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Information for professionals

Current Grants Available to Schools to support Delivery of Wraparound/ Early Years Places.

Wraparound Childcare Delivery grant

Revenue funding to support providers to expand care that “ wraps around” the school day (Mon-Fri 8am -6pm, term time only) all providers must be signposted by schools. Further information and application: Wraparound care childcare | Gloucestershire County Council.  Schools or the private, voluntary and independent sector can all apply for this funding.

Next applications January 2025.

Childcare Reforms Local Authority Capital funding

Capital funding to support to support the delivery of the expansion of the 30-hours early years entitlement for working families so that by September 2025 all parents (9 months to 5years) will have access to 30 hours of funded childcare. As well as supporting  wraparound provision delivered primary schools.  Schools or the private, voluntary and independent sector can all apply for this funding.

All information and application : early years - Expanded entitlement | Early Years Service All information and application- wraparound : Wraparound care childcare | Gloucestershire County Council

Next Application is January 2025

School-Based Nurseries Capital Grant

The School-Based Nursery Capital Grant is a one-time grant (although there may be further funding rounds) available for eligible state-funded primary-phase schools. Schools can bid for up to £150,000 of funding to use solely for capital expenditure, to convert surplus space within a school building so that it is suitable for nursery provision. Whilst only schools can bid for funding any voluntary/ private/ independent provider can deliver this childcare.  Please email: SBN Grant mailbox if you are considering applying for this grant.  All information: School-Based Nursery Capital Grant - GOV.UK

Applications through DFE and due December 19th, please register interest for future rounds.

Sufficiency Grant

There is a small amount of revenue funding for providers who are struggling to meet their sufficiency duty and are therefore at risk of not being able to deliver all the places they have capacity for.  Schools or the private, voluntary and independent sector can all apply for this funding.  Please contact, eybusinesssupport@gloucestershire.gov.uk for info/ to apply.  Funding is only guaranteed until March 2025.

Section 106 Funding 

 S106 Funding may be available in specific localities where there are new housing developments. To support the Local Authority to meet its statutory duties to ensure there are sufficient childcare and school places, and where it is identified that this may result in an increase in a need for additional places, there may be some S106 funding allocated to support this need. Schools or the private, voluntary and independent sector can all apply for this funding.  Please contact us via the EY Business support inbox if you require any further information eybusinesssupport@gloucestershire.gov.uk 

Breakfast Club Programme

Schools in disadvantaged areas are eligible for the programme if they have 40% or more pupils in bands A-F of the income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI). This includes state-funded primary, secondary, special schools and alternative provision.  All participating schools receive a 75% subsidy for the food and delivery costs of breakfast club provision until the end of July 2025. Schools will contribute 25% of costs. All pupils in participating schools are to be offered breakfast supplies at no cost to them or their parents. National school breakfast club programme - GOV.UK

Applications live

Breakfast Clubs Early Adopter Scheme

Funding will be provided to cover food, delivery and staff costs.  It will fund up to 750 participating state-funded schools to provide children with access to a breakfast club (at least 30 minutes) that involves free food and childcare, starting from April 2025.  The club should be available to all pupils in the school.  Whilst only schools can bid for funding any voluntary/ private/ independent provider can deliver this childcare.   All information and application: Breakfast clubs early adopters scheme - GOV.UK

Applications through DFE and due December 19th

Early help co-ordinators

Early help coordinators offer advice, guidance and support to practitioners working with children and families around all aspects of using the Graduated Pathway.

Early help coordinators can support practitioners with Team Around the Family meetings, developing plans and assessments and commissioning services to meet children’s needs. Early help coordinators also offer training around the Graduated Pathway of Early Help and Support and more information can be found on Glosfamilies Directory.

Early help coordinators work on a locality basis and can be contacted by using the numbers and email addresses below:

If you are unable to contact your locality early help coordinator, advice, guidance and support is available by contacting the EHCO practitioner advice line on 01452 426644 (operational Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm).

Holiday Activity and Food (HAF)

The Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme is funded by the Department of Education for those in reception to year 11 who receive income-related free school meals.

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

Further information regarding the role of the LADO and the allegations management process.

Recruitment links

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Qualification information

Experience-based route for early years staff qualifications

To support early years settings to recruit and retain staff, from 3 March 2025 eligible educators will be able to access an experience-based route to working in the Staff:Child ratios at level 3. This new route recognises the significant contribution that skilled and experienced staff can make to the education and care of young children. This is an opportunity for educators without currently approved qualifications to develop their careers, and for providers to maximise the potential of their talented staff in a way that works best for the children in their care. The full consultation response can be found here.

Experience-based route for early years practitioners - GOV.UK

When using this route, early years providers must follow all requirements included in the Early Years Qualification Requirements and Standards document. Early years qualification requirements and standards

Please note: The experience-based route and this guidance do not yet represent the law, until the related statutory instrument has been made and comes into force, expected on 3 March 2025.

Experience-based route for early years staff - GOV.UK

Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Standard

The DfE have also announced the publication of the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship standard. This new, graduate-level qualification will give everyone from school leavers and junior staff to senior leaders the opportunity to easily move into a specialist career in the early years sector.

Useful links

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Previous Department for Education guidance documents