Childcare Sustainability Grant

Under the Childcare Act 2006, Local Authorities have a duty to do everything reasonably practicable to secure quality affordable childcare for working parents and those making the transition into work.  City of York Council (the Local Authority) has allocated a limited fund for the financial year 2011-2012.  This is intended to support childcare providers to meet short-term sustainability needs.

Download a copy of the childcare sustainability application form.

Who can apply for the Childcare Sustainability Grant?

The following Ofsted-registered childcare providers from the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sector can apply for the Childcare Sustainability Grant:

  • Full day care providers
  • Sessional day care providers
  • Childminders
  • Out of school clubs

Please note that schools are not eligible to apply for the Childcare Sustainability Grant. They can seek advice on childcare sustainability from the School Business Support Team at City of York Council, on (01904) 554231.

All childcare providers must ensure that all available options are considered and actioned before applying for the Childcare Sustainability Grant, such as:

  • targeted campaigns to increase take-up of provision;
  • maintaining an optimum level of pricing;
  • improving efficiencies;
  • fundraising;
  • and supporting parents/carers to subsidise childcare costs by exploring other funding streams. 

Who to contact for support on sustainability:

Voluntary childcare providers can seek support from:

  • York Council for Voluntary Services (York CVS) by telephone on (01904) 621133.  York CVS provides advice, information and support to voluntary childcare providers on monitoring and evaluation, project planning, funding, financial management, and policies and good practice. 

Private childcare providers can seek support from:

Both private and voluntary childcare providers can direct parents to York Family Information Service for information on childcare costs, e.g. Working Tax Credit, employer-supported childcare, etc.  FIS can be contacted by:

  • Telephone: (01904) 554444
  • Email: fis@york.gov.uk 
  • Texting ‘info’ to 07624 802244 and they will call you back.

Childcare providers can also contact the Childcare Strategy & Business Management Service at City of York Council on 01904 554609 to discuss their sustainability in general.

What can funding from the Childcare Sustainability Grant be used for?

The Childcare Sustainability Grant may be used by childcare providers in York for:

  • Short-term financial support to help sustain established groups/organisations offering good quality childcare in York when their current viability is threatened due to adverse circumstances

Awards made under the Childcare Sustainability Grant will usually be between £3000 and £5000; however, smaller/larger grants will be considered.  Childcare providers can get information on applying for significantly higher grants from the Business Support Assistants (tel:01904554621/01904554380 or email susan.cooney@york.gov.uk  Jessica.rees@york.gov.uk).

Assessment criteria

Each application will be assessed on the following:

  1. A robust business plan for long-term sustainability.
  2. How funding from the Childcare Sustainability Grant is proposed to be used and how it will address sustainability issue(s).
  3. Completeness – whether all relevant information has been provided.
  4. Childcare Sufficiency – whether your provision meets the childcare sufficiency requirements of York, as identified by the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment.
  5. Compliance with the free entitlement code of practice, especially in ensuring the free entitlement is free at the point of delivery without imposing any conditions or charges on parents/carers.
  6. Financial management:
    • realistic fee structure
    • % of income generated by fees and other regular sources such as free entitlement funding
    • management of income generated by fees, including control over bad debt
    • % of grant applied for in relation to annual expenses
    • business management:
    • flexible staffing levels appropriate to occupancy and statutory requirements
    • business planning to demonstrate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) to your provision and action plans to address these
  7.  Quality of provision:
    • current Ofsted judgement and inspection report
    • any supplementary information from quality improvement initiatives such as Steps to Quality.

Assessment of applications:

An assessment panel will meet half-termly to consider applications.  The panel consists of:

  • Community Leisure Officer – Active Play (chair of panel)
  • Policy & Planning Manager, Childcare Strategy & Business Management
  • Family Information Service Manager, Children’s Trust Unit
  • Business Support Assistants, Childcare Strategy & Business Management
  • Head of Finance, York Council for Voluntary Service
  • Out of School Support Adviser, Childcare Strategy & Business Management
    OR Early Years Support Adviser, Early Years, Learning & Welfare

Assessment deadlines:

Applications must be received at least ten working days prior to assessment panel meetings.  Any applications received after such dates will be considered at the next assessment panel meeting.  The panel will meet on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 19th October  2010 – 1.00pm – 2.30pm
  • Wednesday 14th December 2010 – 11.00am – 12.30pm
  • Wednesday 8th February 2012 – 11.00am – 12.30pm
  • Monday 26th March 2012 – 10.00am – 11.30pm

Notification of outcome:

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within ten working days of the assessment panel meeting.  Applicants will be notified via email and a hardcopy of the notification letter will be sent by post.  If applicants are unsuccessful, a report will also be sent detailing the decisions that were made and further advice and support that is available to providers.

Downloads
docSustainabilty Application Form (0.06 MB)