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The information on this page is for providers of early education that have been registered with OFSTED.
Blackpool Council is required to maintain an up to date directory of all providers of Early years childcare approved to receive and deliver funded places, including the free education eligible entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds. Providers will not receive funding for any period where they are not included in the directory.
- All providers judged by Ofsted to be satisfactory/requires improvement, good or outstanding can apply for inclusion in the directory to receive funding to deliver early education for 3 and 4 year olds
- Providers judged by Ofsted to be good or outstanding can also apply to receive funding to deliver early education for two year olds and children funded by social care
- Providers judged inadequate by Ofsted are not eligible to apply to be included in the directory
- Following on from a support visit by Blackpool Council all new settings that have not yet been inspected will be able to apply to be included in the directory
- To apply for inclusion within the directory contact: directoryofproviders@blackpool.gov.uk
The FYI directory is an online directory of local support services and includes a section detailing local childcare providers.
All registered childcare providers are eligbile for inclusion and are able to maintain their own listing online.
All providers that wish to be included within the directory and receive funding are required to sign a provider contract. There is also an appeals process for providers who are withdrawn or suspended from the directory. All providers must ensure that for every child accessing funding that a parental agreement is in place. Providers are required to retain an agreement that has been signed by a parent/carer.
The agreement must detail the times and numbers of hours of when the free entitlement is taken.
Parent registration forms need to be submitted within 30 days of commencement of the placement. Forms should be emailed to freeentitlement@blackpool.gov.uk
Amendments to hours and ceasing of placements also need to be notified within 30 days.
The council receives a grant from central government. The amount of the grant we receive is based on census returns.
Base funding hourly rate of funding for 2023/24 for registered childminders and private, voluntary and maintained nurseries in Blackpool is:
- Two year olds £5.48 per hour
- Three and four year olds universal base rate £4.59 per hour
Deprivation funding is also available for three and four year olds and is allocated to eligible providers, this ranges from 4p to 16p per hour.
Early years pupil premium is additional funding the government make available for early years settings to improve the education they provide for disadvantaged three and four year olds. Eligible parents need to agree for funding to be provided by confirming their agreement when they apply for childcare funding. The rate for 2023/24 is 62p per hour.
Disability Access Funding is also available for three and four year olds that receive disability living allowance and are accessing an early education funded place. Parents are required to nominate the provider that will receive the funding. A seperate declaration form needs to be completed. The rate for 2023/24 is £828.
A quality supplement is also available to settings that employ a qualified teacher that is responsible for teaching, learning and assessment of children that access 3 and 4 year old funding. For 2020/21 this is 8p per hour. Providers need to complete a seperate declaration form.
Teachers pay and pension grant is paid to school nurseries. The rate for 2013/14 is 28p per hour which is applied to 3 and 4 year old hours.
The SEN Inclusion fund is available to assist settings to ensure the inclusion of children with additional needs in early education /childcare.
- Early years providers must have arrangements in place to support children with SEN or disabilities. These arrangements should include a clear approach to identifying and responding to children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
- Blackpool Council make payments to early years providers monthly in arrears. Providers are given access to our online provider portal in order that they can view information about their funding payments.
- Parent registration forms need to be submitted within 30 days of commencement of the placement. Forms should be emailed to freeentitlement@blackpool.gov.uk
- Amendments to attendance hours and ceasing of placements also need to be notified within 30 days.
- Providers are expected to complete attendance and monitoring returns as required
- Providers are expected to take part in audits and provide documentation for audit purposes
Tax-Free Childcare is a UK wide offer. Eligible parents with children under 12 can get up to £2,000 per child, per year, towards their childcare costs (or up to £4,000 for disabled children under 17).
Parents entering the scheme open an online childcare account which they use to pay you directly for childcare. Payments work just as they do through an online bank account. Each payment is accompanied by a reference number for each child so you can identify their payments.
You will only be able to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments from your customers if you’ve signed up - external link to Tax-Free Childcare.