Single Funding Formula

Michael Gove MP, The Secretary of State for Education, announced today that from April 2011 all local authorities will be required to implement the Early Years Single Funding Formula. The single funding formula was due to be implemented by April 2010 but was delayed by the last Government.

 

All local authorities will be required to be transparent about the funding that they are providing for free early years education for 3- and 4-year-olds – so that parents and providers are able to hold their local authority to account.

 

The formula will also require local authorities to fund providers for the children that attend their setting and must include a deprivation supplement so that more money will be targeted at the children who need it most.

 

Further details about the announcement are available on the Department for Education website. This also includes a questions and answers document about the announcement.

 

Around half of the local authorities have implemented their EYSFF from April 2010 as pathfinders. 

 

NCMA welcomed the announcement by government to implement the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF). 

 

NCMA's Joint Chief Executive, Liz Bayram, said "We will be seeking to work with officials at the Department for Education to ensure that best practice for working with childminders accredited to deliver the early years entitlement is built in to the guidance for local authorities. We believe that the application of the EYSFF should take into account the unique way in which childminders deliver the free entitlement, for example, the smaller adult to child ratios and reflect the high quality care delivered, as well as the local childcare market.

 

"NCMA looks forward to working with the Government and each local authority to establish a consistent and transparent approach to funding childminders and hopes that the good practice identified in the pathfinder pilots will be used to deliver parity across authorities."

 

Do you have a story to share about how your Local Authority have been developing the single funding formula in your area? Tell us below or email whominds@ncma.org.uk

 

Please let us know about your experiences
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Page last updated: 10/20/2010