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 21 March 2024
Early Years Entitlements and Wraparound Update
Clarifying policy on charging by providers
The Department for Education has set out the below to help explain the current policy on charging.
Local authorities should work with providers and parents to ensure that all parents, including disadvantaged families, have fair access to a funded place, which must be delivered completely free of charge.
This is set out in paragraph A1.30 of the current statutory guidance and A1.33 of the updated statutory guidance applicable from 1 April 2024.
What is allowed – consumables and additions:
- Paragraph A1.30 of the statutory guidance is clear that government funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of free, high quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services. Providers can charge for meals and snacks as part of a free entitlement place and they can also charge for consumables, such as nappies or sun cream, and for additional services such as trips and specialist tuition.
- If a parent is unable to pay for consumables or if a parent wishes to provide their own, then the parent and provider can discuss alternative options. This could include allowing parents to supply their own meals or nappies, or waiving or reducing the cost of meals and snacks.
- As set out in paragraph A1.33 of the guidance, such charges for consumables or additional services should not be made a condition of accessing a free place.
What is not allowed:
- Local authorities should ensure that providers do not charge parents “top-up” fees (any difference between a provider’s normal charge to parents and the funding they receive from the local authority to deliver free places).
- Core costs of running a business that delivers government-funded childcare are not consumables used by the child or additional services provided to the child. These include, but are not limited to, insurance, Ofsted registration, maintenance, business rates, training costs, rent and energy bills. These are core costs of running a business and we expect these to be covered by government funding and that parents should not be charged.
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Wraparound Childcare Programme Events
The Department for Education will be holding two events to support the involvement of Private, Voluntary and Independant providers in the new national wraparound childcare programme. This includes small or large private wraparound providers as well as early years providers and nurseries who offer, or would like to offer, wraparound care for primary school age children. These events will take place on the following dates;
- Wednesday 24 April – Mercure St Pauls Hotel and Spa, 119 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JE.
- Wednesday 1 May - De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5DA.
The events will provide an opportunity to share best practice, with case studies and discussions around different delivery models. Childcare Works will be outlining the support on offer to providers. Speakers from DfE and other departments will also be in attendance.
To register, please access the following link;
https://orcula.com/dfe-national-wraparound-programme---provider-workshops/register
Each event is limited to approximately 100 places, therefore we would ask that only one person is in attendance from each provider. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The event is free to attend and lunch/refreshments will be provided.
If you have any questions regarding the event, please email Wraparound.programme@education.gov.uk.
The Early Years Team
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