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Local Authority funding agreement

In Norfolk, all providers are required to sign an annual agreement to offer Early Education funding to families. The agreement is based on the model agreement issued by the Department for Education (DfE).  Each year providers offering Early Education to families will be invited to renew the agreement for the next academic year.  It is also necessary throughout the year to keep Parts A-C up to date and re-submit any additional documents (listed below) that have been amended so that a compliance check can be completed.

The agreement consists of three sections -

Once complete, documents must be emailed to earlyyearsfinance@norfolk.gov.uk
(please remember to sign the funding agreement)

The funding agreement will be returned signed once any submitted documentation have been reviewed and verified as meeting the agreement criteria.  The agreement should be of adequate print quality as it must be displayed as information for your parents/carers.

Part A-C Guidance

Part A-C must be completed and signed* by the person named on the Ofsted Certificate or a nominated person authorised to act on behalf of the childcare provider.  There is guidance (Word doc) [474KB] to help you complete this part of the agreement.   This should be returned together with all of the following additional documents unless the copies held by the Early Years Service are the current versions -

* an electronic signature is acceptable (email message must be signed by named person too)

When signing the agreement, the person is confirming / consenting to the following -

  • the current Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities has been read
  • the information detailed in Parts B, C & D will be updated and shared in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
  • the conditions listed in Part E of this documentation will be meet, and I understand that the Local Authority retains the right to amend or add to the conditions in Part E in response to changes to Statutory Guidance and Legislation
  • where early years funding is being claimed/requested from the Local Authority that consent has been sought as required and data will be collected and shared in accordance with the GDPR
  • to early years information including child data being held securely and used in accordance with the GDPR, and retained in line with the Norfolk County Council Record Retention Policy

The additional documents are required so that the Local Authority can be assured that the provider has systems in place to meet the statutory guidance and funding agreement when offering the Early Education entitlement to families.

It is therefore important that as a minimum the required documentation clearly prove the following sections of the agreement are being met -

  • Charging Policy - [2.47]  [2.48]  [2.49]  [2.52]  [2.53]
  • Admissions Policy - [2.14]  [2.15]  [2.25]  [2.26]  [2.27]  [2.30]  [2.31]  [2.35]  [2.37]  [2.51]
  • Complaints Policy - [2.65]
  • Sample Invoice - [2.54]

Providers will be notified where it is necessary to make any amendments as soon as possible.  New providers should allow at least 6 weeks for the documentation to be checked.

Part D Guidance

Part D should be returned only where formal partnerships have been established, and the providers listed have given consent for their information to be shared with the Local Authority.

It will not be possible to claim funding via the online portal until the agreement has been signed by a Local Authority representative and the required documents meet the criteria within the funding agreement.