Money to help

What funding is available for families in the Bournemouth area?

 

Two's Too!

Bournemouth is taking part in a pilot project to fund childcare places for some two year olds in the Bournemouth area. Childcare can be up to 10 hours per week and used flexibly to meet family needs. There is set criteria from the Government that must be met to qualify for this funding.

How does it work?

You must be registered with on of the following children's centres who are taking part in the pilot project:

• Boscombe Children's Centre
• Kinson and West Howe Children's Centre
• Townsend Children's Centre

The Family Support and Outreach worker in the centre will identify you as being eligible for funding and complete an application form on your behalf. Your application will be assessed by the local children's centre stakeholder group and children nominated depending on need. Bournemouth Borough Council are currently only able to fund 52 childcare places across the whole borough. Once funding has been approved, you will be able to use a range of childcare within your local children's centre area. Funding for a maximum of 10 hours per week will only be paid if you use a provider who has a 'Good' or 'Outstanding' Ofsted report. Your Family Support and Outreach worker will support you in making your choice.

Who is eligible?

You will need to meet one of each of the following categories to qualify for funding - a full listing of the qualifying criteria be found in the Two's Too! Information Leaflet| 

• Your postcode must be part of a nationally recognised disadvantaged area
• One parent must be in receipt of one of the benefits listed
• You must meet one of the local criteria categories

For example, a family eligible for funding would:

• Live in the area of Boscombe, Kinson and West Howe or Townsend
• Be claiming Income Support
• Have three or more children under the age of five

When can I apply?

If you think you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply for this funding the term before your child's second birthday but it will not start until the term following their second birthday. For example: a child was two years old in April 2010 was eligible for the funding from September 2010.

For further information regarding the Two's Too! eligibility, please see:

 Two's Too! Information Leaflet |

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Early Education Funding for three and four year olds

Early Education Funding lasts for two years before your child reaches compulsory school age.  All children are eligible for a maximum of 15 hours funded childcare from the term following their third birthday as long as they attend a setting that is registered to provide early years education. The funding is paid directly to the childcare provider.

Current guidelines state that the 15 hours should be split over at least three days a week with no more than:

• 10 hours in any one day
• 12.5 hours over two days
• 15 hours over now fewer than three days

Important information:

• You are entitled to 570 hours of free provision within a year, with the full amount to be taken over no fewer than 38 weeks, you can take as much or as little as you wish
• Time before 8am and after 6pm is not eligible for funding, therefore the maximum claim per day is 10 hours
• It is possible to use more than one setting to claim funding, however, you may only split the funding between a maximum of two settings

What if i live in another area?

If you live in a different location e.g. Poole but use a Bournemouth setting, you are eligible to claim your funding from Bournemouth. Please see below for details of how to claim your funding and what paperwork is required.

What is involved in claiming for funding?

• When you child starts at a setting, or when they are first eligible for funding, you will be given a Parent Declaration form to complete. This form must be completed before the setting can claim funding for your child
• You will also be asked to provide proof of your child's date of birth e.g. a photocopy of their birth certificate. This will be requested by your childcare provider
• You will be given a Parent/Provider Contract Agreement to declare the hours your child is claiming for funding at that setting and advise of any funding claim with any second provider. This process must happen and is required so that settings know in advance how many hours they can claim for your child. You will receive a bill for any hours that are not covered by the 15 hour entitlement.

Why must I complete these forms?

There are strict deadlines for completion of the declaration forms so that settings can send the relevant claim forms to the Local Authority to obtain the funding.

What if I need to change something?

If you wanted to change something after the term commences, for example, changing settings, you must give the provider a minimum of four weeks notice.

You can view all the above information by clicking the link below:

 Early Education Funding Factsheet|

 

For further information regarding any funding issue please contact the Children's Information Service on:

01202 456222

Children's Information Service|

 

Alternatively, please complete our online enquiry form:

Choosing Childcare - online enquiry form|

 

Alternatively, to search for childcare provision in your local and surrounding area, please visit our FACTS website by selecting the link below.

Web: www.bournemouth.gov.uk/facts|

 

 

Other Funding for Childcare

 

Tax Credits

Tax credits are payments from the government.  If you work and pay for childcare you may be able to get tax credits to help with the cost. You usually have to work at least 16 hours a week to qualify.  This can help with up to 80% of your childcare costs which is up to £140 a week for one child and up to £240 a week for two or more children.  

For further information on tax credits, please select the following link:

 Tax Credits Factsheet| 

 

If you are not currently claiming working tax credits, please contact the inland revenue for an information pack or to see if you are elidgible to claim:

0845 300 3900

Web: www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/homenew.aspx|

Childcare Vouchers

Childcare vouchers are used to pay for registered and approved childcare. Childcare vouchers are exempt from tax and national insurance contributions which could save you up to £55 per week. These savings can be doubled if both partners take the full allowance. Speak with your employers personnel department to see whether they run a childcare voucher scheme.

For further information on childcare vouchers, please select the following link:

 Childcare Vouchers Factsheet|