FAQs (Extension for 3 and 4 year olds)
1. What are the eligibility criteria for Phase 1 (25% coverage in September 2009)?
There are no eligibility criteria for children. The providers in the most economically deprived areas of Kent have been identified and invited to offer 15 hours from September 2009.
This method was recommended by DCSF in order to avoid issues for providers where they would be asked to extend the offer for only 1 or 2 children, and to avoid resentment for parents whose children were not permitted to access the extended offer at the same provision as those who were permitted to do so.
All providers will be funded to offer 15 hours if they wish to do so from September 2010.
2. When will the families of eligible children be contacted?
Families will be not be contacted direct and there will not be an extensive marketing campaign in 2009-10 as the offer is not available throughout the county.
Revised leaflets explaining the limited availability of the extension will be produced and made available to providers to pass on to parents involved with or interested in using their setting.
3. Are parents able to split the offer between providers?
Yes. The offer can be accessed across two (but no more than two) providers, unless KCC deems that there are exceptional circumstances and then more than two providers may deliver.
If only one of the providers is offering 15 hours and the other is offering 12.5 hours, the total offer to be accessed would be 15 hours. Clearly in this scenario the provider only offering 12.5 hours would only be able to offer a maximum of 12.5 hours.
4. Are parents able to split the offer between maintained sector and PVI provision?
Parents are able to access 12.5 hours with maintained sector provision and the additional 2.5 hours with PVI provision if the PVI provision has a vacancy for 2.5 hours only. Parents are not able to split the hours more equally between maintained sector and PVI provision in 2009-10.
5. Can a provider refuse to offer a free entitlement place for a child if the parent only wants them to take up the place part-time?
September 2009-September 2010
5a) If a parent states that they wish their child only to attend a maintained nursery for part of the free entitlement then the nursery must say that no, they are funded to offer five sessional places only . If the parent only wishes to access part of the free entitlement then they must use PVI provision.
5b) If a parent states that they wish their child only to attend a PVI provider for part of the free entitlement then the PVI provider is entitled to say that no, they don't have a vacancy for a part-time place. The PVI provider may choose to take a child part-time or full-time depending on their occupancy rates. The risk that the provider takes is that they may not fill the place full-time either, but that decision is theirs to make. The local authority has a duty to provide sufficient places across the county and this is currently being achieved.
September 2010 onwards
5c) It is not yet possible to identify what would happen in this scenario for either the maintained sector or for the PVI sector as the new code of practice has not yet been issued.
6. Can a provider withdraw a free entitlement place for a child if the parent later decides that they only want to take up the place part-time?
September 2009 - September 2010
6a) If a parent states later that they wish their child only to attend a maintained nursery for part of the free entitlement then the nursery must say that no, they are funded to offer five sessional places only. If the parent only wishes to access part of the free entitlement then they must use PVI provision. The nursery may withdraw the place for the child.
6b) If a parent states later that they wish their child only to attend a PVI provider for part of the free entitlement then the PVI provider is entitled to say that no, they don't have a vacancy for a part-time place. The PVI provider may choose to take a child part-time or full-time depending on their occupancy rates. The risk that the provider takes is that they may not fill the place full-time either, but that decision is theirs to make. The local authority has a duty to provide sufficient places across the county. The PVI provider may withdraw the place for the child.
September 2010 onwards
6c) It is not yet possible to identify what would happen in this scenario for either the maintained sector or for the PVI sector as the new code of practice has not yet been issued.
B) Participation by Childcare Providers & Funding Queries
7. Which settings can participate in Phase 1 (extension to 15 hours in September 2009)?
Any setting which is registered with Management Information Unit to offer the free entitlement and is located within one of the highest areas of deprivation in Kent has been invited in Terms 5&6 to offer the 15 hours from September 2009. Any new setting opening in any of these areas during 2009-10 and eligible to offer the free entitlement will be invited to start by offering 15 hours.
8. Are childminders also offering the extended hours?
Yes, as long as they are accredited and part of a network and located in the target areas.
9. Will providers be required to participate?
No.
10. Can providers charge top-up fees?
No.
11. Can providers still charge fees for wrap-around care?
Yes, as now, if families wish to access additional hours.
12. How much will providers receive for the additional 2.5 hours?
Providers will be funded at the same rate (for 2009-10 this is £3.76 per hour) for the additional hours.
13. Is it essential that providers are able to provide the offer flexibly for them to participate?
No, this is not a requirement for providers who are involved in September 2009 and some will continue to deliver sessionally. However, many parents will be keen to access the entitlement flexibly, and providers are encouraged to do so.
From September 2010 the Flexibility Framework will apply and the local authority must ensure that genuine flexibility is delivered.
14. What is the flexibility framework?
| Entitlement | 15 hours a week over a minimum of 3 days |
| Length of Offer | 38 weeks |
| Minimum Hours in Day | 2 hour blocks |
| Maximum Hours in Day | 10 hours in one day, 13 hours in total if the offer is split over 2 days only |
| Providers | 2 maximum unless the local authority deems exceptional circumstances* |
15. What happens if providers are unable to extend to 15 hours – will they be able to continue to offer 12.5 hours?
Yes, but providers will be encouraged to extend to 15 hours as parents are likely to wish to take up the full free entitlement. Providers who do not extend may therefore not be first choice for parents.
Providers are also welcome to apply for early years capital funding if this would enable them to offer the extended hours.
16. How will the scheme be administered?
Management Information Unit will continue to conduct a headcount 3 times each year and will make the payments according to information provided by providers. Providers will be required to inform Management Information Unit about any new starters during term-time.
Management Information Unit have information about which settings are able to offer 15 hours 2009-10.
17. How will we prevent parents moving their children from provision only offering 12.5 hours to provision offering 15 hours and thus creating unsustainable provision?
Parents choose where their children access the free entitlement and do not always base their decision on financial criteria alone. All settings will be funded to offer the 15 hours from September 2010 if they wish / are able to do so.