Early Years Single Funding Formula

Background to the Consultation

It is a government requirement that from April 2010, all Local Authorities must introduce a single local Formula to fund providers for the free entitlement to early years education and childcare. It must properly reflect the different provisions and cost bases for early years provision in the maintained and Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) sectors so that current inconsistencies between the sectors are removed and that increased flexibility of provisions and the extension of the free entitlement are properly encouraged. This page provides information as to how Bracknell Forest Council is approaching this task.

Approach

A representative group drawn from the maintained and PVI sectors was set up and took the following approach:

To obtain an understanding of the current funding models
To establish the current baseline data around types, numbers and sizes of provider
To identify current cost bases so that this could be properly taken into account for the new arrangements
To take account of the statutory requirements issued by the DCSF
To consider the findings from pilot authorities who had been operating under the new arrangements since 2007
To consider other data that would help inform the process

What are the main changes?

A single funding formula for Early Years will be introduced and will be consistently applied to all providers of the free entitlement from April 2010.
All settings will be funded on the actual number of hours of attendance multiplied by an amount per hour.
The hourly rate will be set by the Council and may be different between providers to reflect their different cost bases and whether they meet local and national priorities.
Additional funding will be given to providers where they make all or part of their provision on a more flexible basis.

How do I get my views considered?

Please reply by 11 December 2009 using the response form below.