How do I start offering funded hours (Part 3)

Important Articles

• How do I start offering funded hours? (Part 3)

• How do I accept a family that wants to use funded hours? (Part 4)

• I have a family using funded hours. What next? (Part 5)

• Why should I offer funded hours? (Part 1)

Funded hours are a type of government funding offered to families that have children aged 2, 3 and 4 years old. To be able to offer funded hours to parents, you will need to get set up to offer funded hours by your local authority.

If you are not set up with your local authority, you will not be able to accept parents wanting to use funded hours. To avoid losing out on parent interest, we highly recommend getting set up as soon as possible. Here is a quick guide on how to get set up to offer funded hours.

There are two main ways that local councils have to set childminders up for funded hours:

Childminder-led Councils

Here is where the majority of the councils fall into. These councils deal directly with the childminder for anything related to funded hours. The relationship is between the childminder and the local council. This means that:

1. You would usually need to reach out to the council to get set up

2. An account is made for you on the online portal

3. You are responsible for adding funded children onto the portal

4. All payments are made directly to you

Agency-led Councils

It is less common to find a council that is agency-led. Here, the agency acts on behalf of the childminder and deals directly with the council for anything related to funded hours. The relationship is between Koru Kids and the local council. This means that:

1. Koru Kids would reach out to the council and get childminders in that borough set up.

2. Koru Kids would be set up on the online portal and manage the portal for all childminders operating in that borough.

3. Koru Kids are responsible for adding funded children that are looked after onto the portal.

4. All payments are made directly to Koru Kids. We are then responsible for sending that payment to the childminders.

To know what approach your council takes, please find your council on the table below and click 'find out more', or email us at [email protected] for more information.

List of Councils

Can't find your local council?

Please email [email protected] and we will help you find out the process for you local authority.

Next reading

• How do I accept a family that wants to use funded hours? (Part 4)

• I have a family using funded hours. What next? (Part 5)

• Why should I offer funded hours? (Part 1)