can parents access their gov. funding for over 3's within childminding setting?

[mumummumum]

Hi, i am new to childminding and have had a parent enquire about their child's free nursery place. Does anyone know if it is possible to arrange this funding with me rather than at nursery?

You need a l3 qualification. You can then apply to the la- usually through a limited place network. You may need to complete a qa scheme or similar.

The rate they pay may be less than your hourly rate and you can't charge extra. Call your families information centre as it varies wildly across the country.

I do this with my CM - it's a godsend. The funding is less than her rates and only covers term times, but I make up the difference.

you need to have a nvq3 and be on a network

i can take them and some of the parents i have use them or we share between myself and a pre-school

Not 'any' childminder can do it - you have to meet certain criteria - first and foremost be on a network - a CCF network.

As you are new to childminding it could take you over a year to be able to offer it and jump through all the necessary hoops!!

Thank you to all who kindly responded. I have an SVQ3 Early years childcare and education qualification. Not sure what a CCF network is, looks like something to do with training? Must be different in Scotland? I have completed the SCMA induction training. Sounds like it might be possible though, would i just contact my local council office? I would have the child full time so the parents would make up the difference to meet my rates. But it would still be much less than full time fees for them, which is what i would have to charge if i was dropping her off and picking her up from nursery. Any advice very much appreciated.

If you were in England you couldn't do the 'meet your rates'

So if a 10 hr day costs £40 & they pay £3.75 an hour for EYE funding you can charge 7 hrs @£4 & 3 hrs at £3.75 so you lose £0.75 a day

Could i not just work it so that i was still getting the £40 a day, the parents would make up the rest, but it would benefit them because it would cost them 3x£3.75 (£11.75) a day less. I was going to say that i would not be bothered if the difference was only £0.75 a day but that is about £15 a month.

In England, no

In Scotland, I don't know