To approve a model Herefordshire Nursery Education Funding (NEF) Agreement to support implementation of the 30 hours free entitlement to nursery education for two, three and four year olds, which commenced on 1 September 2017.

The cabinet member for young people and children’s wellbeing introduced the report. He stated that encouraging the take up of entitlement to 30 hours per week childcare would allow flexibility for families and support council priorities with regard to the wellbeing of children.

The leader of the green group queried the risk of providers pulling out of the 30 hour offer, particularly if the hourly rate paid was too low, and whether the proposals in relation to use of providers rated by Ofsted as requiring improvement would result in a lot of children accessing the 30 hour offer in such settings.

The director for children’s wellbeing responded that work was ongoing to look at the hourly rate and that while the council would want all children to be in provision rated good or outstanding, it would not immediately withdraw funding for settings deemed to require improvement as this could be destabilising. The council would work with providers rated as requiring improvement and only look to withdraw funding if there was insufficient progress. The direct noted that there was no immediate pressure for places across the county but this would continue to be monitored. The nursery education funding agreement attached as an appendix to the report was based on national guidance and had been checked by the council’s legal department.

Resolved that:

(a)  the draft Herefordshire Nursery Education Funding Agreement 2017 (at appendix 1) be approved; and

(b)  the director for children’s wellbeing be authorised to take all necessary operational decisions to complete agreements with relevant providers, within approved funding allocations.