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<p>Funding for the free early years entitlements is allocated on a local authority
basis through the Dedicated Schools Grant. This funding covers childcare, nurseries
and other early years provisions, including childcare via children’s centres. Local
authorities have the freedom to determine how to fund other services delivered via
their networks of children’s centres, including via the Business Rate Retention Scheme.
Local authorities have the freedom to decide what children’s centre services are appropriate
to meet local needs and statutory duties.</p><p>In 2015-16, the City of Bristol received
£29.16m from central government for the early years entitlements (three- and four-year
olds and two-year olds but not including the Early Years Pupil Premium). This funding
supported 5,161 full-time equivalent places.</p><p>In 2016-17, the City of Bristol
received a provisional £28.71m from central government for the early years entitlements
(three- and four-year olds and two-year olds but not including the EYPP). This funding
supported a provisional 5,082 full-time equivalent places.</p><p>The Government consulted
earlier this year on proposals to ensure that early years funding is allocated efficiently
and fairly across the country from 2017-18. Under such proposals the City of Bristol
would have been allocated a provisional £32.56m from central government for the early
years entitlements (three- and four-year olds including 30 hours childcare for working
parents; two-year olds; and supplementary funding for maintained nursery schools).
This funding would have supported a provisional 5,666 full-time equivalent places.</p><p>Government
will announce a response to the consultation shortly, including 2017-18 funding for
the City of Bristol.</p>
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