Complaints, Appeals and Early Education Funding Review Group

• Providers must ensure they have a complaints procedure in place that is published and accessible for parents who are not satisfied that their child has received funded hours within the parameters as outlined in the provider agreement and in the Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities.
  
  
• Where a parent is not satisfied that their child has received funded hours properly and has not been able to resolve a dispute with the provider, parents should be signposted to submit a complaint to the Early Years Team.
  
  
• If a provider believes that the requirements of the law, the Statutory Guidance or the provider agreement are not being met they can in the first instance complain in writing to the Early Years Team.
  
  
• All complaints handled by the Early Years Team will be responded to within 28 days of their receipt.
  
  
• If a parent or the provider is not satisfied with the way in which their complaint has been dealt with by the Early Years Team or EEF Finance Team, they can refer to the Council’s Customer Feedback process.
  
  
• If a parent or provider believes the council has acted unreasonably, they can make a complaint to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, but only when the council’s complaints procedure has been completed.

Appeals Process for Early Years Providers with Funding Restrictions

• Providers denied approval to offer funding or have their funding withdrawn for a number of reasons that include quality of care provided, or other factors related to the ability of the Provider to adhere to the framework can appeal against a decision to refuse access to or the removal of funded by writing by email in the first instance FAO the EEF Review Group
  
  
• Provider appeals regarding the removal or access to funding will be considered by the EY Leads of the Council’s EEF Review Group with a response normally within 10 working days from when an appeal is received.
  
  
• Extensions to the timeframe could be required if the EEF Review Group has not received information or evidence to reasonably determine a fair outcome, or it is waiting on information from other bodies or organisations such as Ofsted or social services. Review of appeals could be extended by an extra 10 working days (20 in total). Providers would be advised of the need and reason for any extension.

What is the Early Education Funding (EEF) Review Group?

The EEF Review Group is made up of Staffordshire County Council staff from the Early Years Team, Family Hubs, Virtual School and Finance Team.

The main function of the group is to meet monthly to discuss and arrange quality, SEN or business support for early years settings.

The role will also include considering appeals from early years providers who may have funding restrictions in place by reviewing evidence, sufficiency and local intelligence. Decisions on appeals are considered by the leadership team of EEF Review Group.