Buckinghamshire Council wins national award for childcare funding scheme
The initiative gives parents who meet a certain criteria a number of free hours of child care per week throughout the year
Buckinghamshire Council’s Family Information Service won an award for the ‘Best Promotion of Two-Year-Old Funding’.
At the National Association of Family Information Services (NAFIS) awards in November 2021, Buckinghamshire Council’s Family Information Service won a national award for the ‘Best Promotion of Two-Year-Old Funding’. Entries for the award were judged by a panel of parent champions.
Two-Year-Old Funding is available for parents who meet certain criteria. It entitles them to 15 hours per week (term-time) or 11 hours per week (all year) childcare at a nursery, pre-school or childminders.
The award was achieved due to the close collaboration with the council’s Early Years and Childcare Two-Year-Old Funding team to develop an effective campaign that uses a range of promotional materials across digital channels.
This includes videos exploring what Two-Year-Old Funding is, the benefits of taking up a funded childcare place, and a targeted video that goes out alongside the distribution of leaflets across the county.
Kayleigh from Buckinghamshire Council’s Early Years Service has become the face of the campaign, offering families a real and familiar personality, and giving an identity to Two-Year-Old Funding in Buckinghamshire.
This has added a personal touch to the campaign with videos including Kayleigh continuously gaining 95% more engagement.
In addition, social media posts are regularly posted highlighting to parents and carers the advantages their child might gain from taking up a funded place. These posts are shared widely by childcare providers who accept funded places in Buckinghamshire.
Anita Cranmer, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, said:
“It’s fantastic news that our Buckinghamshire Family Information Service has won this award. I know that – along with the Two-Year-Old Funding team – they have put tremendous energy and creativity into designing a campaign that has reached many eligible parents and carers across the county.
“Parents and carers who are interested in finding out more about the funding can visit the family information service website.”