I need advice from CMs on how to offer 15h free childcare for 3 years old.

[Vixxxen]

I have sent an email to my support team and I'm trying to call them but no luck so far.
I heard that not all CMs are entitled to offer this service is it true? What are the requirements to be approved to offer this service? Who sets the rate, the local authority or the CM? Is it paid weekly or monthly?

Each LA will vary slightly in their requirements of who can offer 3 yr old funding, but generally, you will need to be good or outstanding and level 3 qualified. The rate is set by the LA and is often lower than your normal hourly rate. You are not allowed to charge top up fees, so it can make you seriously out of pocket! (e.g. I'm in West Sussex and my hourly rate is £5 & the 3 yr old rate is £3.77) When I claim it here we are paid twice a time with around 60-70% at the beginning of the term and the remainder around half term, you need to complete a headcount form and an estimate form each term which have to be submitted by certain cut off dates or other wise you will not get your funding on time.

For 3yo funding you now only need to be Satisfactory or above - for 2yo funding Good or Outstanding. Ofsted are now the 'sole arbiters of quality' and local authorities are not allowed to impose conditions anymore other than those in the Govt Code of Practice like no top fees the pp refers to.

''This September the Department for Education introduced new statutory guidance for local authorities with regard to Early Education and Childcare and as a result West Sussex County Council (WSCC) is amending the requirements previously used relating to Free Entitlement places.

We are pleased to say that all registered childminders can now offer funded education places to three and four year olds providing they meet the requirements of the West Sussex Free Entitlement Provider Declaration and do not have (or subsequently receive) an Inadequate Ofsted judgement. Should this happen we will withdraw funding and secure alternative provision as soon as is practicable. Regarding two year olds childminders can now offer funded education providing they meet the requirements of the Provider Declaration and have a L3 childcare qualification( ) or are assessed by Ofsted to be Good or Outstanding.''

Think carefully about whether you want to offer it, as you may well get paid less than you would do for normal CMing and you will have extra paperwork to complete. You will also be paid termly in arrears (with an advance), rather than weekly, or monthly, which you may prefer.

Contact your LA again and ask them for procedures and rates.

Thanks for the answers but I decided not to do it.
I thought I could charge my own fee and it would be more straightforward regarding paperwork.

Not sure where you are but in WS there is very little additional paperwork involved. A form for the parent to complete, a form once a term to say how many funded children/how many hours you expect to have in the following term (initial payment based on this form) and a 'Headcount form' at the beginning of term to confirm the actual children/hours. We get paid 70% of the funding at the start of the term and the remaining 30% (based on Headcount figures) at half term.
You can't charge any kind of top up fee if your hourly rate is higher than the funding but you can charge for additional services such as food and entrance fees so long as these are optional, so for example, my hourly rate includes all food and outings but funded children pay £2 per session towards food or bring a packed lunch and a contribution towards special outings like farm visits.
There used to be a lot of paperwork (quality assurance schemes for the CM Network mostly) but this cannot be insisted on now since the rule changes in September (though its a bit slow filtering to some LAs lol)

I am annoyed about the funding, as when I started taking it I clearly set out my terms for funded children. Today I had a parent aggressively demand free hours and nothing more - they are 'entitled', they 'didn't understand' - even though I explained it very clearly and all my other families understand.

Of course they are entitled to free hours, but not from me. I am a private business, and taking the funding is basically me doing them a favour. I might just stop after today.

I don't see why I should have to subsidise the governments measly handouts, especially when ratios mean that nurseries can cover costs as they have higher ratios and more funding, whereas childminders lose out.

I am mostly annoyed with that parent for destroying our relationship and attempting to rob me of what I need to earn a living, when we have had a good relationship for over two years. And with the government, for having such ridiculous punitive rules about funding and top-ups.

Right thats off my chest then! phew.