FOI Request - Early Learning and Childcare

Request 101002159443

1. When does the Council start providing 16 hours of early learning and childcare funding for children? Is it strictly when the Scottish Government provides funding for their place (the term after their third birthday) or is it earlier e.g. the day they turn three or the week after? Please be as specific as possible.

2. How many children whose fifth birthday fell between 1st March and the school commencement date in August has the Council funded a further year of nursery for I.e. children who do not have a legal right to be deferred but whose parents/carers have requested a discretionary deferral? Please provide the total number for each year from 2013 onwards.

3. Do you have an appeals process in place when the Council refuses funding for a further year of early learning and childcare for a deferred year?

4a.Is the Council already providing 1140 hours of early learning and childcare funding for any children before the statutory requirement to do so in August 2020?

4b. If yes, how many children in the local authority have been provided with 30 hours of early learning and childcare funding this academic year ( 2018/2019)?

4c. If yes to 4a, please explain why.

4d. If yes to 4a, please provide the criteria for children to be eligible for 1140 hours in 2018/2019.

5a. How many 1140 hour places does the Council plan to fund in the coming academic year (2019 - 2020)?

5b. What proportion is this of the total number of early learning and childcare places the Council antiticpates it will provide in 2019/2020 e.g. 40% of cohort taking up a funded EL&C place, 100% etc

6. Please provide the detailed criteria which the Council's panel uses to assess discretionary deferral funding requests.

7. What proportion of Jan and Feb born children have deferred entry to primary school in the local authority each year since 2013-2014 (as a proportion of the primary one year group when they first could have gone to school)?

Response 24-05-2019

1. We provide funded ELC from the start of the term following their third birthday.

2. We have not funded any children for a further year of nursery if their birthday fell between 1st March and the start of the school year from 2013 to 2018.

3. No, deferral is agreed between the family, nursery and school. We do not currently refuse funding if the children are born between August and February and the nursery, school and family agree that deferral would benefit the child.

4a. Yes

4b. 243

4d. Eligibility is based on home postcodes. Families living in the most deprived postcodes have received the entitlement first.

5a. 1,000

5b. 50% of the cohort

6. Not applicable – see point 3 above.

7. Each year group in Moray is approximately 1,000 children. The numbers below are the numbers of children with birthdays in January and February who deferred entry to P1.

2013/14 – 76  
2014/15 -  67
2015/16 -  79
2016/17 -  71
2017/18 – 90
2018/19 -  71

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