Childcare Inclusion Fund information for childcare providers April 2024 to March 2025

These pages provide more information on the Childcare Inclusion Fund including eligibility criteria and guidance for completing the application form.

Childcare inclusion funding is available to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to attend:

• Ofsted-registered after-school childcare and after-school childcare run by schools
• a Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme scheme or activity (excluding SEND specialist schemes which have additional staff included)

The funding is intended to provide for changes to the childcare provision or activity to make it possible for the child to attend. This might include:

• changes to the building
• specialist equipment
• training for staff
• more staff time or an additional member of staff

Parents must pay the fee (if any) for attending the childcare or activity.

Funding is strictly limited. If applications exceed the amount available in the budget they may not be successful.

The childcare inclusion fund will not support children’s attendance at breakfast clubs.

Any child with SEND and needs additional support to attend childcare may be eligible provided they both or either:

• have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or a statement of SEND
• are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance

The child must be both:

• resident in Brighton & Hove
• aged under 18

Inclusion funding is offered at 2 levels:

1. up to £1,800 a year for parents who are not working or training.
2. a higher level of up to £3,600 a year for parents who are using the childcare in order to work or undertake education or training leading to work.

In the case of a 2-parent family, both parents must be working or training at the time they use the childcare to be eligible for the higher level. Parents who wish to apply for this higher level of funding must provide evidence that they are working or training, for example, employment pay slips.

If a child is attending a HAF Easter, summer or Christmas scheme inclusion funding may be paid in addition to the £1,800 or £3,600 maximum amount. The maximum amount will only be applied to any non-HAF provision the child attends.

Childcare providers should inform parents of the level of funding agreed upon when it's allocated. Childcare providers should also monitor the claims made for each child so that they do not overspend.

The year runs from April to March. The maximum hourly rate childcare or activity providers can apply for where your child needs one-to-one support is £11.44 per hour (national living wage for over 21s from April 2024) including on-costs which equates to 157 or 314 hours childcare for the year.

The level of funding won't be sufficient to pay for inclusion support for all year-round childcare. 

The maximum level of funding applies across all settings and activities. If the child receives childcare from more than one provider or attends more than one activity, this will be taken into account in subsequent applications. Parents and providers are responsible for taking this into account when making an application for inclusion funding.

Providers must ask parents to let them know if their child is attending another setting. They are advised to keep an ongoing record of how much funding the child has had to avoid overspending.

Inclusion funding includes the summer, Christmas, Easter and all half-term holidays. If a child's attending a holiday play scheme as well as an after-school club this will be taken into account in the maximum amount allowed.

The funding can support children to attend:

• Ofsted-registered after-school childcare
• after-school childcare run by schools and/or a HAF programme scheme or activity

The childcare or activity must be in Brighton & Hove.

New applications

New applications should be made jointly by the childcare provider and parent. The application must be completed in full after consultation between the provider and parent and signed by both.

Providers and parents will be informed if the new application has been approved. Decisions are usually made within 2 weeks. Providers should not assume that an application has been successful until this is confirmed in writing.

Providers must make sure that parents are aware of the criteria and application process for the funding, in particular, the maximum amount allowed

Providers must confirm that they have seen evidence that the parent is working and must inform EYC if they become aware that the parent’s circumstances have changed.

Applications can be made at any time, but funding will not be applied retrospectively.

Repeat applications

The shorter application form should be used for repeat applications which confirms that the parent(s) and child’s circumstances and pattern of attendance have not changed from the original application.

Repeat applications for after-school provision must be submitted before the last day of each term to which the application relates. For spring term 2025 applications must be submitted by 7 March 2025.

Repeat applications for holiday provision must be submitted by the week following the end of the scheme.

Applications not submitted within the timescales outlined above will not be approved and funding will not be received by the provider.

Payments to providers will be made termly for hours claimed at after-school clubs.

Payments to providers for hours claimed at holiday playschemes (summer, Christmas, Easter and all half terms) will be made separately.

Providers must monitor inclusion spending for each child to avoid exceeding the maximum payment amounts which apply across all settings.

All successful applications are subject to monitoring and review. This will include a visit by an EYC development officer to the setting to meet the child and support worker and look at their inclusion.

Monitoring and evaluation data (as specified when funding is confirmed) must be provided to EYC.

Any unspent funding will need to be paid back. Providers must inform EYC if there are any changes to what is being funded, or if the child stops attending.

For more information and advice, contact Annette Barnard, Out of School and Childminding Development Officer:

• send an email to annette.barnard@brighton-hove.gov.uk