18 EARLY YEARS DEDICATED SCHOOLS GRANT FUNDING 2020/21– The Director: Learning, Skills and Culture submitted a report seeking consideration of the proposed Early Years Funding Formula values for the 2020-21 financial year for providers of early education to two, three and four year olds.
It was a statutory duty of the council to provide up to a maximum of 15 hours funded early education for 38 weeks of the year for all three and four-year olds in North Lincolnshire. An additional extended 15 hours was also available for children of working parents that met an eligibility criteria. More than 90 per cent of three and four-year olds took-up their universal 15 hours entitlement to early education, of these approximately 40 per cent took-up additional extended hours. In the autumn term almost all (97 per cent) of eligible two-year olds took-up their early education place, considerably higher than the national average of 68 per cent.
Two-year olds could claim up to 15 funded hours of early education for 38 weeks of the year where their family circumstances made them eligible. To meet the criteria families must be eligible for free school meals or be in receipt of Universal Credit/tax credits and have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax or where a child was or was previously looked after by a council.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency published operational guidance annually, outlining the arrangements to help councils and their Schools Forums planned the local implementation of the early year’s national funding formula for the forthcoming financial year. Councils determined their own local formula that met the requirements of statutory guidance in consultation with Schools Forum. Early years’ providers received funding based on participation of individual children each term.
Resolved - That the use of the formula factors and values, as set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report, be approved.