Best Bear news release
56 local areas to become pathfinders for nursery funding system
16 February 2010
A clearer and more consistent system of childcare funding, which will benefit children and families across the country, has been announced for 56 local authorities who will implement the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF), Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo announced today.
56 local authorities will be invited to join the pathfinder programme from today, ahead of the full rollout in April 2011. The EYSFF will provide a more transparent basis for childcare funding and will mean that local authorities will be able to manage the funding of childcare providers in their area according to local priorities and need.
This will ensure that they are better able to implement the free childcare entitlement for three and four year olds - which will be extended from 12.5 hours to 15 hours per week in September 2010. The new offer aims to ensure all children get the best possible start in life, regardless of background or income, by providing families with easy to access, high quality early learning and childcare that is flexible to their needs.
Children’s Minister Dawn Primarolo said:
“The Government has transformed early years education over the last 12 years – and we now have near universal take up of the free entitlement. It’s a positive step that so many local authorities and childcare providers are preparing to implement the new EYSFF ahead of time.
"The EYSFF will enable local authorities to better manage and plan childcare provision to benefit families across their area. Many local authorities are doing excellent work with early years providers to prepare for the new formula, and I’m really pleased that a third of local authorities are ready to implement from 2010.
“The new formula is not designed to disadvantage maintained nurseries or to enable private nurseries to make large profits. Local authorities have a duty to ensure that provision in their area meets the needs of families and we will continue to support local authorities who may need extra help. Any childcare providers who have concerns about the impact of the new formula should contact their local authorities to discuss.”
The 56 new pathfinder areas will build on the work of the original nine pilot areas, who implemented the EYSFF in April last year. Following feedback from some local authorities who were facing difficulties developing their formula, the Government took the decision to delay the full roll out until April 2011. This will give local authorities enough time to properly plan and manage the change. The expertise, learning and best practice from the pathfinders will help support the remaining local authorities who will be implementing the formula next year.
Local authorities have done extensive work with local providers and the Government has encouraged those local authorities who felt they were ready to apply to implement the EYSFF early through the pathfinder programme.
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