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Nursery Education Grant
Nursery Education Grant
Early Education Funding
Funding for Early Education places at Independent schools, day nurseries, pre-school & play groups for children from the term following their 3rd birthday.
Early Education Provision outside maintained (local authority) schools.
There is a wide choice of places other than schools that offer education and childcare for three and four year olds including independent schools, pre-school and play groups, day nurseries and registered childminders in Kingston for parents who choose to send their children to settings outside the home.
Under the Government's Early Years initiative, there is funding in Kingston for one 2½ hour session per day*. This can be in the maintained sector (schools) or in private, voluntary or independent groups (independent schools, day nurseries, pre-school and play groups). The group must be approved to deliver early education and be part of the Children's Strategic Partnership in Kingston.
*maximum of five 2½ hour sessions per week per child (you cannot claim if your child attends a state nursery school or class as he/she is already receiving funded early education).
When will my child be eligible?
Children with their 3rd birthday between 1st April and 31st August are eligible for funding from autumn term starting September.- Children with their 3rd birthday between 1st September and 31st December are eligible for funding from spring term starting January.
- Children with their 3rd birthday between 1st January and 31st March are eligible for funding from summer term starting April.
Early education is provided in a variety of childcare settings:
- State nursery class/nursery school
- Independent or private nursery class or school
- Day nursery
- Pre-school or playgroup
If your child is attending a state nursery class/nursery school [1] funded by the local education authority, then this counts as their funded part time early education place.
If your child is attending a private, voluntary or independent group [2,3 or 4], the local education authority pays the group according to the number of eligible (by date of birth) children on their register. Funding is paid directly to the group to enable them to provide your child with their funded early education place.
To claim this funding the group has to be part of the Children's Strategic Partnership in Kingston
This means that the group has been approved to provide early education according to Early Learning Goals developed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). These are the same goals that your child would be working to if attending a state nursery class/nursery school. The Families Information Service (FIS) has a list of groups registered with Ofsted to provide early education and childcare. Ofsted inspects regularly checking performance in both areas (called a "combined inspection").
You can look at a copy of an inspection report by:
- asking the group directly to show you their report
- Looking on the Ofsted website (www.ofsted.gov.uk) under childcare
- Visiting the Families Information Service to view a copy of the report
(The FIS may not have a copy of every inspection report).
Why aren't all groups registered to provide early education?
Most groups in Kingston choose to work towards being able to receive the Early Education Funding; however, groups are not automatically eligible for the funding when they first set up. Speak to the group directly to ask them if they are in the process of applying to get the funding.
What is my child entitled to?
Your child is entitled to upto five funded 2 1/2-hour sessions a week for a minimum of 38 weeks per year. This will continue until your child reaches five years of age and moves into reception class.
If your child is attending a state funded nursery class/nursery school [1] for either five morning sessions or five afternoon sessions each week of the term .. this is their early education entitlement.
If your child is attending a group [2,3 & 4] you have the option of less than five sessions. You may want your child to attend two or three sessions a week, or you may be able to have more flexibility in how you use the sessions (you may wish your child to have five sessions over two and a half days instead of spread over a week). You may also be using more than one group and you can divide your sessions between groups - but you will only be allowed five funded sessions in total. You would need to discuss your plans with the group to see whether they can provide a place for your child on the days that you want.
What does this mean to us as a family financially?
Children attending nursery classes in state funded schools are receiving their early education without having to pay a termly fee. Children attending pre-school, nursery or independent school before their third birthday will receive a reduction in fees then early education funding starts. The amount you pay the group will be for additional childcare that is provided around the early education place (i.e. most sessions last longer than 2 1/2 hours). As costs vary from group to group you need to ask the group what the reduction in fees would be for your child.
How do I make sure that my child will get their funded early education place?
To get the funding your child needs to be attending group that is part of the Children's Strategic Partnership. If your child is on the register of the group and becomes eligible by date or birth, the group will make a claim to the Royal Borough of Kingston on your behalf. The group has to claim by a deadline date (called the "child count day"). This is usually about three weeks into the start of term. If your child joins the group after this date, the group will not be able to claim the early education funding for your child for that term.
The claim by the group will be for the number of sessions that your child is attending. If your child is attending two groups, each group will claim for the right number of sessions. Your group will explain what you pay for childcare and the arrangements for paying.
For further information on groups registered with Ofsted to provide early education and childcare contact:
Kingston Families Information Service
132 Kingston Road, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3ND
Tel: 020 8547 6582
Fax: 020 8547 6667
Email: fis@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
Visit: Open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday