early Years Census. Agree to collect all monitoring information as needed to administer the NEF as requested by Bradford Council or the Dept of Education and Skills. Provide information to Bradford EYCS for the maintenance of the Directory of Providers
7. Work in partnership with parents and provide them with any relevant information or advice about their childrens progress and grant entitlements Agree to transfer, with parents permission, appropriate records from one setting to another or from setting to school when the child changes provision Keep an up to date register of all children in receipt of funding, the presence or absence at each session must be recorded.
8. Inform the LEA when there is a significant change in their particulars e.g. change of ownership or premises. 9. Agree to verify the childs identity through sight of a birth certificate, passport or medical card. Verify legal name and date of birth. These details should then be used at all times when claiming the fund.
If a provider fails to meet the conditions set by Bradford EYCS. The Partnership may require the repayment of the whole or part of any funding they have paid to the provider in respect of the provision of free places.
Conditions
The Early Years Foundation Stage and Ofsted Inspections The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requires the Chief Inspector of Schools to inspect nursery education for which funding is received. From September 2008 it will be mandatory for all schools and early years providers in Ofsted registered settings attended by young children to work to the Early Years Foundation Stage. The learning and development requirements are given legal force by the Early Years Foundation Stage Order 2007 made under section 39 (1) (a) of the Childcare Act 2006. The welfare requirements are given legal force by Regulations made under Section 30 (1) (b) of the Childcare Act 2006 Providers have a duty to ensure that their early years provision complies with the learning and development requirements, and the welfare requirements as set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. All providers must have regard to this guidance. Ofsted will take account of any failure to have regard to this guidance when exercising its functions, including any proceedings which are brought under the Act. Providers who follow an educational philosophy or methodology which is not compatible with the promotion of the Early Years Foundation Stage, should not receive funding for the provision of free nursery education. In a setting where English is not the main language used, the educational programme provided should help children acquire competence in English as soon as possible building on their developing understanding and skills in other languages. Before including a provider in their Directory, Bradford BEYCS will ensure that the educational programme includes the use of English in all areas of learning. Where two or more providers are offering provision jointly, assessment of their educational provision should take account of the totality of the joint provision. However, each provider will be individually responsible for the quality of their educational provision. All providers of free early education must submit to inspection by Ofsted and all free early education must be of at least the standard considered satisfactory by an Ofsted inspector. Following an inspection, providers must inform Bradford EYCS of the results of the Ofsted inspection . Directory of providers Bradford EYCS will keep an up-to-date Directory of all non-maintained providers within their area who are eligible to claim funding for the provision of free nursery education places. To be eligible for inclusion in Bradfords Directory, providers should be either: registered as a day care provider under the Children Act 1989 (Sessional Care, Full Day Care, Crches or a day care provider exempt from such registration); or an independent school finally registered with the DfES; or
a non-maintained special school; or a Portage service; or a registered childminder working within a quality assured network and accredited as delivering the Early Learning Goals linked to the Foundation Stage Curriculum.
Day care The following institutions are exempt from Children Act registration: LEA maintained or assisted schools, day care nurseries run by NHS hospitals for children who are patients, registered voluntary and community childrens homes, homes registered under the Registered Homes Act 1984 and independent schools. Advice on Children Act registration may be sought from the New Providers Advisor on 01274 435290 Childminders Those childminders who wish to receive funding for the provision of free places should be registered with Ofsted as belonging to an Approved Childminder Network and meeting the additional requirements that this entails, including promotion of the Foundation Stage Curriculum. To be included in an Approved Childminder Network, childminders must also meet the requirements of a recognised quality assurance scheme such as that devised by The National Childminding Association (NCMA) in conjunction with the DfES. Childminders may claim funding in respect of all eligible children for whom they provide free nursery education. This includes their own children. Further information on childminder networks and their eligibility to receive funding for the provision of free places can be obtained from Bradford Childminding Network on 01274 435288 or The National Childminding Association on 020 8464 6164. Non-maintained Local Authority education providers Non-maintained Local Authority providers (e.g. Local Authority day nurseries, family centres and Portage services) are included in the Directory as if they were private, voluntary or independent sector providers. Maintained education providers Maintained providers (e.g. Local Authority schools and nursery classes) are automatically eligible to provide free places to eligible children and should be treated as if they were included in the Directory. Adding providers to the Directory Bradford EYCS will make available to providers who may be eligible to join their Directory, information about how to join the Directory, about the conditions that must be met and about the payment arrangements that are in place. Providers will not be charged a fee for inclusion, or consideration for inclusion, in Bradfords EYCSs Directory.
satisfy themselves that the provider fits into one of the categories of providers eligible to receive funding for the provision of free places and request documentary evidence of this e.g. Children Act registration certificate. satisfy themselves that the provider is able to meet the conditions that have been set satisfy themselves that the provider is based in their area and is not included in the Directory of a neighbouring LEA
Providers should inform Ofsted and Bradford EYCS whenever there is a change in their material particulars e.g. a change of ownership or premises. Bradford EYCS will update their Directory promptly when notified of any changes. When a provider's details change substantially, this may mean the provider has effectively become a new setting. Bradford EYCS will then need to register them again to receive nursery funding. If a change in provider details means that a provider is no longer eligible to receive funding for the provision of free nursery education, Bradford EYCS will remove the provider from the Directory as soon as possible. Bradford EYCS will record, for each provider in their Directory, the address of the premises where the education is provided, the name, address, email address and telephone number of the head teacher, proprietor, manager or other contact responsible for administration, the details of the bank account into which funding is to be paid and the unique reference number. They will also store information about inspection reports, action plans and the names and details of children being educated. All information collected will be used for ascertaining eligibility for Nursery Education Fund and for general statistical information within Central and Local Government. The central database of providers The DfES maintains a central directory of providers using information collected during the annual Early Years Census. Each January, the DfES carries out an Early Years Census by collecting, via LEAs, information on all non-maintained providers included in their BEYCS Directories The DfES allocates Bradford EYCS a series of unique reference numbers to be allocated to settings providing free nursery education to be used when compiling census data. Ofsted has access to the database for the purpose of making arrangements for inspections and will make arrangements for the inspection of providers newly included in the Directory as soon as possible.
Rejecting an application to be included in the Directory Providers will be rejected only because they are unable to meet the conditions that apply in the Bradford area. They will not be rejected on the grounds that there is already sufficient provision in the area. Where a provider's application is rejected, Bradford BEYCS will give the provider a written explanation of the decision and will ensure that all paperwork relating to a provider's application is retained.
Removing providers from the Directory If a provider ceases to meet the conditions that have been set by Bradford EYCS or withholds reasonable cooperation from Bradford EYCS in delivering its statutory responsibilities. Bradford EYCS will inform the provider in writing of its concerns and if deemed necessary a notice of actions will be drawn up giving clear instruction of work that needs to be undertaken to correct the concerns before a given date. This notice will give 3 months notice that if the actions are not undertaken by the agreed date the agreement will be terminated. Any setting may appeal against the decision to remove them from the Councils directory. A provider who has been removed from the Directory may subsequently be re-admitted provided Bradford EYCS is satisfied that the grounds for the removal no longer apply and the provider satisfies Bradford EYCSs conditions for funding. Where a provider is removed from the Directory as a consequence of an unsatisfactory Ofsted inspection, they should not be readmitted to the Directory until at least twelve months from the date of their removal and a pre-inspection visit by Ofsted has been carried out which indicates that the provision is now acceptable. To ensure that the central database is kept up to date, Bradford EYCS should inform the DfES, via the annual Early Years Census, of any providers who have been removed from the Directory, unless their removal was as a consequence of an unsatisfactory Ofsted inspection. Appeals procedure Bradford EYCS will allow providers the right to appeal against a decision to reject or remove them from the Directory. All providers should be informed of this appeals procedure including how an appeal can be made, to whom it should be made, how it will be dealt with and within what timeframe. The appeals procedure should involve the EYCS and should satisfy public law requirements Providers who wish to appeal against a decision to remove them from the Directory, should be allowed to do so before that removal is effected. Should a provider not be satisfied with their treatment under the appeals process and feel that mal administration has occurred, they may make a complaint to the Local Authority Ombudsman after the full appeals process within the LEA has been exhausted.
Eligible Children
Provider Eligibility All providers need to be registered with Ofsted and to be accredited by the local authority to provide NEF (see summary of conditions page 5). Child Eligibility A child begins to be eligible, the term after their third birthday as per the eligibility table below: A child born between: 1st April and 31st August 1st September and 31st December 1st January and 31st March Will be eligible for a free place from: The start of the Autumn Term following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age. The start of the Spring Term following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age. The start of the Summer Term following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age.
Prior to claiming an NEF place, a childs name and date of birth need to be verified through sight of a birth certificate, passport or medical card. This confirms their eligibility to claim a funded place. A childs legal name should be used on all correspondence and claims. For a child to be eligible to receive funding, you must complete registration/attendance details on each headcount date. For any child where NEF is claimed, there needs to be evidence of their eligibility through: i) settings sight of a birth certificate or other formal records. ii) attendance registers clearly showing days attended and reasons for absence. Where a childs attendance is erratic in the term, they may be eligible to receive funding, providing: iii) demonstrable work with the family/other agencies to maximize attendance for the child. A parent is able to access their entitlement at any point over the term, meaning that funds will be made available for any eligible attendance, even if this commences after headcount date. If any child with SEN attends then it is possible to claim for the full entitlement even if attendance is for lower number of sessions (see page 21 for details). Anyone of eligible age who attends your setting is eligible to receive funding, even if their residence is outside Bradford.
Levels of Funding
Funding can be claimed for 38 weeks a year for children attending the maximum of five, two and a half hour sessions per week. Providers should ensure that no more than 5 funded sessions in 1 week are claimed in respect of any child. For 2008/2009 the sessional payment system allows for parents to claim a maximum of 38 weeks, in line with Bradford school terms, for the financial year (April-March). This equates to 190 sessions. Number of weeks Per Term Term Start Date End Date Half Term Number of Weeks 13 13 12 38 Maximum Number Sessions 65 65 60 190
For 2008-2009, the rate of funding will be 1900 per annum for 190 sessions. This equates to 10.00 per session. All rates are subject to Bradford Council approval and we will communicate any further changes in rates. Children Attending more than 1 setting If a child attends two or more settings in a week, for a total of no more than 5 sessions, Bradford EYCS should pay a pro rata amount of funding to each provider. If a child attends two or more providers and receives, in total, more than 5 sessions of nursery education per week, the parent has the right to choose where the funding is to be used.
NEF Calculator
Following feedback throughout the year, several providers expressed difficulty using the child leaving/joining matrix to apportion funding when children left or joined provisions mid term. As a result Bradford EYCS have created an Excel based NEF calculator. The calculator will allow users to easily work out funding available for any given number of sessions and weeks. It will also calculate any repayment required to Bradford EYCS should a child leave a setting after a payment has been made. The NEF calculator can be found on our website at www.bradford.gov.uk
CHILD JOINING SETTING 2007-2008 SUMMER TERM
Your Provider Sessions 5 Term SUMMER Your Provider No of Weeks 13
AUTUMN TERM
Your Provider Sessions 5 Term AUTUMN Your Provider No of Weeks 13
SPRING TERM
Your Provider Sessions 5 Term SPRING Your Provider No of Weeks 12
AUTUMN TERM
Weekly Sessions Attended 0 Term AUTUMN Number of Weeks Attended 13 Your Total Funded Sessions 0 Early Years Funding 0.00 Initial Early Years Payment 0.00 Refund to Early Years 0.00
SPRING TERM
Weekly Sessions Attended 0 Term SPRING Number of Weeks Attended 12 Your Total Funded Sessions 0 Early Years Funding 0.00 Initial Early Years Payment 0.00 Refund to Early Years 0.00
Information Needed
Local education authorities fund all free nursery education places for three and four year olds from their Education Formula Spending Share (EFSS). Monitoring information is also needed to administer the Nursery Education Fund and the following information must be completed on the claim forms for all children before payment can be made from the Fund
Child's Legal Forename Child's Legal Surname/Family name Child's Gender Child's Date of Birth Childs Ethnic Origin Childs SEN status Child's Address & Postcode Parents telephone number where they can be contacted The number of hours attending the setting The number of hours claiming NEF Name of any other provision they attend Number of hours claimed at other provision Signature of Parent/ Guardian or date when child stopped attending provision
Before sending in claims, providers are asked to ensure that all the necessary information is complete. Audit functions Providers should make copies of their accounts available to Bradford EYCS on request. Bradford EYCS require providers to keep a record of attendance in respect of all children for whom they provide funded places.
All the legislation can be viewed on Her Majestys Stationary Office website at www.hmso.gov.uk or can be ordered through the stationery Office tel. 08706005522
Changes in Circumstances
You will be required to inform Ofsted, Bradford EYCS and the CIS of any planned changes to your provision, including: Change to leadership Change of ownership Change of address Change of financial details Changes to Ofsted registration
When provision details change substantially, this may mean the provider has effectively become a new setting. The local authority will judge whether there has been a significant change that affects the quality of nursery education provided. NEF registration and possible removal will depend on this judgement. If you take over an existing provision, you will be allocated a new 6 digit NEF registration number. You will need to discard any headcount forms submitted by the previous owner and re-submit new headcount forms based on your new number. Where Ofsted cancels a providers registration status from Active, withdrawl of NEF registration will automatically occur.
Please note providers are accountable for how funding is spent and will need to be able to show (when audited) that the grant is being spent correctly.
Appeals Procedure
NURSERY EDUCATION FUNDING The Appeals procedure is intended to be as open as possible so any individual or organisation who feels unhappy with the service or decisions made by the Early Years and Childcare Service in connection with the administration of the Nursery Education Funding for 3 and 4 year olds can make a complaint and receive fair and unbiased treatment. Complaints in connection with Nursery Education Funding can be divided into three areas. 1. Providers complaining about Bradford Early Years and Childcare Service. At the first stage, front line staff should make every endeavour to remedy the complaint. If the person remains dissatisfied, then the complaint will pass to a senior manager within the Early Years and Childcare Service. If the person remains dissatisfied, then the complaint will be investigated by the Complaints Officer, or another appropriate senior officer, not directly involved in the service complained about. This investigation may also include a review of how the complaint has been handled at earlier stages. Complainants who are still not satisfied after this stage will be advised to refer their complaint to the appropriate external body (in most cases this will be the Local Government Ombudsman). 2. Parent complaining about Bradford Early Years and Childcare Service At the first stage front line staff should make every endeavour to remedy the complaint. If the person remains dissatisfied, then the complaint will pass to a senior manager within the Early Years and Childcare Service. If the person remains dissatisfied, then the complaint will be investigated by the Complaints Officer, or another appropriate senior officer, not directly involved in the service complained about. This investigation may also include a review of how the complaint has been handled at earlier stages. Complainants who are still not satisfied after this stage will be advised to refer their complaint to the appropriate external body (in most cases this will be the Local Government Ombudsman). 3. Parent complaining about a provider registered with Bradford EYCP to receive the Nursery Education Fund. These can again be classified into three areas: Complaints in respect of provision of Nursery Education An appropriate officer will contact the setting in order to discuss the matter. An appropriate officer will recommend a course of action if the complaint is
upheld. In certain circumstances the Bradford EYCS may inform OFSTED The complainant may also inform OFSTED Complaints in respect of Child protection If there is any suspicion of a child being abused, either physically, sexually or emotionally, or of being neglected, then it is the responsibility of any officer in the Council to ensure the correct procedures are followed. Information will be passed on / shared with senior managers, the Child protection unit, Social Services / or police. Records will be kept of any allegation made stored in a secure location and disclosed to others on a need to know basis. Complaints in respect of Criminal issues Any complaint in respect of criminal issues will be taken seriously Information will be passed on / shared with senior managers and the police. Records will be kept of any allegation made stored in a secure location and disclosed to others on a need to know basis. Any comment or complaint received by Bradford EYCS relating to the provision of Nursery Education by the provider will be given careful consideration by an appropriate officer. The complainant will be kept informed. The provider must deal promptly with any comment or complaint received, whether received directly or via Bradford EYCS.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. 7.
Estimate Details
In order to obtain an initial payment during the first week of term you will need to complete and submit an estimate form prior to the start of each term. This form is used to estimate the number of children you expect to be in receipt of an NEF place during the coming term. BEYCS will base your 80% initial payment on this estimate. The forms will be distributed on the identified date in the table below: Term of Funding Summer 08 Autumn 08 Spring 09 Estimate Form Distribution (Week Commencing) 3rd March 2008 23rd June 2008 17th November 2008 Return Deadline 20th March 2008 18th July 2008 12th December 2008
If forms are returned after the deadline date, no initial payment will be made at the start of the term. Subsequently the setting will receive 100% payment later in the term based on the figures from the headcount day.
Headcount details
To claim Nursery Education Funding, headcount forms must be completed on the prescribed headcount day each term. Parents must provide appropriate details and sign to confirm their child is in attendance at the provision and is receiving free NEF sessions Headcount forms are sent out with the information regarding payment 1, this is usually 1-2 weeks before the start of term. Following the headcount day it is important that the forms are returned to Bradford EYCS as quickly as possible and by the deadlines identified in the table below: Term of Funding Summer 08 Autumn 08 Spring 09 Headcount Date 24/04/2008 18/09/2008 22/01/2009 Return Deadline 01/05/2008 02/10/2008 29/01/2009
Headcount Forms
Pre-Printed Head Count Form (Active NEF Providers Only) This form lists details of eligible children notified from the previous term. The parent/guardian needs to check that all the child information contained is accurate and that the session information reflects attendance. An appropriate signature is also required to confirm the childs attendance. Blank Headcount Form This form is used to add children who have joined the setting prior to headcount day and are not included on the pre-printed headcount form from the previous term. The parent/guardian needs to provide accurate details for the child, appropriate session information and provide a signature to confirm the childs attendance. When a child initially begins to claim a nursery education funded place you should view a childs legal identification, to confirm correct details and eligibility for the place. Child Information Requirements The data needed for each child is: Childs legal surname / family name Childs legal first name Date of Birth Gender Male or Female Ethnic Origin Code Childs Address Parents telephone number, where they can be contacted How many sessions they attend with you How many sessions they are claiming for Name of any other provision they attend How many session they claim grant from them. Parents signature or date when child stopped claiming the grant.
Please sign and date the form and return within the dates given. Please return the forms even if no fund is claimed.
Changes to Claims
The count day each term is around two weeks into the term to allow movement of children between providers. We would ask that you encourage parents not to change providers during the term, but we recognise that this is not always the case. If a child arrives, after the count day, and is eligible for the fund, providers should complete a child joining form. The child will then be eligible for a proportionate payment of the NEF. If a child joins after the second payment being made providers should contact Bradford EYCS and we will consider the claim. When a child leaves a setting during the term you must complete a child leaving form. This is one of the conditions of funding. Dependant on the number of weeks remaining a repayment of the fund will be required. The payment calculator can be used to calculate any repayment amount, a cheque for this amount should be then be sent in with the leaving form. Cheques should be made payable to Bradford Council. Schools are allowed a four week phased entry for admissions, therefore children starting a reception or school nursery class in the first 4 weeks of term will not be eligible for nursery education fund for the first weeks of term before starting at a LEA setting. Providers should request that parents return any abatement or reimbursement of fees they have received in respect of a period after their child had left the provider.
Erratic Attendance
Providers must also inform the Bradford EYCS if there has been a change in the attendance of a child. It is strongly recommended that all registers are kept under scrutiny and reviewed at half term if not more frequently. If there is continued failure on the part of parents to utilise the number of sessions you have claimed on their behalf, you should contact us to discuss the matter. Providers should be pro active in their involvement with a childs non attendance to funded places. This could be through telephone calls to the parents or by issuing appropriate correspondence.
Repayments
Repayments maybe required from a setting at various point during a term. This could be due to an overestimation and subsequent overpayment at the start of term or due to children leaving a setting after the second payment has been made. Cheques need to be made payable to Bradford Council and forward to Bradford Early Years and Childcare Service. Following a request for a repayment by Bradford EYCS, repayments need to be made within 21 days. Failure to make the payment within 21 days could lead to a providers NEF registration being removed. Any problems regarding repayments or amounts requested should be discussed with the NEF officer on 01274 431965.
If your settings fees are higher than the current rate of Nursery Education Funding (from April 2008 set at 50.00 per week for a child attending 5 sessions a week), then you simply need to ensure that the amount of the NEF your setting receives from Early Years is being deducted from the parents invoices per week, i.e.:
5 x NEF 50.00 4 x NEF 40.00 3 x NEF 30.00 2 x NEF 20.00 1 x NEF 10.00
These amounts can then be deducted from the parents invoices either over a 12 month period or over the months of the terms, whichever best suits your settings circumstances.
Description of Expenditure
Amount
xx
Obviously in the case of nurseries, time isnt split into terms as such, but for reporting purposes the term dates can be taken from the NEF claim forms. If a setting is deducting the entire NEF from the parents invoices, then there is no NEF excess and hence no need to complete this table.
Useful Publications
The following publications are available from DfES Publications on 0845 6022260: Special Educational Needs Code of Practice (Reference: DfES 581/2001) Early Years Development and Childcare Planning Guidance 2004-2006 (Reference: PG 2003/04)
The following publication is available from QCA Publications on 01787 884444: Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage
The following publications are available from Bradford Early Years and Childcare Service Communication and Language in the Foundation Stage SEN Handbook Basic Provision contact advisory Teachers at 01274 431994 or 438734 Bradford Foundation Stage Progress Profile contact advisory teachers
Current Legislation can be seen on Her Majestys Stationery Office website. www.hmso.gov.uk
If you wish to purchase a printed version of any item of legislation or any other official publication previously published by HMSO then please visit the Stationary Office Ltd where you can access their online bookshop or obtain further information. You can also contact them direct at: TSO PO Box 29 St Crispins Duke Street Norwich NR3 1GN Tel: 0870 600 5522 Fax: 0870 600 5533 Email: book.orders@tso.co.uk Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop
Contacts
Early Years and Childcare Service General Office Fax Finance Dept Childrens Information Link Area SENCO Early Years Trainer Foundation Stage Advisory Teachers 431813 01274 229368 437653 437503 437493 431481 431994 / 438734 431481 / 431481 Workforce Development Officer Training Admin Officers Business Support Manager Mobile Creche Co-ordinator Bradford Childminding Network New Provider Advisor Working Family Tax Credit 431482 431479 431390 435082 435288 435290