Free Early Years Education Places 2 Year-Olds Barbara Mands Head of Childcare Strategy & Business Management Service Debbie Adair Access & Inclusion Support Adviser Childcare Strategy & Business Management Service

The impact of early education There has been a great deal of research into the importance of children’s early experiences, attachments and access to early education and the impact this has on their later attainment, learning and well being, particularly on those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Statutory Duty The government is introducing a new targeted entitlement for two year-olds to access early education. From September 2013, an early education place for two year-olds becomes a Statutory entitlement This is part of the government’s Fairness Premium, to drive up social mobility and improve life chances.

Statutory Duty The new entitlement will be implemented in two phases. In September 2013 (phase one) around 149,900 (20%) of two year-olds in England will be able to access free early education places. From 2014 (phase two), the entitlement will be extended to around 296,300 (40%) of two year-olds.

York as an Early Pathfinder Historically York has already offered a high number of places for these children as it was an early Pathfinder for Early Education places. York currently funds approximately 66 eligible two year-olds. Undertaken local evaluation which has shown strong improvement of children’s outcomes

York as an Early Pathfinder Now preparing for Phase 1 of Free Early Education Places for Two Year-olds Preparation beginning for Phase 2 in 2014 The government has estimated for York that phase one (September 2013) will include 300 eligible two year-olds and in the second phase (September 2014) a total of 700.

City of York’s priority To place 300 eligible children in Phase 1 from September 2013 To place 400 eligible children in Phase 2 from September 2014

Challenges A recent childcare sufficiency assessment and provider questionnaire confirms the new policy will create ‘hotspots’ of pressure in York; Acomb and Westfield – lack of places. The Avenues - lack of ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ places. Barriers to the expansion of places

Challenges Improving quality of settings and the commitment of satisfactory providers to improve Business Planning for those delivering free early education places to two year-olds

From September Funded places will be available across the whole of City of York: For a maximum of 15 hours per week (570 hours per year) For children from the term after their second birthday who are: Looked After Eligible for FSM Discretionary places may also be available Outcomes for all funded children will be tracked by CYC via eligible providers

What is the Free Early Education Places for Two Year-Olds? Maximum of 570 hours per year Maximum of 15 hours per week – over 38 weeks Or maximum 11 hours per week over 51 weeks Delivered in ‘terms’ No session longer than 10 hours

Continued No session shorter than 2.5 hours Not before 8am or after 6pm The full 15 hours over no fewer than 2 days 10 hours in a single day A maximum of 2 providers at any one time Flat Rate of £4.85/child/hour

Referral Process Self referral by parents – free post leaflet Referrals made by referral partners – referral form All Referrals checked for eligibility by the Childcare Strategy & Business Management Service Panel for those families referred by partners for discretionary places Letters allocating a place or information on non eligibility Families contact FIS for advice on childcare places

Role of the Children’s Centre To support the most vulnerable families to access a suitable early education place To provide family support to maximise the impact of the early education place, in conjunction with ongoing involvement from other services To assist the provider where attendance is highlighted as a barrier to the child’s development

Setting toolkit All settings who agree to provide places to eligible Two Year-olds will be provided with a ‘toolkit’ which will provide information, guidance and support to help ensure the child’s placement is a success. This will include: Eligibility criteria Referral forms Monitoring & Evaluation information Information Sharing & Integrated Working

Any questions?

Contacts Barbara Mands Debbie Adair Susan Cooney Family Information Service