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