Early Years and Childcare Special Newsletter
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Friday 26 April 2024
You will be aware that the government has allocated funding to support schools and private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) providers (including childminders and early years settings) to ensure that parents of primary school age children who need this are able to access wraparound childcare at least 8am-6pm during term time. We are seeking funding Expressions of Interest (EOI) from new or existing childcare providers considering setting up or expanding wraparound childcare places as part of the National Wraparound Childcare Programme between September 2024 to September 2026.
The online EOI form is available via the Wraparound Childcare Programme Funding - EOI web page and must be submitted by Friday 17 May 2024. If you are a PVI provider you must consult and plan with the schools your provision does or will serve when completing this EOI.
This EOI will inform West Sussex County Council's (WSCC) wraparound childcare programme delivery plan which is due to be returned to the Department for Education (DfE) by 14 June 2024. It is important that we understand your intentions so that we can plan support where it is needed. Therefore, it is essential regardless of how far you are in developing your project plans, that you return this EOI with as much information as you have at this stage. Viable projects identified through the EOI process will be invited to complete a formal funding application. This will require further information on your proposed project including income and expenditure.
The DfE expect all new or expanded wraparound childcare places to be available to parents by September 2025 at the latest. The DfE have produced an information sheet detailing the key documents you will need as you consider how you will deliver this expanded provision from September 2024.
Wraparound provision can be offered by schools and private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) providers, including childminders and early years settings. Provision can be run on a school site or at another setting in the area. It should not require parents to pick their children up from school and drop them off at another location. Schools and PVI providers wishing to set up wraparound childcare provision should refer to Start a Childcare Business for further information and support.
For any questions during this process, please contact: wraparoundchildcare@westsussex.gov.uk.
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