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Council minutes, agendas and reports

Decision details

*Republished - no longer subject to call in*

Decision Maker: Executive Member for Education, Learning & Skills

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Decision:

To approve

• the proposed methodology for the funding of early years providers in the Autumn Term 2020 as based on DfE guidance.
• The deployment of additional local financial support to the early years sector within North Yorkshire in response to the Covid pandemic

based on the consultation feedback and early years’ provider suggestions in terms of the support (non-financial or financial) they require.

The provision and allocation methodology of any additional financial support to the early years sector will be as deemed appropriate in response to the local context of the impact of the pandemic and will be offered within the constraints of the available funding.

The recommendations have been endorsed by early years’ providers through a county-wide consultation and considered by the Schools Forum.

Reasons for the decision:

*PLEASE NOTE This decision was originally published on or near the date of the decision and so call in no longer applies. It has been re-published as part of the change in committee management system that we use.*

In July 2020 the DfE provided updated guidance on the “Use of free early education entitlements funding during coronavirus (COVID-19)”. The DfE have requested that local authorities consider whether their scheduling of payments to early years’ providers offers flexibility to respond to any funding changes required during the term and supports providers in managing their cash-flow. The DfE have indicated that they expect to return to the normal early years funding process and use the January 2021 census count to determine funding allocations for the 2021 spring term.

Within the DfE guidance there are a number of areas where local decisions are required in relation to the operation of early years funding during the Autumn 2020 term. These areas relate to:
• The basis for the calculation of early years funding for the Autumn 2020 term, including consideration of any specific requirements related to childminders.
• The methodology for the funding of providers who for non-public health reasons have chosen to remain fully closed at the start of the Autumn 2020 term and then decide to re-open part way through the term.
• The methodology for the funding of providers who for non-public health reasons have chosen to only partially re-open in Autumn 2020 with reduced opening hours compared to their Autumn 2019 opening hours.
• The schedule of payments to early years’ providers for the Autumn 2020 term.
• Consideration of exceptional circumstances where it would be appropriate to provide “double funding”.

The feedback obtained from the consultation will be used to develop a flexible range of support options to the early years’ sector which the Local Authority could apply in response to the continued evolvement of the Covid-19 situation within North Yorkshire over the next 6-12 months.

Publication date: 16/04/2021

Date of decision: 01/12/2020