What is Free Entitlement?
Free Entitlement is your child’s right to free, part-time* early years education before he or she reaches compulsory school age (the term following his or her 5th birthday).
* ‘Part-time’ means up to 5 sessions per week for 38 weeks a year. Some providers will not be open for 38 weeks a year and children will not be funded in an alternative provision for any additional weeks.
A ‘session’ must be at least 2½ hours long and sessions must be taken in school term time.
It is important that you understand what your entitlement is and what you may still be responsible for paying.
When can I get a free place for my child?
All children are funded from the start of the April, September or January term following their 3rd birthday.
Wiltshire County Council 2008 - 2009 term dates:
Term 5 2008 21st April - 23rd May
Term 6 2008 2nd June - 25th July
Term 1 2008 3rd September - 24th October
Term 2 2008 5th November - 19th December
Term 3 2009 5th January - 13th February
Term 4 2009 23rd February - 3rd April
Which Providers are included in the scheme?
Most:
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Pre-schools/playgroups
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Day Nurseries
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Independent Schools
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Opportunity Groups
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Portage Schemes
All:
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Local Authority Infant and Primary Schools
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Local Authority Nursery classes attached to a school
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NCMA accredited childminders*
*These are childminders who have undertaken additional training and accreditation and are registered providers of early years education. Sessions with these childminders can be funded through the Free Entitlement scheme in the same way as other providers.
How is the Free Entitlement paid?
Wiltshire County Council will pay the pre-school, nursery, school or accredited childminder directly for the core education sessions of 2½ hours. You will be asked by the provider/s to sign a form confirming your child’s date of birth, postcode and the number of sessions that will be funded.
Can I claim for more than one session per day?
Two sessions of Free Entitlement can be claimed in a day as long as there is an appropriate length break between the two sessions. However, the number of sessions offered in a day varies between providers and you need to check this with them.
Can my child attend more than one provider?
Yes – children can attend more than one pre-school, nursery or accredited childminder, or a combination of these. The funding can be shared between providers.
N.B. The grant is not available for any other providers if your child attends an infant or primary school or a nursery class attached to a school, even if they attend for less than five sessions.
Is there additional funding for childcare costs?
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If you and your partner both work a minimum of 16 hours a week or, as a lone parent, you work at least 16 hours a week, you may be able to claim some funding childcare costs through Working Tax Credit.
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Your employer may offer, or you can request, Childcare Vouchers through the Salary Sacrifice scheme. Salary Sacrifice has tax and National Insurance benefits for both employers and employees.
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The Social Inclusion Fund may help with fees for childcare or holiday activities in cases of disability or family disadvantage. Ring 01225 785663 for details.
What happens if my child changes provision?
Providers can only claim funding based on the number of eligible children on their registers during a specified week (“headcount week”). There are three “headcount weeks” a year for the periods April to August, September to December and January to March. If your child changes to a different provision after the “headcount week” for that period the new provider cannot claim funding for the child until the next “headcount week”.
In this case:
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your old provider may forward the funding to the new provider.
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if the new provider has a spare place, they must accept your child without funding for up to five sessions per week; they can only charge you for any additional hours.
However, if the new provider would incur additional costs by accepting your child e.g. employing another member of staff, your child will not be eligible for Free Entitlement until the following term.
What happens if I do not live in Wiltshire but my child attends a group in Wiltshire?
Funding is allocated on the basis of where your son or daughter receives his or her early years education rather than where they live. Therefore your child or children will be eligible for Free Entitlement.
What should I do now?
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Find out which providers in your area are part of the scheme and have places by contacting ask on 08457 585072 or info@askwiltshire.org
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Decide how many sessions your child will attend and book them.
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Be clear what will be free and what you might be charged for.
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Think about when your child will be ready to start school. (Remember this can be deferred.)
