All you need to know about how to make a successful Early Years Entitlement (EYE) application
What Providers can Claim the Early Years Entitlement?
You need to be an Ofsted registered day care provider or an independent school registered with the DCSF. This can include childminders if they are accredited. You will need to sign a local code of practice to accept the terms and conditions associated with receiving the Early Years Entitlement.
How to Claim the Entitlement
Before the start of each term, the Bath & North East Somerset Early Years & Extended Services Team will send you an estimate form. You will need to indicate how many children you think will attend the following term and how many hours they will attend. After returning this, you will be paid 50% of the entitlement, based upon the information you provide.
How Many Hours can I Offer?
In the current financial year (1st April 2012 – 31st March 2013) the entitlement has been split into three terms.
| Summer 2012 (13 week term) |
The entitlement is worth a maximum of 195 hours |
| Autumn 2012 (13 week term) |
The entitlement is worth a maximum of 195 hours |
| Spring 2013 (12 week term) |
The entitlement is worth a maximum of 180 hours |
Children who Change Provider’s Mid-Term
Bath & North East Somerset recognise the providers will have planned for the child attendance throughout the term, and the Headcount form is a signed contract by the parent that their child will attend the provider for the whole of term (unless otherwise stated on the form). Providers will therefore have to negotiate with each other if a child then moves and they wish to retain or transfer the remaining funding in respect of that child.
Any decision regarding transferring funding is at the provider’s discretion, and cannot be enforced by Bath & North East Somerset. Parents should be made aware of this before they sign the Headcount form.
We recommend that providers get parents to sign a parental contract to confirm this arrangement along with their terms and conditions.
How Many Hours will the Early Years Entitlement Provide Each Day/Week/Term?
You can define ‘core’ hours at a provision level during which the entitlement can be taken, but this information must be made clear to parents.
If 15 hours are offered, this must be taken on at least 3 days. If the child only attends 2 days, the entitlement drops to 12.5 hours.
Although the entitlement is for 38 weeks, if you are open for more weeks you can split the total annual hours funded (i.e. 38 x 15) over more weeks, but this is in agreement with the parent and not mandatory.
Funding Splits
If a child attends 2 providers, the entitlement will be paid to both providers in proportion to the number of hours they attend at each.
Examples -
A child attends Big Bears for 2 days (20 hours) and Little Bears for 1 morning (5 hours). The total hours attended is 25 hours so Big Bears will get 20/25th of the hours and Little Bears 5/20th.
The 15 hours of funding will be allocated as follows:
i) Big Bears 12 hours (20/25th of 15 hours)
ii) Little Bears 3 hours (5/25th of 15 hours)
Total hours funded =12 + 3 =15 hours
Headcount Form (EYE1)
At the start of each of the 3 terms, you will be sent a pre-populated form listing all children from the previous term .This will need to be signed by the parent /guardian of each child still attending and returned to Bath & North East Somerset along with any new starter forms.
If there are any changes to hours attended from that stated on the pre-populated forms, these can be noted on the same form and the parent can sign. If the child has changed address and name, this information should be entered on an amendment form (EYE3) and returned to Bath & North East Somerset with the EYE1 form.
New Starter Form (EYE2)
An Early Years Entitlement starter form must be completed once, when the child becomes eligible. All information on this form will be used for the entitlement until the child becomes of school age. You should also provide the parent with a fair processing notice to indicate how this data may be used.
Amendment Form (EYE3)
If any changes are notified to the provider after the Headcount deadline date, these should be submitted to Bath & North East Somerset by the amendment date. Each amendment must be signed by the parent/guardian, unless the child has left.
If any amendments are submitted later than the amendment date specified for each term, then the payment will take place in the following term and in addition, there will be no guarantee that the entitlement will be split as anticipated if a child is claiming at 2 providers.
All Forms
You must inform Bath & North East Somerset how many hours (in total) and how many days each child attends. The hours should be stated to the nearest ¼ hour.
All forms submitted should be completed fully; failure to do so will result in late payment of the entitlement.