Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
GUIDANCE DOCUMENT
Delivery of the Early Years Free Entitlement to
Education for Two, Three and Four Year Olds
Schools and Academies
Financial Year 2015/16
1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016
1
INTRODUCTION
This guidance document is a specific guide for Maintained Schools and Academies. In
summary this document provides the following guidance:
CONTENTS
PAGE
Wakefield Council Directory of Early Years Free Entitlement Providers
The Directory of EYFE Providers
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Quality
Quality Improvement
Access to Continuous Professional Development
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage
Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
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The Early Years Free Entitlement
Flexibility
Criteria for Offering Flexibility
The Early Years Single Funding Formula
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
Pupil Headcount and EYFE Funding Arrangements (3&4 Year Olds)
Child Eligibility for the EYFE – 3&4 year olds
2 Year Olds
Processing for Claiming Funding
Contingency Funding (3&4 Year Olds)
Staggered Intakes
Double Funding, Apportionment and Changing Provider for 3&4 year olds
Maintained Sector Process for Claiming the EYFE
Attendance Registers
Absences
Cross Border Arrangements
Full-time Schooling
Delivery in Partnership
Data Protection
Disclosure & Barring Service
Wakefield District Families Information Service
Complaints
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Useful Contacts in Wakefield Council
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Glossary
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Appendix 1 – Free Childcare Places – Attendance Matters
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WAKEFIELD COUNCIL DIRECTORY OF EARLY YEARS FREE
ENTITLEMENT PROVIDERS
The Directory of Early Years Free Entitlement Providers in Wakefield
1.
Wakefield Council maintains an up to date Directory of all providers across all
sectors within the District who are eligible to deliver the Early Years Free
Entitlement (EYFE). Only Providers accepted in the Directory will be eligible for
funding.
The Directory includes the following details:
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Name and type of setting
Address of the premises where the EYFE will be provided.
Name, address, email and telephone number of the contact responsible for
administration.
2.
All providers must complete a Declaration Form to be included in the Wakefield
EYFE Directory of Providers. See Section 3 of the Wakefield Agreement.
3.
A copy of the Council’s Directory can be found at
www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/schools-children/childcare/early-years-providersfree-entitlement.pdf
4.
The Council will not charge a fee for inclusion in the Directory.
5.
The following providers can be included on the local Directory:
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Providers who are registered on the Early Years Ofsted Register
An independent school registered with the Department for Education
Non maintained Local Authority (LA) providers, e.g. Local Authority full day care
provision
Maintained nursery provision.
Academies
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QUALITY
Quality Improvement
6.
Quality improvement processes provide an effective means of raising standards in
early year’s provision. The Council strongly encourages providers to undertake
quality assurance measures and requires evidence of commitment to quality
improvement. Best practice would suggest that a setting self-evaluates their
provision and develops an action plan annually to show continuous improvement.
Access to Continuous Professional Development
7.
In line with recognised good practice, providers should assess and monitor staff
training needs as part of the appraisal, supervision and performance management
processes and provide opportunities for the needs of individual practitioners to be
met. Providers are responsible for devising a training plan for the EYFE setting
which will identify the training needs of all members of staff and associated training
costs.
8.
All providers who receive the EYFE are expected to support the professional
development of their staff. There is an expectation that providers access a range of
training and development according to need identified through self-assessment and
council officers. Managers of training and development should keep clear records of
attendance and be able to demonstrate how continuous professional development is
used to improve practice in the setting. Skilled and experienced members of the
Council provide a range of support activities to help practitioners to access the
appropriate level of professional development that meets their needs.
9.
Collaboration between maintained and non-maintained settings is a statutory
requirement in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Foundation Stage co-ordinators
should actively seek to develop this.
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage
10. In delivering the EYFE all providers must strive to promote the learning and
development of all the children in their care and to ensure they are ready for school.
Providers must support children in the three prime areas and the four specific areas.
Development Matters in the EYFS (non-statutory material) will help practitioners plan
learning and development activities for children based on observation of their
progress, so ensuring that learning is right for each child at each stage of their
development. Early Years Outcomes (non-statutory) will help to inform understanding
of child development through the Early Years. Providers must also reflect on the
different ways that children learn and incorporate the three characteristics of effective
learning into their practice.
11. In a school where the majority of children do not speak English, the educational
programme provided should help children acquire competence in English as soon as
possible, building on developing their understanding and skills in other languages.
The Council will ensure that the educational programme includes the use of English
in all areas of learning.
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12. Where two or more providers are offering provision jointly, assessment of their
learning and development should take account of the totality of the joint provision.
However, each provider will be individually responsible for the quality of their
learning, development and care.
Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
13. The Council is responsible for maintaining Statements of Special Educational Needs
(issued under the Education Act 1996) or Educational, Health and Care Plan (issued
under the Children and Families Act 2014) for all children who live in the District,
even if the child attends a provider in another area outside the Wakefield District.
14. Providers in receipt of the EYFE must have regard to the Special Educational Needs
and Disability: 0-25 years Code of Practice. Providers must:
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Have an SEN policy which promotes inclusion and equality of opportunity for all
children and covers admissions;
Have staffing policies and arrangements for working with parents and outside
agencies;
Show a commitment to seeking opportunities to improve the knowledge and
skills of staff in the identification, assessment and strategies of support (Plan,
Do, Review) for children with SEN and disabilities;
Make appropriate provision available to meet additional needs;
Participate in relevant training events organised by the Council and access the
support of the Pre-5 Service;
Practitioners in schools need to have access to a SENCo within school who is a
qualified teacher.
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THE EARLY YEARS FREE ENTITLEMENT
Flexibility
15. Providers will be expected to adhere to the following parameters when offering the
EYFE flexibly:
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Operate flexibility between 7.00am and 7.00pm.
15 hours can be claimed in no fewer than two days.
Provision can be taken up at more than one provider but the child’s continuity of
the care must be supported and transitioning arrangements must be
considered.
A maximum of 10 hours and a minimum of three hours continuous provision can
be offered in one day.
Children who attend for one day can claim between three and 10 hours in total
Children who attend for two days can claim between six and 15 hours in total
Children who attend for five days would claim three hours each day
Criteria for Offering Flexibility
16. The Council has a duty under the Childcare Act 2006 to manage the childcare market
and ensure the EYFE of 15 hours is offered flexibly to parents who wish to take up a
free place.
17. A flexible place can only be offered if there is sufficient demand to ensure that it is a
sustainable option for the EYFE provider.
18. The Council’s offer for flexibility states that any parental demand for 7.00am to
7.00pm offer should be referred to a local PVIC EYFE provider in the first instance.
19. Where there is parental demand for flexibility, in the first instance schools should
explore partnership arrangements between other local providers within the PVIC
sector.
20. A school must establish an Agreement with parents, where each commits to an
agreed pattern of flexible access to the free entitlement, on a termly/3-monthly basis.
21. Schools will be expected to consult with existing and prospective parents on a termly
basis to determine the demand for flexibility.
22. Schools must consult with the Council prior to offering the EYFE flexibly.
23. The Council expects that contracts are drawn up as part of the process for
establishing flexibility and the supporting information sharing protocols are drawn up
between the following as part of the process of establishing flexibility.
i. The EYFE provider school and other providers including PVICs
ii. The EYFE provider school and parents/carers
24. Any additional hours over the free 15 hours must incur a charge. For information on
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costs please see the local area based information gathered as part of the Council’s
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment.
25. Schools should signpost parents to the Council’s Families Information Service for
information about help with childcare costs (T.0800 587 8042)
The Early Years Single Funding Formula – 3 & 4 Year Olds
26. All providers in the Wakefield District are now funded in accordance with the criteria
for the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF). The EYSFF is a fair and
transparent way in which funding is allocated to providers who deliver the EYFE.
27. The Council has agreed to have the same base rate of funding for all EYFE providers
across all sectors with the exception of Nursery Schools who are funded at a higher
rate to cover additional costs associated with having a headteacher.
28. In addition to the base rate for three and four year old funding the Council has agreed
an additional supplement for deprivation to promote the take-up of provision by
disadvantaged children.
Deprivation Supplement
Based on Deprivation affecting Children Index (IDACI) a deprivation supplement will
be allocated to the 20% most deprived children in the district. This amount of funding
will be based on the relevant children that are eligible for the EYFE during the Spring
Term. The amount of funding will be pro-rata for the Summer and Autumn Terms
and a one off payment will be made to the provider in the second payment of the
Summer Term.
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
29. The EYPP is being introduced from April 2015 to support providers to close the gap
at ages 3 and 4. Eligible children are defined as meeting the criteria for Free School
Meals (FSM) as follows:
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Income Support
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and
have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for
Working Tax Credit
Or if the child:
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Was Looked After by the local authority for at least one day
Was adopted from care
Has left care through special guardianship; and
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Was subject to a child arrangement order.
30.
Providers cannot claim this funding without the parents’ permission. Parents must
give their childcare provider permission to access this funding. It is entirely
voluntary and they do not have to declare that their child is eligible.
31.
Providers will receive an hourly rate of 53p per child (up to £300 per year per child).
The termly calculation will be £0.53p per hour x weekly hours (maximum 15) x
termly weeks (maximum of 38 weeks per year). The funding will follow the child.
32.
Providers will be required by a stated date each term, to submit through the VLE,
the children they wish to claim the EYPP for. The Early Years Team will then carry
out the relevant checks to determine eligibility and re-upload to the VLE. Schools
and Academies will then be able to view via VLE which children have been
allocated the EYPP.
33.
Childcare providers must use the funding they receive to improve the quality of
early years education and support these children to close the education gap with
their peers.
34.
Ofsted will assess the impact of the EYPP under the Leadership and Management
judgement. Providers are responsible for checking that individual children meet the
eligibility criteria for EYPP.
Pupil Headcount and EYFE Funding Arrangements (3 & 4 year olds)
35. The EYSFF guidance stipulates that pupil counting arrangements must be common
between all providers.
36. All sectors are now funded based on children registered with the setting during the
Headcount week each term. Where a child starts during Headcount week the
Council will fund the child for the hours they are in attendance during Headcount
week. For example;
Usual attendance
Headcount week attendance
Funding to be claimed
Monday to Friday 15 hours
Monday and Tuesday 6 hours
6 hours for the number of weeks in a term
37. If a child attends 2 providers during Headcount week then funding will be split
dependant on the number of hours that the child has attended each setting. For
example, the child attends both settings for 15 hours then each setting will receive 7
½ hours of funding for the term. Other scenarios will be on a similar pro-rata basis.
38. Each provider will receive an indicative budget at the beginning of each financial year
based on the take-up of provision in the previous financial year.
39. Academies will be paid a first (estimate) payment of 75% of the indicative termly
budget at the beginning of each term followed by a second payment at the end of the
term based on actual take up of provision.
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40. All payments will be based on children that are registered to attend during the termly
headcount week as follows:
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Summer Term
Autumn Term
Spring Term
- 3rd Thursday in May
- 1st Thursday in October
- 3rd Thursday in January
41. Children who attend prior to or start after headcount week must still receive their
EYFE.
42. Where a child leaves a school after the Headcount week then the Council will not
reclaim this funding for the relevant term. This funding should be used to fund any
other eligible child that may attend the setting prior to the end of the financial year.
43. If a child leaves a PVIC provider prior to Headcount week to go a maintained setting
then the provider is entitled to charge the maintained sector for the hours already
provided free of charge.
Child Eligibility for the EYFE – 3 & 4 Year Olds
44. All parents/carers of 3 year olds are able to access the free entitlement for up to two
years before they reach compulsory school age. Parents/carers can access between
3 and 15 hours of the EYFE per week. However parents may not always be able to
access their EYFE at the times they want or at their provider of choice.
45. Children become eligible for the EYFE the term after their 3 rd birthday. They remain
eligible for funding until they reach statutory school age, which is the term after a
child’s 5th birthday.
A child born in the period
Will become eligible for a free place
1st April to 31st August
September following child’s 3rd birthday
(Autumn* school term)
1st September to 31st December
January following child’s 3rd birthday
(Spring* school term)
1st January to 31st March
April following child’s 3rd birthday
(Summer* school term)
* based on a 3 term school year
46.
A child moving to England from another country is entitled to take up the EYFE on
the same basis as any other child regardless of whether they have British
citizenship.
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2 Year olds
47.
Funding for two year olds will be based on the following criteria;
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Income support
Income based job seekers allowance
Support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Guaranteed element of state pension credit
Child tax credit (providing you have an annual gross income of not more that
£16,190 and not in receipt of Working Tax Credit)
Looked after children.
Families receive Working Tax credits and have annual gross earnings of no
more than £16,190 per year
The child has a current statement of special educational needs or disability
(SEND) or an education, health and care plan
The child attracts Disability Living Allowance;
Care leaver through special guardianship or through an adoption or residence
order.
48.
A child is eligible based on the above criteria. Data will be gathered from the
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on a termly basis to establish child
eligibility.
49.
Once a parent has received a letter confirming eligibility then they should contact
the provider to arrange to look round and provide the eligibility letter. FIS and the
Children’s Centres/Early Help Hubs will support the families in this process as
required.
50.
Once a parent has decided that they will attend the setting, the provider should
agree a start date and retain the original eligibility letter. The provider should then
contact the Early Years Team with details of the child. The Early Years Team will
confirm eligibility of the child.
51.
Once a child has been allocated a free 2 year old place they will continue to be
eligible regardless of a change in circumstances.
52.
The provider must retain the original two year old eligibility letter. If a parent wishes
to start at a new provider then the new provider must request a new letter from the
Early Years Team. A provider must not start a child without a valid letter and proof
of identity.
Process for Claiming Funding
53.
Academies will be paid a first (estimate) payment of 75% of the indicative termly
budget at the beginning of each term. They are given the opportunity to amend
their termly estimate payment based on a more realistic estimate of take up
otherwise the payment will be based on the hours accessed in the corresponding
term of the previous year as detailed in the indicative budget.
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54.
An Academies second payment will be the total amount of funding due for the term
minus the first (estimate) payment amount. Any remaining balance will be paid to
the Academy as a second payment before the end of the term.
55.
If this results in an Academy having been overpaid one of the following will occur:
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Where there are insufficient funds this will be deducted from the following
terms first payment.
If the overpayment occurs in the Spring Term (end of financial year) the
provider will receive an invoice for the outstanding balance.
56.
For schools, their part-time funding will be adjusted accordingly after the termly
headcount data has been received and they will be funded on the actual numbers of
part-time children registered to attend on the Headcount (Census) date.
57.
It is the provider’s responsibility to claim funding on behalf of all eligible aged
children. Upon starting the scheme, the provider should explain to the parent the
importance of good patterns of attendance including the benefits to the child and
the good use of public funds. A document to support this can be found at
Appendix 1
58.
Providers will be paid for the number of weeks a 2 year old child attends rather
than at the time of ‘headcount’ as for 3 & 4 year olds. Providers may be paid a
maximum two week notice period for two year olds. This will be at the discretion of
the Early Years Team. A payment will only be made where a child has been in
attendance for a minimum of one full week.
Contingency Funding (3 & 4 year olds)
59.
Funding will also be provided outside a term count for children who have not been
funded anywhere else either within or outside the district.
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60.
Providers must start the child on the programme whether funding is agreed or
not.
A claim can be made by requesting a Parent Declaration Form from the Early
Years Team and then submitting a copy of this form for the Early Years Team
to check.
The Early Years Team will check to confirm the child has not been funded
elsewhere in or out of the Wakefield District.
A confirmation letter will be sent to the Provider agreeing to the number of
weeks that funding can be claimed. The Provider should retain this letter for
audit purposes.
Funding will only be paid for the number weeks in attendance and not based
on termly weeks.
It is anticipated that funding will be paid in the second termly payment.
Funding will also be paid to a child regarded as vulnerable regardless of previous
funding in the Wakefield District.
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Funding will be granted via the completion of an Exceptional Circumstances
Claim Form which will be emailed to you upon request.
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61.
The Exceptional Circumstances Claim Form must be fully completed and must be
supported by evidence from a lead professional who is working with the child. Once
completed, the Claim Form should be returned to the Early Years Team. A
confirmation email will be sent to the Provider agreeing to the number of weeks that
funding can be claimed. The Provider should retain that email for audit purposes.
Staggered Intakes
62. The Council expects that Schools and Academies will induct children into their setting
within the first two weeks of a term commencing subject to parental consent. If
parental consent is not given the child must start in the first week of term in order that
the child can access their full EYFE.
63. If a child leaves a PVIC setting prior to Headcount week to go to school then the
PVIC provider is entitled to invoice the school for any part of the free hours up to a
maximum of 15 and for the number of weeks the child has attended the providers
setting.
64. The PVIC Provider must retain a copy of the Parent Declaration Form as proof of
attendance should the school require evidence to support the invoice.
65. When invoicing a School or an Academy, the PVIC sector cannot claim for any
INSET days and can only claim from the term start date as specified in Wakefield
Council's published schools calendar up to headcount week.
66. Children who move or start late in the term must receive their EYFE as soon as they
start.
Double Funding, Apportionment and Changing Provider for 3 & 4 Year
Olds
67.
Where a child attends two providers during the Headcount week then the Council
will endeavour to apportion the funding fairly between both Providers.
68.
However, if a child takes up the full 15 hours of entitlement in a school then the
school will attract the full amount of funding. This is because the current funding
rules do not allow schools to charge parents/carers for any part of the EYFE.
69.
Where a child has been ‘double funded’ then the Council will re-claim the EYFE
funding as appropriate.
70.
Children can change providers during a term and if this occurs then each provider
must continue to provide the child with their EYFE. However, the setting that the
child was registered with during the Headcount week will receive the EYFE funding
for that term. If a child attends prior to or after the headcount date then the provider
must still offer the child an EYFE place.
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Maintained Sector Process for Claiming the EYFE
71.
EYFE provider schools must complete and ensure that all child details are
completed in compliance with the termly PLASC returns.
72.
EYFE provider schools must accurately state the number of hours and weeks that
each individual child is registered to attend for each term.
73.
The Council provides all schools with their indicative school budget by 31st March,
before the start of the financial year. The school budget will be adjusted accordingly
after the termly headcount data has been received, with the exception of allocations
for deprivation funding.
Attendance Registers
74. All providers must have systems in place which confirm the identity of each child
attending their setting and confirmation of where they reside. It is a reasonable
condition for schools and Academies to verify this by requesting to see a copy of a
birth certificate.
75. It is an Ofsted requirement that attendance registers are kept for 50 years after a
child has left the setting where these may be needed in a child protection
investigation.
76. Attendance registers should be completed in black ink. Any amendments should be
accompanied with a written explanation.
77. If the attendance register does not state the actual hours of attendance but a child
leaves the session early or arrives late then the time must be recorded. This is also a
health and safety requirement.
Absences
78. If a provider is unable to make contact with the parent/carer or has concerns
surrounding the child’s safety the provider must follow the Council’s Children Missing
in Education policy.
http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Documents/schools-children/education-welfareservice/children-missing-education-guidance-for-schools-august-2013.doc
79. It is a schools responsibility to ensure that children are attending regularly and for the
number of hours per week that are being claimed. Occasional holidays and sickness
absences are acceptable.
80. However as part of safeguarding arrangements all schools must make every effort to
contact the parent/carer when a funded child does not attend and no information
relating to the reason for the absence has been received. The setting must contact
the parent on the first day of the child’s absence; reasons for absence must then be
recorded on the child’s file along with the expected return date.
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81. If the child does not return on the expected date then the provider must make a
follow-up call to the parent/carer to establish reasons and whether the child is going
to continue with their free place.
82. If any child has what is deemed to be irregular attendance then it is the schools
responsibility to remind the parents that the free place is a funded place and
continued irregular attendance could lead to a reduction of hours or the place being
withdrawn and offered to another child.
83. Where there is a persistent absence of more than two weeks in any term without a
justifiable reason then the provider should notify parents/carers that the place will be
offered to another child. The Provider must specify to the parent the date that the
place will be removed.
84. It is not acceptable to remove a place if the child attends for a reduced number of
hours. The hours of non-attendance can be offered to another child.
Cross Border Arrangements
85. If a child lives outside the Wakefield District and attends provision within the
Wakefield District, the Council will fund the child. Similarly if a child who resides in
the Wakefield District and attends provision situated in another Council, that Council
would fund the child.
86. Each Council may have different criterion for 2 year olds, timetables, procedures and
hourly rates for both 2 and 3&4 year funding. Parents/carers must adhere to the
policy of the Council from which they are claiming the EYFE.
87. Lists of out of area children are shared with the relevant Council each term in order to
check that they are not being funded for more than 15 hours per week during the
term.
Full-time Schooling
88. Children of ‘free entitlement’ age who are admitted to primary school and are
attending reception class are not, for funding purposes, considered to be accessing
the EYFE and therefore are funded separately through schools funding. Therefore it
is not possible for their 25 full-time hours per week to be split between other sectors.
Guidance for Deferring a Full-time School Place
89. The statutory School Admissions Code of Practice allows parents to defer their
child’s offer of a full-time place until they reach statutory school age. For advice on
this please contact the School Admissions Team on 01924 305616/17/18/19.
90. If a parent wishes to defer their offer of a full-time place at their allocated school and
they wish their child to continue attending nursery provision on a part-time basis then
the below must be followed:
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91. Parents must formally put in writing to the local authority’s School Admissions Team
and the school that they wish to defer the offer of a full-time place.
1.
The School Admissions Team will contact the school where a full-time place
has been offered.
2.
The School Admissions Team will write to the parent to confirm the deferral of
a place explaining that they will have to make alternative arrangement with
either their existing or an alternative nursery provider.
3.
The Wakefield Families Information Service can provide support and advice in
securing a part-time nursery place.
If a parent contacts a school direct then the school should inform the School
Admissions Team as outlined above.
92.
Not all parents are being offered a full-time Reception place at the school of their
preferred choice. Where this occurs some parents are requesting to stay within
their current nursery in the anticipation that a full-time place will become available at
that school. This is highly unlikely to occur unless the child is towards the top of the
waiting list and there are no guarantees that a place will then become available.
93.
When such a request to stay in the nursery is made then it is up to each school and
their Governing Body to make the final decision as any parental complaint / appeal
would be made through the School’s Governing Body.
94.
Wakefield Council advises that if there are spare places available in the nursery
class then the school should allow the child to continue in the nursery until such
time that the place is required for another child. If the school nursery is full or the
school is stating that they have decided that the child cannot continue in the nursery
then the parents should be advised to contact the Wakefield Families Information
Service on 0800 5878042 they will provide advice and support in obtaining an
alternative nursery or reception place.
95.
The legal position remains that parents who wish to defer taking their full-time place
are still entitled to a part-time place with another early years provider from
September for 15 hours. The Council must ensure a provision is available if the
child cannot remain in their current placement.
96.
A school would receive part-time funding if a full-time eligible child remained parttime (ie up to 15 hours) in a schools nursery class.
Delivery in Partnership
97.
The Council will work towards securing strong partnerships with providers and
schools to enable it to secure sufficient high quality places, in accordance with local
market capacity, and meeting parental demand for flexibility.
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Data Protection
98. The Council collects and shares data and information with providers and schools in
order to meet its statutory responsibilities for the provision and care of children in
accordance with the requirements of the Education Act 1996, The School Standards
and Framework Act 1998 and The Childcare Act 2006. This data may be shared with
other agencies that are involved in the health and welfare of young children
99. The Council will comply with all aspects of the Data Protection Act 1998 for the
collection, processing, retention and destruction of data/information about any user of
services, their parents/carers.
100. The Council will maintain confidentiality of commercially sensitive information about
the business activities of EYFE providers.
101. The Council will ensure that collection, transfer, processing of personally- identifiable
information with health and social care organisations, is compliant with the six
Caldicott Principles.
Disclosure and Barring Service Checks
102. The Provider shall procure that in respect of all staff or persons who will or may
provide any part of the EYFE scheme (each a “Named Employee”)
(a)
(b)
each Named Employee is questioned as to whether he or she has any
convictions; and
the results are obtained of a check of the most extensive available kind made
with the Disclosure and Barring Service, as laid out in the Protection of
Freedoms Act 2012.
Wakefield District Families Information Service
103. Wakefield District Families Information Service (FIS) provide free information, advice
and assistance on childcare and other services that support parents-to-be, mothers,
fathers and other carers of children and young people up to the age of 20.
104. The FIS also works with various organisations and professionals who support
families.
105. The FIS can be contacted in the following ways:
 Tel.
 E-mail:
 Visit:
0800 587 8042
[email protected]
http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/residents/schoolsandchildren/supporting-families/information-for-families
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Complaints
106. If you have any queries about this agreement then contact the Early Years Team in
the first instance. Should the school not then be satisfied then the following process
should be followed:
Stage 1: Contact the Customer Relations Team
107.
Contact the Customer Relations Team:
Wakefield One
PO Box 700
Burton Street
Wakefield
WF1 2EB
Telephone: 01924 305757
Email: [email protected]
108.
The Customer Relations Team will appoint a service manager to investigate the
complaint. The complaint will be acknowledged in writing within 2 working days.
The Service Manager will send a response detailing the decision and explaining any
actions to be taken within 10 working days. If this is not possible, you will be told the
reason why and a new completion date will be given.
Stage 2: Appeal against a Stage 1 Decision
109. If you are still not happy with the service, or feel that the Complaints Procedure has
not been followed correctly or require an independent review of the complaint, you
must contact the Customer Relations Team who will assign a Customer Relations
Officer.
110. The Customer Relations Officer who has had no involvement in the initial
investigation will review your case. The complaint review will be acknowledged in
writing within 2 working days and a decision will be reached within 15 working days.
If the case is very complex and more time is needed, you will be informed of
progress.
111. If you are still not satisfied with the Council’s final decision you may refer the matter
to the Local Government Ombudsman.
Local Government Ombudsman
PO Box 4771
Coventry
CV4 0EH
Phone Advice Team: 0300 061 0614 or 0845 602 1983
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lgo.org.uk
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Useful Contacts in Wakefield Council
Early Years Team
Wakefield One
PO Box 700
Burton Street
Wakefield
WF1 2EB
Tel: 01924 306373
Portage / Pre-5 SEN Service (Area SENCO’s)
Block C, Normanton Town Hall
High Street, Normanton, WF6 2DZ
Tel: 01924 307403
School Admissions
Wakefield One
PO Box 700
Burton Street
Wakefield
WF1 2EB
Tel: 01924 305616
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Glossary
CSA
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment
DBS
Disclosure & Barring Service (previously CRB)
DDA
Disability Discrimination Act
DfE
Department for Education
DPA
Data Protection Act 1998
EYC
Early Years Consultant
EYFE
Early Years Free Entitlement
EYFS
Early Years Foundation Stage
EYFSFF
Early Years Single Funding Formula
FIS
Families Information Service
FOIA
Freedom of Information Act 2000
NCMA
National Childminding Association
OFSTED
Office for Standards in Education
PVIC
Private Voluntary Independent Childminders
REACH
Raising Education Attainment for Children in Public Care
SDP
School Development Plan
SEF
Self Evaluation Form
SEN
Special Educational Needs
SENCO
Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
WMDC
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
WTC
Working Tax Credit
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Appendix 1
Free Childcare Places – Attendance Matters
You are now accessing a funded place on the 2, 3 & 4 Year Old Early Education
Programme with an Ofsted registered provider. The following frequently asked
questions may be of help in the future.
Why is it important that your child attends for all of the hours that you have
agreed with the childcare provider?
Your child will benefit from;






Increased confidence and independence away from you – getting ready for school
Learning to be kind to others, taking turns and sharing
Developing their imagination – pretending to play with characters and objects.
Sorting objects by size, shape, colour and matching jigsaw pieces
Messy play to develop your child’s skills ready for writing
Big physical skills such as throwing, catching, climbing riding bikes and running.
As a parent you could;
 Visit the local children’s centre parenting classes
 Attend adult education or another training course
 Access support looking for work.
I’m struggling to attend all the agreed hours what can I do?
 Speak to the provider and talk about how you might be able to change your hours
 Talk to the parent support officer at your local children’s centre
 Discuss the situation with your social worker if you have one.
What might happen if my child doesn’t attend for the hours agreed?
 The setting could reduce the hours your child attends
 The Council might ask the provider to remove your place at the setting
 Your child might not be able to take up a place at another setting.
There could be a number of reasons why your child doesn’t attend as agreed but places
on the two year old programme are limited so it is important you let the Provider know if
your child cannot attend for whatever reason so their place is not offered to someone else.
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