Golden tickets

Try to encourage greater take up of Think 2 in Staffordshire!

We are continuing our trial of the ‘golden ticket’ scheme. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides us with a list of eligible families seven times per year, who will be sent a personally addressed golden ticket in the post.

Providing the golden ticket is validated before the expiration date, parents with eligible 2 year olds can access up to 15 hours of funded early education or childcare.

There is no need for the parent to also apply online as this serves as confirmation of funding.

Validation process

What to do when a parent brings you a golden ticket:

If you can offer a place, accept the golden ticket as long as it is before the expiration date.
Complete a parent declaration form with the parent as this gives consent by the parent to share their data with us. You must check the child’s date of birth. The same rules apply for funding as for Think 2 scheme, i.e. funding may begin the term after their second birthday or from the date the child starts attending the setting, whichever is the latest.
Validate the golden ticket by contacting the early education and childcare Team (EEAC) on 01785 278 201 before the expiration date. We will set up a record for the child and give you a unique reference number in order to claim the funding via the Early Years portal. If you prefer, you can drop an email to eeac@staffordshire.gov.uk with your contact details and we will call you back at a convenient time.
If you do not call us to validate the golden ticket before the expiration date, or the parent presents the golden ticket to you after the expiration date, it will no longer be valid. You may then support the parent to apply online in the usual way by visiting the Think 2 pages and selecting ‘apply online’.

Parents will still be able to apply online in the usual way if they feel they meet the criteria yet haven’t received a golden ticket this time. Think2 vouchers with unique reference numbers will continue to operate and should be accepted as normal by providers.