Nurseries and pre-schools in Wiltshire to benefit from £1m grant
The money received depends on the size of the provider
Last updated 28th Jan 2021
Early years and childcare settings in Wiltshire are set to benefit from a £1 million grant from the government's Covid-19 funding.
Wiltshire Council have decided to use the money to help these providers as the Department For Education expects them to open during lockdown.
A one off grant will be made to all open or partially open settings to help with things like PPE and increased cleaning costs.
This funding ranges from £150 to £1,000 depending on the provider's size.
The local authority are also going to be providing targeted support which providers can apply for.
This help will cover where bubbles have to self-isolate because of Covid-19, or where the entire setting has closed.
It will also go towards a deep clean if a setting needs it and be available in the event of continued staff absence, for example cover for shielding clinically extremely vulnerable staff to contribute towards costs the furlough scheme does not cover.
Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Skills said:
"Our early years are doing an amazing job remaining open and providing this essential service to families. We cannot thank them enough for the sterling work they are doing. We know they need our support and this funding will ensure they can continue to operate safely and feel supported at this time. I am delighted we are also able to use the government funding to provide targeted support to help those who really need support in our schools and colleges."
INCREASE IN FUNDING
Meanwhile, Wiltshire Council have also announced that schools, early years settings and special needs provision will benefit from an increase in funding next year.
Wiltshire's Schools Forum agreed the schools budgets for 2021/22 which means that mainstream schools will get a guaranteed increase of at least 3% in the main pupil-led school funding factors.
Early years funding will increase by £390,000.
Cllr Mayes added:
"We have carefully viewed our budget allocation and after many years of underfunding for Wiltshire Schools we are now seeing a welcome increase we can share across our schools and early years settings. We know however demand for SEND services continues to rise above the funding received so we continue to have to manage this overall. Our school and early years leaders have been an important part in determining how this budget is set and I’m delighted funding is increasing at this level."