The Early Years Operations Manager presented a report on behalf of the Director for Children, Families and Education which noted that the Early Years Funding Entitlement (EYFE) agreement was an annual agreement between Wirral Council and early years providers to deliver funded places to children under 5 years. The agreement was based on a template provided by the Department for Education and the template had been tailored for Wirral which included additional sections that supported relevant strategies such as attendance and summative assessment data.

The funding agreement covered the delivery of EYFE for children aged from nine months to five years, including Early Years Pupil Premium, Disability Access Fund and Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF). SENIF also had a guidance booklet. The funding agreement had been reviewed and updated for financial year 2024-2025 and early years providers had been consulted with the draft document for the previous three months.

Members sought clarity on how children might be considered to have witnessed abuse and who made that determination. The were informed that the Police looked at each case to determine if it met their referral threshold.

Members queried whether schools had capacity to for provision and asked how parents were being communicated with and what would happen if funding could not be secured. They were informed that schools had been consulted and discussions had with headteachers in order to address capacity issues. It was noted that Wirral’s marketing team had been promoting the service alongside a national campaign as well as further work with partners to engage with parents. Funding for provision had been secured in every case so far and the Department for Education supported funding for this.

Members queried if spaces for care would be given priority for non-working parents and whether working parents would be penalised. It was noted that the intake of children was not controlled by who received benefits or not but that the Council would push for equity in this matter with providers.

Resolved – That the draft copy of the Early Years Funding Entitlement agreement for financial year 2024/25 be approved.