Nurseries and pre-schools in Wiltshire to benefit from £1m grant
The Council has announced a new funding pot
Early years and childcare settings in Wiltshire are set to benefit from a £1 million grant, as part of the government's COVID-19 funding.
Wiltshire Council is helping the providers as the Department For Education expects them to remain open during lockdown.
A one-off grant will be made to all open or partially open settings, to help with issues such as PPE and increased cleaning costs.
This funding ranges from £150 to £1,000, depending on the provider's size.
Pre-schools and nurseries can also apply for targeted support from Wiltshire Council.
This help will cover bubbles having to self-isolate because of Coronavirus, or where the entire site has closed.
It will also go towards a deep clean if required and be available in the event of continued staff absence. For example, covering some costs for shielding and clinically extremely vulnerable staff, where the furlough scheme does not.
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 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 has also confirmed that schools, early years settings and special needs provision will benefit from more funding next year.
Wiltshire's Schools Forum agreed the school budgets for 2021/22, with mainstream schools getting a guaranteed funding increase of at least 3% in the main pupil-led school funding factors.
Early years funding will also rise 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".