Early Years and childcare

Includes entitlements, the support available and the latest childcare news

In this section

Finding childcare

Help to find the right childcare

Promoting equality and diversity in Early Years

English as an Additional Language, racial incidents and Special Educational Needs

Help with the cost of childcare

Find the right funding and help towards childcare costs for your family

Early years information for families

Information to help parents and families access Early Years services

Provider training and resources

Includes Foundation Stage and recommended resources and training

Representation and communication with providers

Includes information about Early Years Communities, the Early Years Partnership and key contact information

Pages in Early years information for families

Funded childcare for working parents

Eligible working parents can get up to 30 hours of free childcare per week for children aged 2-4 years, and from September 2024, children from 9 months old, starting the next funding period after they reach these ages.

Early Help

Early help is all about providing help to families who find that they’re struggling

Home Learning Support for Parents

Information that can help you in supporting your child’s development at home.

Wraparound childcare

Extended schools and out of school clubs supporting parents to balance work and family commitments

Funding for 2-year-olds

Families with 2-year-old children who meet the criteria can apply for funding

Early Years entitlement for parents

All 3- and 4-year-olds are entitled to up to 15 hours of funded early education or childcare a week

Early Years pupil premium information for parents

Information on the criteria and how to apply for the pupil premium

Pages in Provider training and resources

Useful links for Early Years Providers

Useful links to different websites we work closely with to bring Early Years providers up to date and helpful information

Early Years training and resources

Training opportunities through workshops for providers across a range of topics

Speech, language and communication recommended resources

Links to useful resources and information that can help you in supporting all children

Early Years Foundation Stage

The new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is mandatory for all early years providers

Pages in Representation and communication with providers

Early Years key partner contacts

Helpful contact information for our key partners, including Somerset’s Area SENCos, Children’s Social Care Team and the Entitlements Team

Early Years Communities

We have developed 11 Early Years Communities across the county to support practitioners who deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage

Early Years contact information

Helpful local authority contact information for providers working in Early Years.

Early Years Partnership

A consultative group discussing strategic issues and financial matters relating to Early Years

Funding and entitlement information for providers

Includes information about Early Years Entitlement, Pupil Premium, funded hours and the Disability Access Fund

Complain about an Early Years or childcare provider

All early years settings (including childminders) must have a complaints procedure

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment

Childcare Sufficiency looks at the supply and demand of childcare in Somerset

Pages in Funding and entitlement information for providers

Grant funding for activities during school holidays

Community Inclusion and Activity Team support to deliver inclusive activities across Somerset

Starting a childcare business

Advice and suggestions to help you start up your own childcare business, including Childminders, Nurseries, Pre-schools, Holiday Clubs and After School Care

Working with children

Includes information on how to advertise or apply for an Early Years job vacancy

Early Years entitlement information for providers

All 3 and 4 years olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early years entitlement, or nursery funding, a week

Early Years pupil premium information for providers

Information on the pupil premium and qualifying criteria

Funding for 2-year-olds, information for providers

Families with 2-year-old children can apply for funding

Disability Access Fund

Money that is available to a nominated childcare provider once a year

Funded childcare for working parents – provider information

Eligible working parents can get up to 30 hours of free childcare per week for children aged 2-4 years, and from September 2024, children from 9 months old, starting the next funding period after they reach these ages

Early Years Entitlement Expansion and Wraparound Care

Information and resources for providers to support implementation

Become a childminder

How you can start a career as a Childminder, and what are the benefits