CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE: CHILDCARE FUNDING BILL

 

Please see below the further information requested by the Committee following its evidence session with WLGA/ADEW on 6th June.

 

How many local authorities give parents a choice between non-maintained and maintained settings for accessing the early years foundation phase entitlement

 

Twenty local authorities offer parents a choice at N1[1].

 

Fourteen of those 20 authorities also offer a choice at N2[2]: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Isle of Anglesey (where the schools admission age is 4), Monmouthshire, Newport, Pembrokeshire (in some circumstances), Powys, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan.

 

Two local authorities - Neath Port Talbot and Swansea - offer N1 and N2 in the maintained sector only.

 

The hourly rates local authorities are paying to maintained and non-maintained settings for providing the early years foundation phase entitlement

 

Most local authorities do not pay childcare settings on an hourly rate. Instead there are a variety of different methods/circumstances as to how payments are made to settings, including:

 

·         Same as for schools based on Age Weighted Pupil Unit – these rates vary per local authority

·         Flat rate per child per term ranging from £290 to £900 

·         Flat rate per setting per term up to 8 children with additional amount per additional child

·         In line with individual provider rate (unrelated to school rate)

·         Flat rate per week per child

·         Hourly rate per child ranging from £3 to £3.50 hour

·         Funding staff in the settings to meet the required ratios

·         Funding for a set number of purchased places.

 

A list of how many hours of early years foundation phase support each Local Authority is providing

 

Local Authority

Number of FP hours paid per week

Local Authority

Number of FP hours paid per week

Blaenau Gwent

12.5

Merthyr Tydfil

12.5

Bridgend

N1:

10 (non-maintained)

10-15 (maintained)

N2:

10 (non-maintained)

30 (maintained)

Monmouthshire

10

Caerphilly

10

Neath Port Talbot

12.5

Cardiff

 

7.5 hours (3 x 2.5 hours) to 12.5 hours (5 x 2.5 hours)

Newport

10 – 12.5

Carmarthenshire

 

10

Pembrokeshire

10

Ceredigion

10

Powys

12.5

Conwy

10

Rhondda Cynon Taff

15

Denbighshire

10

Swansea

10 (maintained)

Flintshire

10

Torfaen

10 (non-maintained)

12.5 (maintained)

Gwynedd

10

Vale of Glamorgan

12.5

Isle of Anglesey

10

Wrexham

N1: 10

N2: 12.5 

 



[1] N1 = rising 3s (term after 3rd birthday)

[2] N2 = school year children turn 4 (full year before Reception)