North Yorkshire Council

 

Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills

 

23rd October 2023

 

Acceptance of s.31 Grant for local authority delivery support funding to support delivery of the expanded early years entitlements

 

Report of the Corporate Director CYPS

 

1.0      PURPOSE OF REPORT

 

1.1      To inform the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills of the requirement to accept the s.31 Grant of £113,399.89 for the 2023/24 financial year.

 

 

2.0      SUMMARY

 

2.1      The Department for Education are providing LA delivery support funding as part of the expansion of the Early Years (EY) entitlement. LA delivery support funding is available this financial year (2023-24) to support local authorities meet programme and delivery costs associated with rolling out the expanded EY entitlements.  The funding is to meet the costs associated with the rollout of the Early Years entitlement expansion, as announced at Spring Budget 2023 Spring Budget 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

 

3.0      BACKGROUND

 

3.1       The grant is intended to support an increase in early education support for eligible working parents through government funded childcare hours. 

This will be rolled out in stages:

•      From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds can access their 15 hours childcare (over 38 weeks a year) from the term after their child’s 2nd birthday.

 

•      From September 2024, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3-year-olds can access 15 hours childcare (over 38 weeks a year) from the term following their child turning 9 months.

 

•      From September 2025, the offer will be rolled out in full, with eligible working parents of children aged 9 months and above able to access 30 hours (over 38 weeks a year) from the term following their child turning 9 months.

 

4.0      ISSUES

 

4.1      The purpose of the grant is to provide support to local authorities in England towards expenditure lawfully incurred or to be incurred by them, to effectively roll out the new expanded Early Years entitlements offer, and the obligations set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the SoS and all local authorities to which grants are to be paid.

 

4.2      The MOU formalises the working relationship and expectations relating to the LA delivery support grant funding payment. The MOU must be signed by 26 October 2023, for payment to be issued on 13 November 2023.

 

4.2      Acceptance of the grant does not directly impact on communities at this stage; the grant will increase the local authority’s capacity to deliver on the early entitlement expansion.

 

5.0      IMPACT ON OTHER SERVICES/ORGANISATIONS

 

5.1      Expansion of the entitlement offer will require support of services within CYPS for example the Families Information Service and Early Years Funding Team as well as Data and Intelligence team.

 

6.0      FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

6.1      The grant determination indicates that the grant will be provided under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003. The amount allocated for North Yorkshire is £113,399.89 for the 2023/24 financial year.

 

6.2      The grant will be accepted on the understanding that spending within the 2023/24 financial year will be managed within the funding amount.

 

7.0      LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

7.1      Acceptance of the grant will support the local authority to meet its statutory duties within the Childcare Act 2006.

 

8.0      EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

 

8.1       Attached – no impact

 

9.0      CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

 

9.1      Attached – no impact

 

10.0    PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

 

10.1    Without acceptance of grant, the LA will seek to fulfil its statutory duties under the Childcare Act 2006 regarding the expansion of the childcare offer from April 2024, but this would require investment from existing resources.

 

11.0    HUMAN RESOURCES IMPLICATIONS

 

11.1    Extra capacity will be required to meet demands of rollout. Detailed spending plans will be developed by the service.

 

 

 

 

12.0    REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

12.1    In accepting the grant, North Yorkshire Council will receive additional funds required to support the effective roll out the expansion of the government’s childcare entitlement for working families.

 

13.0

RECOMMENDATION        

 

i)             That the CFO - delegated to the Assistant Director Resources (CYPS) - accepts the s31 Grant of £113,399.89 for the 2023/24 financial year.

 

 

            APPENDICES:

 

            Appendix A – Equalities Implications

            Appendix B – Climate Change Implications

 

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:

Early education entitlements and funding update: March 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Stuart Carlton

Corporate Director – CYPS

County Hall

Northallerton

(20th October 2023)

 

Report Author – Helen Smith, Early Years Strategy Manager

Presenter of Report – Helen Smith, Early Years Strategy Manager

 

 

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.

 

PLEASE ALSO NOTE THAT IF ANY REPORTS / APPENDICES INCLUDE SIGNATURES THESE MUST BE REMOVED / DELETED PRIOR TO SENDING REPORTS / APPENDICES TO DEMOCRATIC SERVICES.  Appendices should include an Equality Impact Assessment and a Climate Impact Assessment where appropriate