Issue - meetings

This report presents an overview of upcoming changes to childcare support and an approach to 2024-2025 Early Years Single Funding Formula development.

The Early Years Services Manager presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix D to these minutes in the Minute Book. The report presented an overview of upcoming changes to childcare support and an approach to 2024-2025 Early Years Single Funding Formula development. The Forum was advised that the government had launched the most ambitious childcare expansion to date to begin in 2024.  There would be an increase in funding provided for 15 hours which was currently from 2-year-olds which would in future also be provided to children from 9 months old from September 2024. This would then increase to 30 funded hours from the following September.

It was noted that the Local Authority must consult Schools Forum on the Local Funding Formulae for Early Years. The Forum was advised that there was still a lot of work to do with providers. Extra money had been put into the sector last year in a supplementary grant from the government which was distributed to the sector as quickly as possible.

There was significant work to do over the next few months to bring a new formula forward for Schools Forum approval in February 2024 in line with the Cabinet schedule. It was noted that there were still many challenges for the sector Recently been given the funding formula for next year.  Meeting with early years sub-group about the formula in Jan and will come to forum in Feb for approval in line with Cabinet schedule.

It was noted that the sector was grateful for the support received from the schools Forum.