Decision details

Maintained Nursery Funding - Academic Years 2023/24

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Children and Education (expired July 2024)

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Early Years funding for support to vulnerable children with additional needs

Decision:

1.            Approve a change in the allocation of funding of £543,000 from the Early Years block for 2023/2024. Proposed split of the new funding is 80%, £434,400, to Randolph Beresford and 20%, £108,600, to Thames Federation.

 

2.            Approve additional £135,750 funding for the Summer term from Early Years Dedicated Schools Grant to cover places at Randolph Beresford and Thames Federation for the full academic year to end July 2024. This will be split 80%, £108,600, to Randolph Beresford and 20% £27,150, to Thames Federation.

 

Reasons for the decision:

Although the standard of provision is outstanding at these settings, they must use existing resources to provide this enhanced offer. Reallocation of funds to Thames Federation will better reflect the additional costs of providing their offer, ensure greater certainty and enable leaders to better plan for enhanced provision.

 

In addition, approving a continuation of funding for Randolph Beresford now will allow the nursery to set a balanced budget and advertise their offer ahead of the next academic year. It will also allow Randolph Beresford to make any required modifications to their offer in response to the reallocation of funding within the borough.

 

Alternative options considered:

Option 1

Approve the allocation of funding of £543,000 from the Early Years block for financial year 2023/2024. Proposed split of the new funding is 80%, £434,400, to Randolph Beresford and 20%, £108,600, to Thames Federation. To improve the reach of the offer within Hammersmith & Fulham.

 

Approve additional £135,750 funding for the Summer term from Early Years Dedicated Schools Grant to cover places at Randolph Beresford and Thames Federation places for the full academic year to end July 2024. This will be split 80% to Randolph Beresford £108,600 and 20% Thames Federation £27,150. (Recommended)

 

Option 2

Do not approve a change in the allocation of funding and provide Randolph Beresford the full £543,000 for the financial year 2023/24 and the additional £135,700 to cover the Summer term from the Early Years block. With no additional funds for the Thames Federation. (Not recommended).

Publication date: 06/09/2023

Date of decision: 14/08/2023

Effective from: 12/09/2023

Accompanying Documents: