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Original poster

How much does a CM get from the government per hour for funding?

31 replies

TheLemur · 18/03/2011 15:32

I just wondered if anyone was able to tell me how much CM's get for funded hours? DS splits time between a nursery and CM and I need to decide how many funded hours to have in each setting.

It will work out financially better for us to take most with the CM as she has just put her charges up to £4/hour whereas nursery is £3.80/hour

I don't want to do the majority of hours with the CM though if she gets less than £4/hour from the government - I would feel bad as she is just great.

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mranchovy · 20/03/2011 13:08

It is in a state of flux because the previous government announced the Early Years Single Funding Formula with great fanfare and that it would happen from April 2010 but then delayed it. So some authorities have acted as pathfinders and have already implemented it but I believe that they all have to implement it from April 2011.

I am not an expert on this, but my understanding is that local authorities have some degree of freedom as to how much they give to EYFS providers under the new SFF (rather than the old rate which was fixed nationally), and can give one class of providers (eg state nurseries) a different amount from another (eg childminders) Hmm But I also believe that in order to receive any funding, at least 2.5 hours of provision must be free to the parents. This means you cannot charge a top-up fee for the 2.5 hours (although you can charge for meals and other extras).

You need to check with your own local authority what they are doing, assuming they have the faintest idea Confused

HSMM · 20/03/2011 08:02

Like Katymac said - they changed the rules

KatyMac · 19/03/2011 23:21

I get it with email evidence of attendance
The parents have to sign 4 times a day - twice for my register (initials allowed by OFSTED) & twice in full for EYE (initials not allowed)
I claim each month in arrears
& I must create 2 invoices for each child; one for my records & one for EYE
I must fill in a Interim Headcount form
Then the same form as the nurseries have BUT I must have it signed by any other setting the child attends (the nurseries do not need to do this)
If a nursery makes a mistake & claims too much they will reclaim the money from me as the nursery MUST by definition be right

I only do it for existing children; it takes hours to work out the allowances & create the separate invoices

But I do get more than that

cat64 · 19/03/2011 23:14

This reply has been deleted

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nannynick · 19/03/2011 22:56

Though I expect EYSFF will keep the part of the code which says that funding should be shown on a bill in hours, rather than as a monetary value. Thus the free hours are clearly shown.

nannynick · 19/03/2011 22:53

You mean the Code of Practice I think Katy. EYSFF will change it though.

CarGirl · 19/03/2011 22:35

No they can't charge you anything for your funded hours.

KatyMac · 19/03/2011 22:35

It used to Cargirl; but it changed quite recently

KatyMac · 19/03/2011 22:34

The legislation says it's illegal (were is Nick when you need him)

I was told if I did I'd be de-registered

CarGirl · 19/03/2011 22:33

It depends where you live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used to give my CM a voluntary contribution towards outings Wink

fudgesmummy · 19/03/2011 22:32

no we.re deffinatly allowed to do it-all LA'S must be different!!

HSMM · 19/03/2011 21:21

Fudge - Like Tanith said, my LA told me I was DEFINITELY not allowed to do this. No deductions for government funding are allowed to be on invoices, we can only invoice for hours which are NOT free.

KatyMac · 19/03/2011 19:38

I do each bloody month in arrears

Tanith · 19/03/2011 18:58

Fudge, didn't you have to sign a contract promising not to charge the parent? It was all set out in ours and our Network co-ordinator spelled it out for good measure. Definately, definately we were not to do this. Maybe your LEA does things differently, though. Ours is as tight as a quack-quack's orifice (see previous post Smile).

fudgesmummy · 19/03/2011 17:36

dmo-I have been doing this for the last 18 months as have the other accredeted minders in my area with out any problems-I just bill the parents as usual and take off the money I get from the govenment

dmo · 19/03/2011 15:46

i get £2.94 per hour per child used to be £3.50 per hour but they have reduced this

i can make up the short fall with the bonus money they give me think its £300 a term so i am quids in

fudge not sure what you mean by making money up by charging day rate?? if you take the 15 hours you can not top up those hours with parents money

KatyMac · 18/03/2011 22:58

How terrible

Tanith · 18/03/2011 22:42

Our LEA refused to increase the funding when the extra half hour was introduced: we were expected to absorb the shortfall ourselves.

KatyMac · 18/03/2011 21:54

I'm in Norfolk & I get more than my hourly rate of £4

Tanith · 18/03/2011 21:52

HSMM is right. Those 3 hours have to be free to the parent and they've put in loads of clauses to make sure that providers can't make up any loss by passing it on to the parents.

HSMM · 18/03/2011 19:57

fudgesmummy - I charge a daily rate too, but I was told with the new government rules, you can no longer charge the whole amount. I would have to change to say 3 hours funded (or whatever) and the other 7 hours at my normal hourly rate, so I would now make a loss, where I would not have done before.

Original poster
TheLemur · 18/03/2011 19:51

Thank you!

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fudgesmummy · 18/03/2011 18:45

Its £3.77 an hour-I am accredited and my usual hourly rate is between £4.50 and £5.50 depending on the hours the the child attends.
Looney-I get round not getting the full hourly amount by charging a daily rate, so I don't loose any money at all

Original poster
TheLemur · 18/03/2011 17:10

Yes she is definitely accredited. The only reason I've not used funded hours for over 3's with her previously is because it was cheaper for me to get the free hours at nursery.

I don't think it's £2.90 as I recall her saying a while ago (like years ago) it was £3.50 but then it got put up. I'm just not sure how much it went up to. Maybe it's different per region? We are in the Midlands

I am mindful of what you say HSMM, BoysAreLikeDogs & MissusF which is why I am thinking carefully about this

OP posts:
MissusF · 18/03/2011 16:52

I used to, but stopped 3 years ago as it was just not finally viable.

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