What else must providers tell parents before they agree to a funded place?
Providers sign an agreement with their local authority, that outlines what providers must advise parents from the outset on how funded hours are supplied.
This should include:
- the days and times parents can expect to receive funded hours
- whether hours are offered all year (known as stretch funding)
- whether the hours are offered across 38 weeks only
- how many funded hours per week children will get at the provider.
The costs of chargeable extras should be published on provider websites or, where they do not have any website, on local authority Family Information Services. These should be clear, up to date and easily accessible to parents, to enable parents to make an informed choice of provider. They should set out, for each setting, the amounts charged for the chargeable extras listed, as well as the pattern of hours that parents can take the entitlements
Childminders may be exempt from this.
