Guidance Notes: Childcare Business Grants Scheme

This guidance is to accompany the new Childcare Business Grant Scheme which comes into effect in April 2015. PLEASE READ THIS GUIDANCE IN FULL BEFORE COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION Guidance Notes: Childcare Business Grants Scheme Table of Contents Page 1

Introduction 3 Background 3 The Process 4 Notes 5 Eligible Expenditure 5 Completing the Application 7 Claim Audits 10 Payment details 10 Declaration 10 Application Form Queries 10 Eligibility Queries 10 General Queries 12 2

Introduction This Form is for guidance only and is designed to help you in completing your application form which can be downloaded from the Childcare Business Grants Scheme website Please read this carefully before completing the application form. If you require further assistance then please speak to one of our operators on 0844 264 2546 Calls will be charged at the local rate. We will hold some of the information you give on the database. We will use this information to process applications and grants and to produce statistics, and we may need to share your details with relevant statutory bodies. Background The Childcare Business Grants Scheme has been introduced to boost the provision of childcare in England and to incentivise entrepreneurship. It will encourage and support the starting up of new childcare businesses by providing a flat rate start-up grant of: 500 for new childminding businesses setting up in England (those who are looking after one or more children under the age of 8 years, to whom they are not related, on domestic premises, for reward and for a total of more than 2 hours in any day); 1000 for new childminding businesses, as above, that will provide care for disabled children (applicants will need to demonstrate that they have incurred additional expenditure in setting up their business as a result of this); 1000 for new nurseries, out of school clubs and childcare on domestic premises setting up in England. NOTE: THESE GRANTS ARE TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW CHILDCARE BUSINESSES. You are only eligible to apply for a grant if you are starting a new business or the date your business started trading is still within the first 12 months of receipt of your Ofsted or Childminding Agency (CMA) certificate. If you have been running a childcare business of any sort for longer than 12 months you are not eligible for a grant. Only one grant will be paid per applicant. If you have previously received a grant from the CCBGS you are not eligible to apply for another grant, even if it is for a different business type. We will only accept applications from applicants who can demonstrate their intent to start a new childcare business or have been trading as a new business for less than 12 months since the receipt of their OFSTED or CMA certificate. Only one application for each new business will be accepted. Multiple applications from different people for the same business will not be eligible. 3

Funding available A further 2M has been made available for the award of Grants and its administration. Applications for the Grant will close on 31 st December 2015, or sooner, if the funds are exhausted prior to this date. Payments Eligible grant claims will be paid on the Tuesday following the claim being approved for payment. The Process The illustration below will assist you in understanding the process, and whether you are eligible for the scheme Once you have applied for a grant: 4

If you are not yet registered with Ofsted or alternative approved CMA, you should note that there are a number of stages to starting a new childcare business. As a prospective new childminder you will need to: Complete a local government approved childcare training course and paediatric first aid course Get clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for you and anyone else over 16 who is either involved in the business or living in your house Get a health certificate from your doctor Get public liability insurance for your business Apply for registration with either Ofsted or an alternative CMA, and attend an approved pre-registration course Your grant will be paid only when you send us your Ofsted/CMA registration certificate. If you are looking to start a nursery, you will need to do all of the above, as well as secure suitable premises. Note that this may take some time. If you require any assistance, please speak to one of our operators on 0844 264 2546. Calls will be charged at the local rate. Notes Step 1 Are you intending to start a new childcare business? This grant scheme is designed to help those who are intending to start new businesses or businesses that are still within the first 12 months of receipt of their Ofsted/CMA registration certificate. If you have already started a childcare business and have been trading for more than 12 months you are not eligible for a grant. Step 2 Have you contacted your local authority? The first step to starting a new childcare business is to contact your local authority. Your local authority has a statutory duty to ensure there is sufficient childcare in the area. You should ask them about the need for childcare in the area, the courses they run, and what other support they offer (if any) to help new childcare businesses get off the ground. Your local authority does not need to endorse your application, but it is important that you have spoken to them. In order to be approved for a grant you will need to give the name of the person you spoke to, and show that you have booked to attend the necessary courses. A list of local authority contacts is available on the Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk Step 3 Have you considered the other steps you will need to take in order to be successfully registered with Ofsted or an alternative CMA? 5

These steps are listed on the previous page. You should not submit an application for a grant if you do not intend to follow the necessary steps and apply for registration with either Ofsted or an alternative approved CMA. Eligible Expenditure You will incur some expense in qualifying as a childminder or nursery provider and getting registered with Ofsted or an alternative approved CMA. The grant is intended to help reimburse you for these costs. You should keep your receipts for this, both for your own records and because we may ask to see them as proof of expenditure. You may be charged: To attend a local authority approved childcare training course and paediatric first aid course (costs vary, and some local authorities may not charge for these if your business will help meet a distinct local need for childcare you should ask about this. Note also that if you are unemployed your jobcentre may help with the cost of these courses) To get clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for you and anyone else over 16 who is either involved in the business or living in your house. This costs 44 for each person To get a health check and certificate from your doctor (costs vary, but your doctor is entitled to charge around 80 for this service) To get public liability insurance for your business (costs vary) To apply for Ofsted/CMA registration (costs vary, depending on what sort of business you are going to start the costs are shown on the Ofsted website) 6

Completing the Application Please only complete the application form if you think you are eligible for the scheme and have followed the illustrated process on page 4. Please complete the application form clearly and ensure all sections are completed. This will help to prevent delays in the processing and payment of your claim. Please send your completed form to The Childcare Business Grant Scheme, PO Box 894, Newport, NP20 9NE If you require any assistance, please speak to one of our operators on 0844 264 2546 this will be charged as a local call. Question: Section 1 Personal Details Additional Information 1. Title 2a. Forename Please provide your full name 2b. Surname 3.Address Please provide your full address and postcode (Please note that county must be completed in all cases). 4.Date of Birth 5.National Insurance Number 6.Email address This is mandatory your claim will be rejected if you fail to supply this information This will be required should we need to contact you in the event of a query on your claim 7. Daytime Contact telephone Number This will be required should we need to contact you in the event of a query on your claim 8.Business premises address if different to your home address Please provide the full address and postcode of your business premises if different to question 3 7

Question: Section 2 - About Your Business 9. If you are Ofsted/CMA registered, have you already started your childcare business? 9a. If yes, please provide the date your business started trading 9b. If you are registered but not yet trading, do you intend to start a childcare business in the next 6 months? Additional Information From September 2014 you are now able to register with an alternative approved Childminding Agency (CMA) or Ofsted. A copy of your registration certificate should be sent with your application form. N.B.You are not eligible for a grant if your business has been trading for more than 12 months. You will need to send a copy of your registration certificate together with evidence that you intend to start your business within 6 months. This could be: your business plan, or evidence that you have secured clients or premises. 10.The start date or expected start date of This must be within 6 months of applying your business for this grant. 11. What type of childcare business do you Childminder - A person who is registered intend to start? to look after one or more children to whom they are not related on domestic premises for reward. Childminders work with no more than two other childminders or assistants. Nursery - Registered providers that care for children on premises that are not someone s home. Out of School Club - Registered providers that care for children on premises that are not someone s home. Childcare on Domestic premises People who provide care on domestic premises with at least 3 other people the difference between childminding and childcare on domestic premises is the number of people involved. 12. Do you expect to incur additional To be eligible for the higher paid grant you expenditure to provide care for disabled need to demonstrate what additional costs children? you will incur to support the care of disabled children. 13. Where did you hear about this grant This information is important to us. We need to monitor the take up of the grant payments and ensure that we are reaching the widest possible audience. 8

Question: Section 3 Your local Authority 14. The name of your local authority 15. Have you contacted your local authority 16. Name of the person in your local authority family services department that you have spoken to. 17. Enter the date when you completed or the date you have booked to attend the local authority approved training course 18. Enter the date when you either completed or have booked the relevant first aid course. Question: Section 4 Your Ofsted/CMA application details 19.Have you applied for Ofsted/CMA registration 20. Which register are you (or will you be) applying for? 21.Have you applied for your Disclosure and Barring Service check 22. How many adults will require DBS checks? Additional Information Please give the name of your local authority in whose area the business will be set up. If you are not sure of your local council you can find out on the following website: www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council This is the first step in becoming registered with Ofsted or an alternative CMA you must also have completed your local government training course before applying for Ofsted registration. Contacting your local authority must be the first step towards setting up your new child care business. You need to ask about child care provision in your area and the availability of the required training courses You must have either completed the course or booked the course before you can apply for this grant. You must have either completed the course or booked the course before you can apply for this grant. A first aid certificate is a requirement for Ofsted registration. If you are caring for children less than 5 years of age this should be a paediatric first aid certificate. Additional Information Please enter the date you applied. If you are already registered please go straight to section 5. Please provide details as to whether you are applying for inclusion on the Early Years Register or the Childcare Register, or both. If you have applied, please enter the date you applied Please enter the number of adults over the age of 16 years who either live or work at the premises at which your business will be run. 9

23. Have you completed your health check booklet sections A&B? 24. Have you contacted your GP to complete part C of your Ofsted health check booklet Please enter the date when this was completed. This is required when you apply for Ofsted /CMA registration. Please enter the date when this was completed This is required when you apply for Ofsted/CMA registration. Section 5 : Claim Audits: Post payment audits will be carried out on a selection of claims. Your claim may be selected, and if so we will require copies of your receipts and records which demonstrate the expenditure you incurred in getting registered with Ofsted or an alternative CMA (Childminding Agency). Section 6: payment details: Payments will only be made by BACS transfer to a bank/building society account to the person or business named on the application. Section 7 : Declaration This must be signed before you submit your application. Failure to do so will result in your claim being rejected and ultimately delay your payment. APPLICATION FORM QUERIES 1. Will the information submitted on the Childcare Business Grants Scheme application form be shared with other statutory agencies? For legal reasons, in some cases we may need to share your details with other statutory bodies. 2. Can I apply for a childcare grant and one from another statutory agency for the same thing? There is no problem with this as far as we are concerned, but other agencies may have restrictions you should ask them. Eligibility Queries 3. Why must I contact my local authority before applying for this grant? Local authorities have a statutory duty in regard to childcare, and can offer useful advice and information regarding the situation in your area. They also run approved training courses. 4. Can I apply for my grant before registering with Ofsted or an alternative CMA? Yes you can apply for your grant before becoming Ofsted/CMA registered, however your registration must be completed within 6 months of applying for this grant. Payment will not be made until we receive a copy of your Ofsted/CMA registration certificate. 10

5. What if I haven t completed and received my Ofsted/CMA registration within 6 months of applying for this grant? Can I re-apply? If you have not completed your registration within 6 months of applying for your grant, your claim will be rejected at that point. However, if there is grant funding still available you will be free to reapply. Payment of the grant will only be made upon receipt of a copy of a valid Ofsted registration certificate. 6. What costs are considered as eligible proof of my intention to start up my new business? All costs incurred for the set up of your business will be considered as eligible. This includes: courses attended, health checks, DBS check, public liability insurance, house or commercial building insurance cover, additional car insurance to cover the transportation of the children in your care, and any additional equipment that is purchased. If chosen for a post payment audit you will be required to provide evidence of your costs incurred. 7. I received my Ofsted/CMA registration form over 6 months ago and do not intend to start my business for another 3 6 months. Can I still apply for this grant? You can apply for a grant if you are intending to start a new business within 6 months of applying. You should send us evidence of your intention of doing that, such as your business plan, evidence that you have secured clients or premises (for a nursery), evidence that you are advertising your business, etc. 8. My business has already started trading. Can I still apply for this grant? The criteria for the scheme have been amended and from 1 st April 2015 the scheme is now open to businesses that are still within their first 12 months of receipt of their Ofsted certificate. 9. Why do all adults in my household require disclosure and barring checks when they will not come into contact with the children I am caring for? Childminders and, child carers must ensure that any person having supervised or unsupervised contact with children is suitable to be in regular contact with children and a Disclosure and Barring service check has been obtained. You will not receive your Ofsted registration without this. 10. I currently look after children as a childminder, but will be changing my business to a day nursery facility. Can I apply for the new nursery grant of 1000.00? If you are starting a new business (e.g. stopping childminding and starting a new nursery) and have not already received a Childcare Business Grant, you will be eligible for a grant. If you are expanding an existing business (such as taking on more children as a childminder, or starting another branch of an existing nursery business), you will not be eligible. Please note we will only pay 1 grant per applicant. If you have previously received a grant from us for starting a new business, you will not be eligible to receive another grant. 11

11. I previously received a grant at the lower value which was paid from 1 st April 2013 31 st March 2015. Can I apply for a top up? No. Only one grant is paid per applicant. The new rates only apply to grant applications which are approved from 1 st April 2015. GENERAL QUERIES 12. Is there a deadline or time limit for a claim to be submitted? The grant scheme will close to new applications on 31 st December 2015. However, if the funding for the Grants is exhausted before this date, the Scheme will close earlier. If you intend to start a childcare business at any point in the next 6 months and you think you are eligible for a grant, you should apply now. However, as there is only a limited amount of funding available, the money will be allocated to those who are first to provide proof of their Ofsted/CMA registration. 13. How long will I have to submit a copy of my registration certificate after 31 st December 2015? The scheme will finally close on 31 st March 2016 unless the budget is fully allocated before this date. If you do not provide proof of your registration before this date we will not be able to pay your grant. 14. Is there a limit to the number of applications that I can submit? You are only eligible for one grant. If you have already received a grant you are not eligible to receive another one. However, if your previous application is rejected for example because it took you more than 6 months to get registered with Ofsted you may apply again. 15. Can I appeal if my claim is rejected? If your application is not approved, we will explain why when we notify you of this. If you think we have made a mistake, please let us know and we will examine the facts of the matter. There is no formal appeals process. 16. What happens if the scheme runs out of funding? If the Grant is fully utilised, before you have submitted a copy of your registration certificate then your claim will be unsuccessful. There are no current plans to increase the Grant or extend this scheme beyond 31 st December 2015. 17. In making an application can we nominate to whom payment is made to? The grant will only be paid to the applicant. 12