What is the Childcare Offer for Wales?
The Childcare Offer for Wales provides eligible parents of three to four year olds with up to 30 hours per week of combined nursery education and additional funded childcare for up to 48 weeks per year. The Offer will build on children’s existing nursery education entitlement during term time and provide up to 30 hours of funded childcare for nine weeks of the school holidays (school holiday weeks are pro-rata, 3 weeks per term, depending on which term the parents’ eligibility is confirmed).
In RCT, we offer 15 hours of nursery education and so eligible children will receive an additional 15 hours of funded childcare per week during term time. Some schools in RCT offer full time nursery education for nursery aged children. In this instance, eligible children can still receive up to 30 hours of funded childcare for up to nine weeks of the school holidays, but their term time entitlement to the Childcare Offer will be made up with their nursery provision.
Please note – the number of hours of nursery education varies across Local Authorities in Wales. If you have children from different LA’s accessing the Offer in your setting, you will need to ensure you know how many hours of additional funded childcare each child is entitled to. The combined nursery education and additional funded childcare should not total more than 30 hours per week.
What does it mean for me as a provider?
Provided you are registered with CIW you could receive funding for eligible children accessing the Offer in your setting. If you wish to take part and receive funding for children who reside in RCT, you must register on the Welsh Government national online system (see below).
Can I accept children from different Local Authority areas?
Yes, as long as the parents meet the eligibility criteria, they can use CIW registered settings in any LA area. Choice of provider is down to parental choice.
Do I need to deliver nursery education to deliver the childcare element of the Offer?
No. Some children will continue to access nursery education in maintained school settings. Childcare providers do not need to deliver both the nursery education and childcare elements of the Offer.
Do I need to be able to deliver the offer for 48 weeks per year to take part?
No. Parents can access the Offer through different providers that best suit their circumstances. Providers who only offer term-time provision, or provision only in the school holidays, can still deliver the Offer, depending on the needs of the parents.
How much will I get paid?
All providers will receive a rate of £5.00 per hour for children receiving the childcare element of the Offer.
Can I charge parents a top-up rate?
No. You cannot charge hourly top-up rates if you’d normally charge more than £5.00 per hour.
Can I charge for food and additional activities?
Yes. If necessary, you can charge parents for additional elements such as food, transport (e.g. drop off/pickups from school) and off-site activities which incur a cost.
Welsh Government guidelines state that parents should not be charged more than £9.00 per day for a full day session (approximately 10 hours). This would include three meals at £2.50 per meal and 2 snacks at a charge of 75p per snack. For a half-day session (approximately 5.5 hours) parents should not be charged more than £5.75 (two meals at £2.50 per meal plus a snack at a charge of 75p per snack). For sessional care where a meal is not provided but children receive a snack, guidelines are that parents should not be charged more than 75p per day for snack provision.
How will I get paid?
Funding claims are submitted via the national online system.
How do I take part?
Register to deliver the Offer online at Register your childcare setting to get the Childcare Offer for Wales | GOV.WALES.