Decision making about Early Years Funding (free entitlement) - Early Years Reference Group

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Key to successful delivery of the free entitlement is for local authorities to achieve a balance in their priorities; securing sufficiency, quality and accessibility in free provision. Critical to achieving this is a strong partnership between local authorities and providers in all sectors; private, voluntary, independent, maintained and childminders, to enable them to assess and meet demand according to local circumstances and market.

In 2007 Wiltshire brought together a representative group of stakeholder members to consider all early years funding issues in response to the Government’s plans to reform Nursery Education Funding. This is known as the Early Years Reference Group (EYRG) which is a sub-group to the Wiltshire Schools’ Forum. Membership of the EYRG is representative of the different types of early years education providers across the county who are eligible and registered to offer free entitlement nursery education. The group operates under Terms of Reference 34kb which have been adopted by the Schools’ Forum.

One of the group’s first tasks was to develop a funding formula which introduced a basic hourly rate for each type of provider with additional supplements for deprivation and rurality. This is known as the Single Funding Formula.

If you are interested to find out more about what this group does or wish to raise any issues about early years funding, below is a list of current members of the Early Years Reference Group who you can contact.

Private, Voluntary and Independent Settings:

Representatives of private sector nursery education providers (4)

• Mark Cawley, New Road Nursery, Chippenham
• Rosemary Collard, Snapdragons Nursery, Atworth

• Alan Butler, Learning Curve Day Nursery, Wootton Bassett
• Fiona Webb, Sunny Days Children’s Nursery, Calne

Representatives of voluntary sector nursery education providers (4)

• Ted Hatala, St. Joseph’s Nursery, Devizes
• Mike Fairbeard, Little Fir Tree Nursery, YMCA

• Lucy Waterman, Rub a Dub Preschool, Derry Hill
• Andrea Gray, Smiley Faces, Amesbury

Representatives of independent schools providing nursery education (1)

• John Proctor, South Hills Independent School, Salisbury

Representatives of Children’s Centres (1)

• Vacancy

Representatives of childminders (1)

• Lorraine Cope, Accredited Childminder, Bradford-on-Avon

Representatives of District Specialist Centres (1)

• Jane Cross, Springboard District Specialist Centre

Representatives of LA primary schools which have nursery classes (1)

• Michael Keeling, Headteacher, Kings Park Primary School, Melksham

Representatives of Wiltshire Council

• Simon Burke, Head of Business and Commercial Services, Schools Branch (Chair)
• Phil Cooch, Head of Accounting and Budget Support Service
• Sarah Clover, Head of Childcare Development
• Jenny Harvey, Finance Officer, Early Years and Childcare
• Gill Hanlan, Head of Sure Start
• Jackie Bedford, Business Support Manager, Sure Start

Last updated: 16 May 2012