Early Years and Childcare Special Newsletter
Difficulty viewing this bulletin? Click here to view in your browser.
Friday 31 May 2024
You may be aware that the government has allocated West Sussex County Council (WSCC) £1.87m in capital grant funding which may contribute to capital costs associated with projects that increase the supply of early years places and/or wraparound childcare for primary-school aged children. It is estimated that around 80% of this grant will support the development of additional early years places and 20% for wraparound childcare (approximately £1.498m and £374k respectively, countywide), however there is flexibility for the local authority.
WSCC will be focusing on projects that will increase the physical capacity of early years and/or wraparound provision in local areas where demand is likely to exceed existing supply. WSCC will also consider projects that will adapt or improve facilities to expand their use or make places available for a wider range of needs, including for children with SEND.
Projects will be reviewed against supply and demand data collated and analysed by WSCC as well as information held as part of our sufficiency duties. Viable projects identified through the Expression of Interest (EOI) process will be invited to complete a formal funding application, which will require further information on your proposed project including more detailed costings.
Please note, the grant is limited and as such unlikely to cover the costs of a new building, however may be able to contribute toward this in areas where there is clear demand for additional places. WSCC would expect that, in most cases, the funded awarded to successful projects will not exceed £50,000.
For more information, and to submit your EOI, visit the Childcare Expansion Capital Grants EOI web page. The deadline to complete the EOI form is Friday 21 June 2024.
Providers are advised to read the following documents thoroughly before submitting their EOI:
The EOI will inform WSCC's Childcare Expansion Grant Assurance for the Department for Education (DfE). As such, information provided in this EOI will be processed by WSCC and/or Childcare Works on behalf of the DfE.
For any questions during this process, please email ChildcareExpansionGrants@westsussex.gov.uk.
|
