Business Support
The drop down boxes below provide information on East Lothian's funding paperwork and criteria for 2024/2025.
Funded Provider Funding Paperwork
The funding paperwork should be submitted on the following dates:
Term 1 – Friday 21 June 2024
Term 2 - Friday 29 November 2024
Term 3 - Friday 10 March 2025
Confirmation of hours Forms
The confirmation of hours form should be completed by the parent/carer at the start of Term 1 for all children looking to access funded early learning and childcare hours.
For Term 2 and 3 this is only required for any new starts and for changes to the funded hours from Terms 1 and 2.
The start date on the form should be the funding start date.
You should ensure the “actual hours” and “funded hours” are both clearly noted on the form. If you operate floating days, please ensure the floating days are clearly indicated on the Funded Hours section. Please refer to the Floating Days calculator for details of the number of floating days due each term.
NAMS application form and advice notes
NAMS forms should be completed for every new child and the record entered on the NAMS system.
We do not require a copy of the NAMS form or birth certificate, however you need to keep a copy of the NAMS form. The birth certificate should not be kept so it is important that you record the birth certificate number correctly on the NAMS form and NAMS system. Please refer to the guidance on how to identify the birth certificate number. Forms must be signed by the parent/carer and by the Nursery Manager.
Please ensure all your children are enrolled on NAMS when they start with you. You can check your current children by selecting Records/Edit/Add To List which will bring up a list. This should be checked against your register to ensure a match.
If you require instructions on how to enter/accept and enrol children on the NAMS system please let us know.
Registers
We require separate registers for:
The registers should:
Be in excel format with the names in alphabetical order by surname.
New children should be highlighted in yellow.
Highlight any adjustments required to the previous term’s funding in orange and put the date the change occurred in the relevant column on the register.
Any children who have left the nursery in the previous term should be shown on the new term register with a leave date, highlighted in orange. These should then be removed for the next term register
Enter only the funded hours on the register and ensure these match what is on the Confirmation of Hours form.
Confirm that meals are provided.
Named properly on Objective connect e.g. “Blended Register Term 2 V1”
CHILDMINDERS ONLY - Please note all holidays for that term on the register
Submitting the paperwork
All documents should be sent electronically through Objective Connect. Please do not use the funded provider mailbox to send this information as it is not secure.
Create a folder for the relevant term and add the individual documents into this. This keeps the paperwork together, and also allows us to delete the folder and contents in one click when the task is completed. New folders can be created during the ‘add’ stage, i.e. by clicking the green circle plus sign, and then selecting ‘create’
Please ensure the documents are named appropriately so we can identify who they relate to. For the Confirmation of Hours forms please upload these individually (one per child) and use the surname and first initial of the child e.g. “Smith G CoH” – this facilitates a match with the registers as often there is more than one child with the same initials.
If revised versions are uploaded remember to mark them V2, V3 etc. This means we can see which is the most recent.
If there are any additions/amendments after the initial paperwork has been uploaded please email fundedproviders@eastlothian.gov.uk to advise us to ensure these are not missed.
Tutorials for Objective Connect can be found on the Objective website Tutorial Videos Objective Corporation
Funding Criteria
Funding Calendars 2024-25
The funding calendars show the funding start and end dates for each term. It is important you refer to these so the correct start dates are used for your funding paperwork. Please ensure parents are made aware of the funding dates each term to enable them to complete the Confirmation of Hours Forms correctly and to ensure they know what funding they will receive.
First Step Funding Calendar 2024-25
Gullane Community Hub Calendar 2024-25
Blended Models 2024-25
Details of the blended placements that can be offered for 2024/25 can be found on our website, School nurseries | Early Learning and Childcare in East Lothian | East Lothian Council. Please refer to the blended model table for details of funded hours per week/10 hour days available each term.
Funding Rates 2024-25
3-5 year old: £6.85 per hour
Eligible 2 year old: £8.47 per hour
Eligibility Dates
Please ensure that you carefully check the funding eligibility dates.
Eligible 2 Year Olds
Please do not agree to start an E2 child unless their application has been approved by us. If you are unsure please check. There is a separate register for E2s but the same NAMS and Confirmation of Hours forms should be used. Further information on Eligible 2 year olds can be found on our website Your entitlement to free early learning and childcare for two year olds | Early Learning and Childcare | East Lothian Council.