FOI Request ELC Funding for Deferred Primary School Entry

Request 101002630484

. For those children who do not receive automatic statutory funding, how many applications for an additional year of discretionary early learning and childcare funding to cover deferred primary school entry did your local authority receive for the school year 2020-21, and how many of these were (a) accepted and (b) rejected?
2. Further to your response to 1(b), how many of these were the subject of an appeal, and how many of these appeals led to the original decision being overturned?
3. Does your local authority have a policy of automatic funding approval for all children legally entitled to defer (not just January and February born children)?
4. Has your local authority calculated the cost per child for additional ELC due to deferral to the (a) local authority in the event it covers the funding or (b) the family in the event it covers the funding?
5. Please provide a copy of any (a) local authority or (b) Scottish Government guidance or criteria used to assess these discretionary applications.

Response 27-11-2020

1.            158 deferred entry, all accepted and none rejected
2.            There were no appeals.
3.            Yes,  We automatically fund anyone who defers entry to primary school.
4.            No, not at this stage.
5.            We don’t have any guidance relating to discretionary criteria as our funding is automatic i.e. we don’t exercise any discretion.