DISC - Devon's family information service
Choosing/Paying For Childcare Information
Looking for Childcare
The Department for Education have produced three booklets
- The Essential Guide to Early Learning and Childcare for you and your family 0- 5 years - download it here
(1.44MB - pdf help) - The Essential Guide to Childcare For You and Your Family: 5-11 Years - download it here (1.67MB - pdf help)
- The Essential Guide to Out of School and Holiday Care: 11-16 Years - download it here (1.43MB - pdf help)
You can find out more about Childminding Networks in Devon here (13KB - pdf help) and how a Third Level Childminder who is a Specialist in Early Learning can accept the Early Years Entitlement.
Childwise, moneywise
The Daycare Trust have produced an audio guide includes information about childcare options and help parents can get with the costs of raising a family, including childcare costs. Download or listen to it here (also available in community languages).
Factsheets
Factsheets on support and services.
Paying for Childcare
A useful summary of all the different types of help with Childcare costs is available from the Daycare Trust.
Early Years Entitlement
What is Early Years Entitlement Funding?
From the term after your child’s third birthday until they go to school full-time all children are eligible for Early Years Entitlement Funding (EYEF).
This can be at Ofsted Registered pre-schools, nurseries, Specialist Childminders in Early Learning, school nursery classes or nursery schools. With effect from September 2010 you will also be able to use part of this entitlement at certain out of school settings, such as after school clubs.
Eligible children qualify for 15 hours of free EYEF per week for up to 38 weeks per year, during school term time. The full 15 hours must be used over at least 3 days, a minimum of 2½ hours and maximum 10 hours per day and can be shared between a maximum of 2 providers.
The key focus of this funding is to help every child develop to their full potential, help parents return to work and allow them to make informed choices about their children’s care and their family life. It also supports research showing the ongoing benefit to children, in particular the most disadvantaged, of experiencing good quality childcare in their early years.
For more information talk to your childcare provider about how they deliver the EYEF, contact our EYEF helpline on 01392 385530 or e-mail eyef@devon.gov.uk
| Child’s date of birth between: | Entitled from: |
|---|---|
| 1 January and 31 March | Start of summer term after their 3rd birthday (after Easter school holidays) until they go to school. |
| 1 April and 31 August | Start of autumn term after their 3rd birthday until they go to school. |
| 1 September and 31 December | Start of spring term after their 3rd birthday (after Christmas and New Year school holidays) until they go to school. |
Download an information leaflet here (419KB - pdf help)
How to apply for a place in a nursery class, unit or foundation stage unit in a Devon school or at a nursery school that is part of a Children’s Centre. Information is available in the Stepping Out Booklet.
Higher Education Students
The following information is available from Devon County Council and gives details of finance for Further and Higher Education Students.
16 - 19 Year old parents
Help with childcare costs is available for 16 - 19 year old parents to enable them to undertake learning through the Care to Learn scheme
Tax Credits
Information about the Child Tax Credit and Working Tax credit is available from the Inland Revenue
Childcare Voucher Schemes
Childcare Voucher Schemes can be available from employers. Find out more on this factsheet.
Learn Direct
Information from Learn Direct about the various sources of funding for childcare if you are studying here
Finding Childcare
You can search for childcare here
