Agenda item

Mrs N Raines presented the report.

Early Years funding was participation based. The Early Years Dedicated Schools Grant for each financial year was revised based on three census counts.  Funding allocations were currently provisional for 2021/22 - final allocations are based on 5/12 of January 2020 part time equivalent (pte) child numbers (to cover April 2021 to August 2021) and 7/12 of the January 2021 pte child numbers (to cover September 20201 to March 2022). 

Final funding allocations for 2020/21 were based on pte numbers of children recorded on the January 2022 census.  The census in January 2021 was confirmed.  Where attendance was below 85 per cent of the January 2020 census levels and where councils could provide evidence of increased attendance during the spring term a top up would be provided. The top up would only pay for those additional places since the census count and the total allocation for spring term would be limited to a cap equivalent to 85 per cent of the January 2020 census level. 

Funding allocations had increased for the 2021/22 financial year with an additional eight pence and six pence per hour per child on the hourly rate for two-year olds (£5.36) and three and four-year olds (£4.44) respectively.  Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) and Disability Access Funding (DAF) remained at 53p per hour per child and £615 per annum respectively.

Two-year olds were eligible for a maximum of 15 hours funded early learning and care where their family circumstances meant that they were eligible for free school meals, where the family was in receipt of Universal Credit/Tax Credits with an income of approximately £16,000, or where the child was in or had left the care of a local authority; was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or the child had an education, health and care plan.  Approximately 550 children were eligible each term in North Lincolnshire.

All three and four-year olds were entitled to a maximum of 15 hours funded early education in the maintained, private or voluntary sector for 38 weeks of the year.  Children with parents in employment may also be eligible for an additional 15 funded hours, if they were both employed.  Approximately 44 per cent of funded children took-up the additional funded hours in North Lincolnshire.  Provider payments were determined using the Early Years Single Funding formula comprised of a base rate and a number of supplements.  EYPP and DAF were ring fenced funding supplements for children that met eligibility criteria. 

The report gave details of the revised allocation budgets for two, three and four year funding.

Resolved – (a) That the provisional funding allocation in relation to the Early Years Block of the DSG for 2021/22 be noted; (b) that the proposed rate of £5.32 per hour per child for all funded two year olds be supported; (c) that the proposed local supplements of the Early Years Single Funding Formula, deprivation and a sufficiency lump sum, be supported; (d) that an increase to the base rate of 7p to £4.20 per hour per child, as set out in scenario two in the report and the preference of the childcare sector, be supported and (e) that the proposal the Early Years Pupil Premium (53p per hour per child) and the Disability Access Funding (£615 per annum lump sum) be paid at the nationally required rates be supported.