Blackpool Council - Nursery Education Grants

Nursery Education Grants

All children qualify for a grant-funded early education place from the term following their 3^rd birthday. If your child attends a setting within Blackpool, the scheme will be managed by the Early Years & Childcare team. The Nursery Education Grant is paid over three terms and does not cover school holiday periods.

The pilot project allows parents additional flexibility with regard to how the entitlement is used. Parents may use the 15 hours over a minimum of 3 days each week in any manner that the nursery education provider is able and willing to provide.

Examples of this would be:

5 hours a day over 3 days,
3 hours a day over 5 days,
4 hours for 2 days & 5 hours for 1 day, and any other combination that does not exceed the 15 hours per week limit.

Children who receive the Nursery Education Grant may attend up to a maximum of:

Summer Term: 195 Hours per term (equates to 13 weeks at 15 Hours per week)
Autumn Term: 210 Hours per term (equates to 14 weeks at 15 Hours per week)
Spring Term: 165 Hours per term (equates to 11 weeks at 15 Hours per week)

The minimum number of hours that may be used each day is three hours. Only whole hours may be claimed for each day over which the entitlement is used ie. It it not possible to claim for sessions with half or quarter hour units.

To register for a Nursery Education Grant, you can use this link to the Application Form or you can also get a form from all nurseries / playgroups or by contacting our Grants Administrator.

The Children's Information Service holds a list of all registered childcare providers in Blackpool. Please contact them on 0800 092 2332 for more information.

Your provider (the nursery, pre-school or playgroup that your child attends) must be registered with OFSTED.

There are three terms for attendance at nursery, playgroup or pre-school and the deadline dates for submitting a grant application each term are:

Spring Term (1st January - 31st March) - Applications must be received by November 31st before the start of this term

Summer Term (1st April - 31st August) - Applications must be received by February 28th before the start of this term

Autumn Term (1st September - 31st December) - Applications must be received by July 31st before the start of this term

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