Information Classification: Normal Audience: All Early Years Providers Action Required: Information only Deadline: None File/Attachment: Yes Contact Names: None Dear All

Welcome to the Early Years Key Messages Newsletter for September 2016.

Topics covered this month:

1. Safeguarding

a. New document “Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills

settings”.

b. Consultation on the review of current child protection reporting procedures.

2. Funding - Consultation

3. Ofsted – early years practice videos

4. Training – Paediatric First Aid requirements

5. Health – physical activity for the under fives

6. Parents – tax free childcare toolkit and funding costs explained

1. Safeguarding

a. Ofsted has issued guidance for inspectors to use when inspecting safeguarding

under the common inspection framework. The handbook sets out what inspectors

must consider when inspecting safeguarding. It outlines the evidence that inspectors

will look for during inspections. It also sets out the judgements that inspectors will

make and on which they will report:

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2016/08/Inspecting_safeguarding_in_early_y

ears_education_and_skills_settings.pdf

b. The government are looking at reviewing the current child protection reporting

procedures. The consultation will ask for views on the merits of two systems -

mandatory reporting, which would require certain practitioners or organisations to

report child abuse or neglect if they knew or had reasonable cause to suspect it was

taking place, or a "duty to act", which would require practitioners or organisations to

take "appropriate action", which could include reporting:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/53964

2/Reporting_and_acting_on_child_abuse_and_neglect_-

_consultation_document__web_.pdf

The consultation finishes at noon on 13th October 2016.

2. Funding

The Government has launched a consultation on an early years national funding formula

and changes to the way the 3- and 4-year old free entitlements to childcare are funded.

Please submit your views before 5pm on Thursday 22 September. Attached is our

NYCC briefing paper which highlights the actual costs involved (Attachment 1). The

consultation can be found: https://consult.education.gov.uk/early-years-

funding/eynff/consult_view

The Pre-school Learning Alliance have also drawn up an calculator to look at how this

will affect you: https://www.pre-school.org.uk/EYNFF

3. Ofsted

Ofsted have released 6 videos to support early years practice: what teaching and play

means in an early years setting; teaching, learning and assessment; Ofsted having no

preferred style of teaching; disadvantaged children and the Pupil Premium; working to

influence and make a difference in the early years sector. These can be found on You

Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWf6oHE9YqY

4. Training

The government has decided to proceed to include, from 1 September 2016, a

requirement in the EYFS that for newly qualified early years staff (with full and relevant

level 2 or level 3 childcare qualification) to also hold a current Paediatric First Aid (PFA)

or emergency PFA certificate in order to be included in the required ratios in an early

years setting. Childcare providers will be allowed a three month ‘grace’ period to

complete PFA training after starting work with a new employer.

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2016/07/First-Aid.pdf

5. Health The Department of Health has published an infographic promoting physical activity in under 5s (Attachment 2):

Only one in 10 children aged 2-4 are active for 3 hours or more daily.

This is a new infographic based on existing CMO guidelines. It will help early years practitioners, health visitors, and doctors to talk with parents about the importance of young children being active. It can also be used as a training resource.

The infographic is designed to explain the UK Chief Medical Officers recommendation that children aged under 5 should be physically active daily for at least 180 minutes, spread through the day. Every movement counts and includes crawling, walking, jumping, object and messy play.

It highlights the benefits being active and the range of activity to achieve this recommendation. Physical activity has been shown to help maintain a healthy weight, improve concentration, health and fitness, improves sleep and builds social skills and confidence.

The British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health has recently published an “Early Movers” resource designed to support early years practitioners with their physical activity provision. The resource can be accessed free (though the BHF welcome all donations!) via their website, via email or via the telephone on 0870 600 6566.To find out more about the resource, click Early Movers info: http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/EM-info.pdf

6. Parents a. Tax-Free Childcare is a new government scheme which will be available to around

two million working households to help with their childcare costs: http://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/sites/default/files/Tax-Free%20Childcare%20Toolkit.pdf

This Tax-Free Childcare toolkit is designed by HMRC to:

help understand Tax-Free Childcare and how it fits in with other childcare options available to parents.

provide useful answers to frequently asked questions about Tax-Free Childcare. b. The attached leaflet (Attachment 3) also explains about help with childcare costs for

parents.

EARLY YEARS NATIONAL FUNDING FORMULA CONSULTATION – A SUMMARY

The DfE is consulting on proposals to change the way in which early years education and free childcare and is funded. The proposals include:

introducing a new early years national funding formula for 3 and 4 year olds; changing the way local authorities fund the early years providers in their area; and making sure that children with special educational needs or disabilities attract the extra

funding they need.

It is proposed that this will be implemented from April 2017.

The key features are:

A new method of allocating early years funding to local authorities through a national

early years funding formula

The new formula consists of a uniform base rate with an additional needs top up (based on eligibility for free schools meals, Disability Living Allowance, and the number of children for whom English is an additional language). This amount will then be adjusted by an area costs factor to take account of geographical variations in staff and property costs.

A requirement for local authorities to implement a ‘universal’ local early years funding formula At the moment local authorities can offer a different funding rates for different provider types and schools to reflect differing costs. In future, local authorities will be required to use a single rate for all providers. Local authorities will still be able to use a fixed number of supplements, or extra funding, for example for rurality, but only up to a maximum of 10% of the base rate. The proposals rule out quality supplements, arguing that base rates should be sufficient to fund high quality care.

A cap on ‘centrally retained’ LA spending. Local authorities pass the vast majority of funding on to childcare providers, but can retain some funding to cover the costs of delivering support services which are then free of charge to providers; and to meet their statutory duties, ie. to reduce inequalities in outcomes between children in their area and to ensure there are sufficient places. Local authorities will in future be only be allowed to retain 5% of funding for this purpose.

New measures to promote inclusion in PVI settings through £12.5 million of ring-fenced disability access funding. The Department proposes to allocate new funding to local authorities to support inclusion in PVI settings, which will be passed on directly to providers. Local authorities will also be encouraged to operate a separate inclusion scheme which provides a clear route of access for top-up funding for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Some local authorities and providers will lose funding. According to the Department’s estimates, 25% of local authorities will lose funding. This includes North Yorkshire. In the context of underfunding of free childcare, this is a serious concern. Some providers will lose more funding than others as local authorities adjust funding rates with the new universal formula. The consultation proposes a transitional period of three years to make these adjustments. The DfE require all LAs to set a universal base rate – the same base rate for all types of provider by 2019/20. There are a range of significant implications for early years providers, childminders and schools in North Yorkshire:

1. Overall funding levels

In 2016/17, the NYCC average baseline funding level for 3 & 4 Year Olds is £4.31 per hour (67th

lowest funded out of 150 LAs). The nationally equivalent average hourly rate is £4.43. With a

range from £9.46/hour to the £3.20/hour.

The proposed formula funding level for 3 & 4 year olds in NYCC is to be £4.09 per hour in 2017-

18 and £3.97 by 2018-19. This represents a fall to the 144th lowest funded out of 150 LAs – a

7.89% reduction on the 2016/17 baseline. This includes the Early Years Pupil Premium,

transitional funding for Nursery Schools, disability access money and some additional funding

for disadvantaged areas of the country.

Although the DFE expects the proportion of funding which is passed on to providers to be

maximised, it still assumes that 7% in 2017-18 and 5% in 2018-19 will be required for the

statutory and essential support services. On these figures this means that all providers would

be paid £3.80 in 2017-18 and £3.77 per hour in 2018-19, although supplements, one of which

will be mandatory, will then need to be deducted from these rates. Therefore all providers in

North Yorkshire will see a reduction. If 5% is used on supplements for deprivation and sparsity,

the reductions will range from 5% to 37% against current funding rates (these are based on the

indicative figures quoted from the consultation information). Appendix A shows a number of

scenarios for providers, comparing current and new funding levels.

Early Years providers previously had a ‘Minimum Funding Guarantee’ protection of -1.5%. The

proposal is that MFG is removed for Early Years providers. (Main school funding still has MFG

protection of -1.5%)

Our concerns can be summarised below: - The overall NYCC funding rate

- No provision in the funding from Central Government to our LA for the additional costs of

making early years provision in rural, sparsely populated areas.

- Managing the level of funding reduction in a short timescale where there are increasing cost

pressures and increased delivery requirements for providers

- The general expectation from providers that funding will increase – the DfE ‘headline’

information was inaccurate / incomplete

- The impact on sustainability of some providers, particular with the reduction in the number

of hours where a charge can be levied to parents to supplement the national funded rates.

2. Centrally Funded Services

The LA receives an annual ‘Dedicated Schools Grant’ to fund schools and other education and

care providers, (including, early years and specialist provision), and central services. This is

arranged into 3 blocks: High Needs, Schools and Early Years.

In 2016-17 NYCC spent 10.6% of the early years block total on the provision of a wide range of

services to early years providers, children and families free of charge. This represents a central

spend of £2,170k from the total early years block budget of £20,426k.

These services include:

- The provision of information, advice and guidance through regular leadership briefings – for Ofsted Updates, Safeguarding, Finance, HR, etc.

- All early years training and conferences – including venue, trainer and resources costs

- SEND training and support – including that provided by Area SENCOs, and Portage Workers,

- Finance team administration of the distribution of funding to providers – headcount payment processes

- Business support

- Early Years Pupil Premium funding

- Sparsity funding

- Quality improvement support from Consultants and Advisers : pre and post-inspection support

- Peer support from EY leads and Childminder Champions

- On-line access to a wealth of support materials – on Fronter and cyps.info

- The work of the Families Information Service

- Support for new providers, and when providers need to close

- Support for families through the 0-5 Children’s Centre Offer.

- Support for schools looking to make new early years provision or to amalgamate with an early years provider under school governance

It is important to point out that the funds managed “centrally” are a direct result of councils

investing in support for providers and not simply a “top-slicing” exercise. The DSG was created

in 2006 by classifying council expenditure and specific grants into this “new grant” and it is not

a case of funding previously allocated to North Yorkshire for providers then being reduced to

resource the services listed above. The reason we spend at a higher rate than some other LAs

is due to the investment in these services. This will now be swept up by the DfE and redistributed

to other areas of the country.

Nevertheless, the DfE has set a new national ‘pass-through funding rate’ to providers which will

be 93% in 2017-18 (maximum 7% retention of funding for central spend); and then 95% in 2018-

19 (maximum 5% retention of funding for central spend). All LA’s must now work to the same

95% pass through rate rather than the North Yorkshire current rate of 89.4% (i.e. 100% less the

10.6%)

This will mean that significant reductions and changes will be required. A detailed review of the

services which are currently provided free of charge in North Yorkshire will need to be

undertaken in order to determine:

- Which relate to the statutory duties of the local authority and funding will need to be retained centrally

- Which are deemed to be essential services for early years providers and should continue to be free at the point of delivery and require funding to be retained centrally

- Which services are able to be developed into a traded model – which providers will be charged for

- Which services will cease to be provided.

Our Concerns include:

- The ability to continue to provide effective support to providers free of charge – this is

especially important for small, rural early years providers

- Charged-for and traded LA services will be required

- There may be an impact on the quality of provision for children due to a reduced central

service capacity.

- Centrally retained’ spending by local authorities is vital to effective strategies to improve

outcomes in the early years. Spending by local authorities drawn from the early years budget

is used to improve the quality of provision, particularly for the most disadvantaged children.

The recent Ofsted report ‘Unknown Children’ set out the important work local authorities are

doing to improve quality. This work has to be funded somehow.

3. Supplements

The DfE is proposing that funding supplements can be paid to providers in relation to:

- Deprivation – this is a mandatory factor

- Rurality / sparsity – ‘recognising that lack of economies of scale may lead to higher costs

to providers operating in very small settings, and that these may be unavoidable in sparsely

populated rural areas with limited demand’. However this is not reflected in the funds

which the DfE will allocate to North Yorkshire

- Flexibility – to encourage provision of a ‘stretched offer’ including holiday care,

‘wraparound’ to extend the day or out-of-hours provision

- Efficiency – to encourage providers to exploit efficiencies and improve the sustainability of

their business.

- Delivery of the additional 15 hours free childcare – to encourage childcare providers to

offer the additional 15 hours free childcare for 3 & 4 year olds of working parents, alongside

the existing 15 hour entitlements.

4. 2 Year Old Funding Rates

The current 2016/17 NYCC provider funding rate for eligible 2 year olds is £4.97/hour. The DfE

indicative figures for providers in North Yorkshire in 2017/18 will be £5.20/hour. This is an

increase of 4.63%.The national equivalent hourly funding rate will be £5.39/hour.

5. Early Years Pupil Premium

The Early Years Pupil Premium maintained at £0.53/hour. This only relates to the existing 15

hour universal offer, and is not applicable to the new extended entitlement of an additional 15

hours for working parents.

6. SEND Funding

Disabled Pupils

Additional targeted ‘Disability Access Funding’ is to be available to support providers to make

initial reasonable adjustments and to build capacity of the setting to support disabled pupils.

This is £12.5m / year nationally.

An annual sum will be paid to providers for each child in receipt of Disability Living Allowance

taking up a place in their setting.

This funding is not intended to cover all costs of delivering childcare for a disabled child.

SEN Pupils

Local Authorities are to establish an Inclusion Fund from either or both the early years and high

needs allocations. The majority of this funding is to be passed to providers in the form of ‘top

ups’ on a case by case basis.

Local Authorities can use the Inclusion Fund to fund specialist services. The LA is responsible

for deciding how the Fund is targeted, in consultation with providers and parents.

7. Nursery Schools

The DfE has proposed to provide supplementary funding for maintained nursery schools to

protect their funding for at least 2 years. Further consultation will take place in due course.

8. Primary Schools with Nursery Classes

Under the ‘universal’ local early years funding formula local authorities must use a single rate for all providers. Schools, however, must provide teacher-led care meaning they tend to have higher costs than PVI settings. In fact many cross-subsidise early years provision from the wider schools budget. The universal formula will have a significant effect on maintained schools.

Appendix A – Potential Impact on funding levels by 2018-19

3 & 4 Year Old Hourly Funding Rate

Current Rate (2016-

17)

A: Basic universal

funding rate No retention

B: Basic universal

funding rate 10%*

C: Basic universal

funding rate 12.5%*

D: Basic universal

funding rate 15%*

Maintained Nursery School

£5.67 £3.97 £3.57 £3.47 £3.37

Maintained / Academy / Independent School Nursery Class

£4.16 £3.97 £3.57 £3.47 £3.37

Childminder

£5.56 £3.97 £3.57 £3.47 £3.37

Full Day Care

£3.92 £3.97 £3.57 £3.47 £3.37

Sessional

£3.76

£3.97 £3.57 £3.47 £3.37

Option A shows the LA-level funding rate and does not include any support for central services or

for supplements (paid direct to providers)

Option B shows the funding rate if the DfE suggestion of 5% for central services is used, plus

another 5% used for supplements

Option C shows the funding rate if the DfE suggestion of 5% for central services is used, plus

another 7.5% used for supplements

Option D shows the funding rate if the DfE suggestion of 5% for central services is used, plus

another 10% used for supplements

Sally Dunn, Head of Finance – Schools and Early Years, NYCC

Andrea Sedgewick, Head of Early Years, NYCC

September 2016.

UK Chief Medical Officers’ Guidelines 2011 Start Active, Stay Active: www.bit.ly/startactive

Physical activity for early years (birth – 5 years)

CONTRIBUTES TO BRAIN DEVELOPMENT & LEARNING

IMPROVES SLEEP

BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS & SOCIAL SKILLS

MAINTAINS HEALTH & WEIGHT

Every movement counts

Active children are healthy, happy, school ready and sleep better

Move more. Sit less. Play together

across everyday

3Hours

Aim for at least

DEVELOPS MUSCLES & BONES

ENCOURAGES MOVEMENT & CO-ORDINATION

TUMMY TIME SWIM

OBJECT PLAY

WALK

DANCE

MESSY PLAY

SCOOT

GAMES

BIKE

PLAY

SKIP

CLIMB

PLAYGROUND

THROW/CATCH

JUMP

Help with childcare costs – free childcare and education in EnglandEarly learning and childcare gives children the chance to explore the world around them, make friends, socialise, and be ready for school. Childcare also gives parents like you a chance to work, study, get things done at home or just have a break. Childcare can be expensive though, and many parents worry that they can’t afford to use pre-school childcare. However, there is help available towards the costs of childcare. Some two year olds and all three and four year olds in England can get 570 hours of free childcare, the equivalent of 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. Some nurseries may allow you to spread fewer hours a week across the whole year. You can use these free hours at most schools and nurseries in the private and voluntary sector, or with a registered childminder. You should not be charged for these free hours. You cannot be forced to take up additional hours, or pay for extras but you can choose to pay for more time if you need it.

EligibilityThree and four year olds: All children can take up these free hours in the term following their third birthday. Two year olds: You can take up these free hours if your family is claiming certain benefits such as Disability Living Allowance or certain tax credits and have an annual salary of £16,190 or less. Two year olds are also entitled to a place if they’re looked after by a local council, have left care (under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order) or they have a current statement of special education needs (or an education health and care plan). To check whether your child is eligible for a place or if you need further advice or information about the free places, speak to your local authority Family Information Service. Family Information Services hold local information about all registered and some informal childcare. They can advise you if you can’t find suitable childcare, how to get help with your childcare costs as well as support you in finding childcare if your child has special educational needs or disabilities.You can find details of your local Family Information Service by searching at: www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/finder

For further information on the support available you can also speak to your nursery manager.The Family and Childcare Trust is the leading national charity in the field of policy, research and advocacy on childcare and family issues, working closely with government, local authorities, businesses and charities to achieve positive and long lasting change for families across the UK. Our vision is a society where all families are well-supported and have genuine choices about their lives. The Family and Childcare Trust’s annual childcare costs survey is the definitive report on childcare costs and sufficiency in

the UK and its data are used by the Department for Education.For further information, please go to www.familyandchildcaretrust.org

Registered charity number: 1077444. Registered company number: 3753345

Help with childcare costs – for working parentsEarly learning and childcare gives children the chance to explore the world around them, make friends, socialise, and be ready for school. Childcare also gives parents like you a chance to work, study, get things done at home or just have a break. Childcare can be expensive though, and many parents worry that they can’t afford to use pre-school childcare. However, there is help available towards the costs of childcare.

Childcare element of Working Tax CreditWorking Tax Credit is paid to people in work to top up low wages. Working Tax Credit can include a childcare element, which gives help to parents with registered childcare costs. The childcare element of Working Tax Credit can pay up to 70% of eligible childcare costs up to set weekly amounts. Eligible childcare costs are set at £175 per week for one child and £300 per week for two children. This means you could receive up to £122.50 per week with one child in childcare, or £210 for two or more children. The amount you are awarded will depend on your family circumstances.

Can I claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit?To be able to claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit, you must:

► be within the qualifying age categories

► use registered childcare; and

► be working at least 16 hours per week. If you are part of a couple, you must both be working at least 16 hours per week. If one of you is in hospital, prison, incapacitated or on Carers Allowance, the other parent must work at least 16 hours per week.

For all enquiries about tax credits including details on who can claim and any change in circumstances you need to inform the Tax Credits office about, visit: www.gov.uk/working-tax-credit/overview or call the Tax Credit Helpline on 0345 300 3900

New funding being introduced to help with childcare costs 2016-17 Universal CreditUniversal Credit is a new benefit for people on low incomes both in and out of work. It will gradually replace a number of benefits, including Working Tax Credit. It includes a childcare costs element for those who are working and paying for childcare which is available to parents even if they only work a few hours a week. As Universal Credit is being introduced in

stages, when you can claim depends on where you live and your personal circumstances. If you currently claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit, you will be

told when you will be moving to Universal Credit and what you need to do.

How much Universal Credit can I claim for my childcare costs? You will be able to claim back up to 85% of your paid out childcare costs up to a monthly limit of £646 for one child or £1,108 for two or more children.

There are new requirements for being able to claim Universal Credit depending on the hours you work, age of your child and your personal circumstances.

For full details visit: www.gov.uk/universal-credit

If you are eligible for Universal Credit, you will have to make your claim online at www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit

Employer supported childcareCan I get help from my employer with childcare?Many employers offer help to their employees through childcare vouchers, directly contracted childcare or workplace childcare provision. If your employer offers these, you may be able to make savings through a reduction in the amount of tax and National Insurance Contributions (NIC) you pay on your childcare costs. Your employer also saves on NIC. The amount you save will depend on:

► the type of support that your employer offers;

► whether they offer this through salary plus or salary sacrifice; and

► the rate of tax and NIC you pay.

Types of employer supported childcare: ► Childcare vouchers: These are provided to you by your employer (often through a

childcare voucher company), and you can use these to pay for some of your childcare. Your childcare provider claims the value of these back from your employer or the voucher company. Childcare vouchers will be phased out from 2018 and if you are planning to have more children, it is worth getting advice on the merits of entering the voucher scheme.

► Workplace childcare: This is nursery, after school or holiday care provided by your employer. It does not need to be on your work premises but your employer does need to fund it and manage it, wholly or partly for you to make savings. If your employer does offer this kind of childcare support, then any amount of your salary that you pay for workplace childcare will be free of tax or NIC.

► Directly contracted childcare: When your employer pays some of your costs directly to your childcare provider.

To find out more: ► Speak to your nursery manager for more information about the support available

► Speak to your employer to see if they run a scheme to help you with your childcare costs

► You can use a benefits calculator to see what benefits you are entitled to through www.entitledto.co.uk

► For more information, please visit: www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/childcareThe Family and Childcare Trust is the leading national charity in the field of policy, research and advocacy on childcare and family issues, working closely with government, local authorities, businesses and charities to achieve positive and long lasting change for families across the UK. Our vision is a society where all families are well-supported and have genuine choices about their lives. The Family and Childcare Trust’s annual childcare costs survey is the definitive report on childcare costs and sufficiency in the

UK and its data are used by the Department for Education.For further information, please go to www.familyandchildcaretrust.org

Registered charity number: 1077444. Registered company number: 3753345

Help with childcare costs – for student parents in EnglandEarly learning and childcare gives children the chance to explore the world around them, make friends, socialise, and be ready for school. Childcare also gives parents like you a chance to work, study, get things done at home or just have a break. Childcare can be expensive though, and many parents worry that they can’t afford it. However, there is plenty of help available towards the costs of childcare.

Care to Learn If you are aged under 20 at the start of your course, Care to Learn helps with the costs of your childcare so that you can continue your education or training.

You can get up to £160 per week per child in most places in England and up to £175 in London. Funding is also available to cover childcare deposits and registration fees. Care to Learn will only pay towards Ofsted registered childcare.

You can also call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989 or visit www.gov.uk/care-to-learn

Further education students in EnglandDiscretionary Learner Support FundIf you are aged 20 or over and studying on a college course, the Discretionary Learner Support Fund may be able to help you with a variety of costs, including childcare. The amount of funding available will vary for each college.

You can apply for these funds at your college by speaking to the student support or welfare officer.

For further information about courses for which you could receive funding contact the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900

16 – 19 Bursary FundYou may be able to get a bursary to help with education-related costs if you’re aged 16 to 19 and in further education. It can be used to pay for things like:

► clothing, books and other equipment for your course

► transport and lunch on days you study or train

What funding is available for higher education students in England?Higher education includes courses such as BAs, BScs MAs and other postgraduate courses such as PhDs. It also includes HNDs, HNCs and DipHEs.

Childcare GrantIf you are eligible for student finance with dependent children aged under 15, (under 17 if your child is disabled), you may be able to get the Childcare Grant. It is paid in three instalments through the Students Loan Company and does not have to be repaid. The maximum grant award for 2015/16 is £155.24 per week for one child and £266.15 per week for two or more children. You cannot get this grant if you or your partner claims the childcare element of Working Tax Credit, Universal Credit or the new tax free childcare scheme.

Contact Student Finance England on 0300 100 0607 for further information.

The Parents Learning Allowance – for higher education students Full-time students could get extra support with course-related costs such as travel, books, equipment and childcare, on top of the Childcare Grant (see above). The amount you are awarded will depend on your circumstances.

Contact Student Finance England on 0300 100 0607 for further information and an application form.

What funding is available to students on NHS-funded courses?NHS Childcare AllowanceIf you are a health professional student and receive an NHS Bursary, you can apply for help towards your childcare costs through the NHS Childcare Allowance.

The NHS Childcare Allowance can pay up to 85% of your childcare costs, up to a maximum amount. The amount you receive will depend on your personal circumstances.

For more information contact the NHS Student Bursary Helpline on 0300 330 1345.

For further information on the support available you can also speak to your nursery manager.

The Family and Childcare Trust is the leading national charity in the field of policy, research and advocacy on childcare and family issues, working closely with government, local authorities, businesses and charities to achieve positive and long lasting change for families across the UK. Our vision is a society where all families are well-supported and have genuine choices about their lives. The Family and Childcare Trust’s annual childcare costs survey is the definitive report on childcare costs and sufficiency in the

UK and its data are used by the Department for Education.For further information, please go to www.familyandchildcaretrust.org

Registered charity number: 1077444. Registered company number: 3753345